With Tuesday’s City Council election right around the corner, Malibu voters have precious few days to make up their minds about which candidates to cast their ballots for, with five candidates vying for two seats on Malibu’s five-person governing body.
A few surprising themes have emerged that are unique to the 2014 race. For one, the 9,424 voters registered to vote in this election are nearly 750 more than in 2012, when 8,672 residents were registered.
Former Malibu Mayor Sharon Barovsky speculated that the increase in voters was tied to the 2012 presidential election, as well as departed voters that have not yet been dropped from the voter registration roll.
“We had a presidential election [in 2012], so a lot of people registered for that,” Barovsky said. “And old people are not dropped off the list. Somebody buys a house, they don’t drop [the former owner]. That doesn’t surprise me. I know with Obama there was a huge registration push.”
Numbers between 2008 and 2010 also saw an increase in registered voters, although not as large as this cycle. Going into 2008, a presidential election year, Malibu had 8,280 registered voters. In the following election in 2010, that number had risen to 8,837.
“My guess is we still have around 8,500 registered voters,” Barovsky said.
Absentee voting
Another trend to watch is an increase in absentee voting. As of March 31, the day before the last day to request Vote by Mail ballots, 3,527 of these absentee ballots had been requested, with 1,078 returned.
By contrast, in 2012 and 2010, absentee ballots accounted for 1,494 and 1,679 of the votes cast, respectively.
“A lot of people are voting absentee this time,” Barovsky said.
In Malibu City Council elections since 2008, absentee ballots have accounted for roughly half
of all votes cast. This may give some indication of voter turnout for this year’s election, though a week remains for voters to submit their ballots.
Vote By Mail ballots can be submitted to any polling location or to Malibu City Clerk Lisa Pope before 8 p.m. Tuesday.
Malibu voter turnout
Voter turnout in Malibu has historically been lower than the national average. According to Pepperdine public policy professor and local expert Michael Shires, this is likely not a reflection of Malibu’s demographics.
“The bigger story in Malibu is likely the existence of second homes and a highly mobile population where many individuals are not always present around the election,” said Shires in an email.
In regards to this election, says Shires, voter turnout could take a dip.
“I would expect a low voter turnout next week. There is little national appetite for politics—the distaste is bipartisan—and this spills over to local elections,” Shires wrote, adding, “Voters are just tired of the politics of negativity and are looking for leadership and vision—something very hard to deliver in a small, local race.”
Candidate quick facts
The candidates, in the order they appear on the ballot, are: June Louks, Andy L yon, Lou La Monte, Hamish Patterson and Laura Zahn Rosenthal.
June Louks is a political newcomer and founder of the Malibu Agricultural Society who seeks to encourage more public participation if elected. She is also concerned with keeping Malibu’s local businesses viable.
Andy Lyon, who along with Hamish Patterson is making his second bid for Malibu City Council after falling short in 2012, has been a Malibu resident since 1962 and is in favor of “keeping Malibu a vibrant, livable community,” according to his biography in the ballot.
Incumbent Lou La Monte has been on Malibu City Council since 2010. His platform includes factors such as local control, fiscal responsibility and public safety, focusing around the idea of “bringing Malibu together,” according to his website.
Hamish Patterson, along with Andy Lyon, is in the midst of his second campaign for Malibu City Council, running as an “outsider to the political machine,” who wants to provide better youth facilities such as skate parks and baseball diamonds, according to his interview with The Malibu Times.
Incumbent Laura Z. Rosenthal was elected to the council for the first time in 2010. In her Malibu Times inter view she stated that she hopes to move Malibu forward while protecting its environment. Rosenthal is also in favor of an independent Malibu school district.
Polling Locations
Precinct 2 – Duke’s Restaurant, the Ocean Room
Precinct 14 – Malibu City Hall, the Zuma Room
Precinct 51 – Malibu West Swim Club banquet hall
Precinct 57 – Malibu High School library
Precinct 59 – Malibu United Methodist Church, Gabrielson Hall
Precinct 60 – Point Dume Elementary School library
Precinct 64 – Bluffs Park, Michael Landon Center
All seven polling locations open at 7 a.m. on Tuesday morning and remain open throughout the day until 8 p.m. Each of the polling stations is handicap accessible.
Those unsure of their precinct may go to the Los Angeles County Registrar/Recorder website [www.lavote.net/locator] to locate the polling place their residence falls into.
Peak hours at Malibu polling locations, according to City Clerk Lisa Pope, tend to be early morning and late evening, so those looking to avoid wait time should aim to vote midday.