While the West Hollywood City Council election is almost nine months away, one candidate already has begun building her war chest.
Lauren Meister announced today that she has raised $25,117 from 106 donors for her race for a Council seat.
“Thanks to the people of West Hollywood and the small businesses of West Hollywood who have showed me their support,” Meister said. “As I have gone around West Hollywood listening to voters, they have shared my love for the city and my hope for our future, and their support shows their confidence in me as a City Councilperson.”
Meister could face as many as 10 candidates in the race to fill seats now occupied by incumbents John D’Amico, John Heilman and Abbe Land. Heilman and Land have not announced whether they will seek another term while Mayor D’Amico has said he will. If City Councilmember Jeffrey Prang is successful in his November race for the Los Angeles County Assessor position, a fourth position on the five-member Council may be up for grabs.
Meister’s fundraising total exceeds her total fundraising in two previous and unsuccessful campaigns for City Council. Her campaign advisor, Scott Schmidt, notes that it is unprecedented among non-incumbent West Hollywood City Council candidates with nine months remaining before the election.
“Lauren’s efforts these past few months have given her a real head start,” Schmidt said. And her donors’ diversity and support show that she will be a Council person for all of West Hollywood—not just the special interests.”
Of Meister’s 106 donors, 76 were residents of West Hollywood and nine were businesses or property owners in the City.
Meister is a former Public Safety and Planning commissioner. More information about her candidacy and campaign is available on her website www.Meister4WeHo.com.
Concerning crosswalks. My dog knows to look both ways, wait for the cars to stop anytime we cross streets, why can’t humans do the same thing? Your not going to get hit unless the car stopped for you is rear-ended. Quit texting and talking on your cell phone for a few seconds, it could save your life. Why is it candidates need to raise so much money in our small town? I wish every councilperson would abstain from voting on any issue where someone connected with that issue contributed to their campaign. Let’s be real, every one who contributes wants… Read more »
@Concerned Citizen. You really should get to know Lauren Meister. She is in favor of transparency in government and she will gladly tell you anything you want to know about her tenure on both commissions. She would still be on the Planning Commission had there not been favors to repay.
To Mr. Concerned Citizen – I don’t really follow the point of your questions or what you are insinuating by asking in a public forum. If you really are concerned you could go directly to the source for your answers. Be brave, come out from behind your pseudonym and your questions . Or do what I did and go to her LinkedIn page and you’ll see, Public Safety Commission almost 4 years and Planning Commission almost a year. D’Amico replaced her only because he had made a campaign promise to appoint his buddy Altschul if he wasn’t reappointed by Heilman.… Read more »
Correct me if I’m wrong here, but wasn’t she was appointed by Heilman to the Public Safety commission and served less than 2 yeas? And then quit? And then wasn’t she appointed by John D’amico to the planning commission and had to be asked to leave after a couple of months? Has anyone looked into this? Does anyone care?
I’m involved with the crosswalk safety push going on right now, Lauren is front and center with us.
Two things strike me right away. ONE: this shows that the people of WEHO are ready for change. TWO: It shows me that the people of WEHO are desperate to support a former Public Safety and Planning Commissioner to help make some changes. (did she work for WEHO? if so she did a pretty bad job). If she has a brain in her head she will immediately start doing something about crosswalk safety and getting the three “trigger-happy” cops off our streets. Her website said nothing about her or her record. Please don’t let this be another election where the… Read more »