Full Name: Pam O’Connor
Endorsements: Supported by Santa Monicans for Renters Rights; Los Angeles County League of Conservation Voters; Coalition of Santa Monica City Employees; State Senator Fran Pavley; Assemblymember Julia Brownley; County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky; Former State Senator Sheila Kuehl
Current office/profession: Mayor Pro Tem, City of Santa Monica; Boardmember, Los Angeles County Metro; First Vice-President, Southern California Association of Governments Alternate member, California Coastal Commission
Profession: Historic Preservation Planner/Urban Planner
Previous Experience: Mayor of Santa Monica; Santa Monica Landmarks Commissioner; Santa Monica Planning Commissioner
Education: Bachelor’s of Science in Journalism, Southern Illinois University; Master of Science, Historic Preservation/Planning, Eastern Michigan University; Master of Liberal Studies, Technology Management, Eastern Michigan University
Date/place of birth: May, 1948 in Chicago, Illinois (the other end of Route 66)
Biography: I grew up in Chicago, where my Dad was a Chicago Police Officer. My mother would take us (my sister and I) to classes at the Art Institute of Chicago where we discovered art, culture, and the vibrancy of a dynamic downtown with historic buildings. My dad passed away while I was in college – I am represent the first generation to graduate from college in my family. I Worked full-time as a Research Associate at Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan while pursuing master’s degrees in historic preservation/planning and technology management.
I moved to Santa Monica and worked as planner for City of Pasadena in historic preservation and in growth management. After the 1994 Earthquake, I was Program Manager for National Trust for Historic Preservation grant program to repair damaged historic structures. Since then, I have worked as preservation planning consultant with Santa Monica architects, Kaplan Chen Kaplan. My projects include preservation monitor for Los Angeles City Hall seismic retrofit, rehabilitation of buildings at USC and UCLA.
I have served as a Santa Monica Landmarks Commissioner, Planning Commissioner, Councilmember, Mayor Pro Tem, and Mayor. I am a member of LA County Metro Board of Directors. I have a passion for transportation and environmental sustainability policy issues. I have been recognized by American Planning Association Southern California Chapter as Elected Official of the Year and received Los Angeles County’s first Green Leadership Award. I enjoy traveling this region, this country and around the world, learning about different cultures, environments, and individual people. I am still waiting for Chicago Cubs to win a World Series.
Spouse/Children: Family includes sister and brother-in-law in Santa Monica. My mom lived with me in Santa Monica the last 10 years of her life (until she was 93). My orthopedic surgeon nephew grew up in Santa Monica.
Neighborhood of Residence: Wilshire/Montana.
Community Activities: Government policy-making as Santa Monica Councilmember and Metro Boardmember. For fun enjoy activities and events on Santa Monica Pier and in parks.
Candidate Statement: As Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem, and a council member I’ve worked to preserve our homes and neighborhoods. I initiated the “LUCE” process, the visionary framework for future city planning that now –and for decades to come – protects and conserves our neighborhoods from overdevelopment.
I’ve always demanded transparency, accountability, and strong fiscal management from government — ensuring that through these tough times Santa Monica maintains high quality services especially public safety.
I have consistently voted for helping our public schools, protecting rent control, sustainable environmental programs. I am a proven environmental leader and was honored as the first individual to receive the Los Angeles County “Green Leadership Award.” Two new parks – Palisades Garden Walk and Town Square Park – are underway and I’ll make sure they are completed on time and on budget.
As Chair of the Metro Board I led the successful effort to secure funding for Expo Light Rail to Santa Monica and for street and bicycle improvements. At Metro I will work tirelessly to get Expo built to Santa Monica by 2015. I ask for your support so we can work together for a bright and sustainable future for Santa Monica.
