Malibu Election 2018: 2 City Council Seats, 2 Measures On Ballot

MALIBU, CA – Voting-by-mail is underway in Malibu, and the general election will be held Nov. 6, when residents will vote on five candidates vying for two city council seats, along with two measures. The five city council candidates are: Karen Farrer, Olivia Damavandi, Jim Palmer, Mikke Pierson and Lance Simmens.

Karen Farrer has served the Malibu community for more than 25 years, her campaign website said. She's a three-time PTA president and Advocates for Malibu Public Schools (AMPS) Co-Founder, and has worked to establish an independent Malibu School District. Read more about Karen Farrer on her campaign website.

Olivia Damavandi calls herself "Malibu-centric," and has a lifelong history of serving Malibu, according to her campaign funding website. She was elected Honorary Mayor of Malibu by her high school peers, work as staff writer and assistant editor for The Malibu Times and also worked as the city's Media Information Officer. Read more about Olivia Damavandi on her campaign website.

Jim Palmer wants to "ensure that we protect our city, it’s natural resources, and our quality of life." He has a background in business and organizational management, and has experience as the Chair of the Malibu Works Commission, his campaign Facebook page said. Read more about Jim Palmer on his campaign page.

Mikke Pierson is running for city council because after seven years on the Planning Commission, he wants to help the City of Malibu move forward successfuly in terms of the environment, safety and neighborhood character, he said in a campaign video. "I know what's working, I know what's not working," he said. Read more about Mikke Pierson on his campaign Facebook page.

Lance Simmens is the only candidate endorsed by Congressman Ted Lieu, according to his campaign website. He moved to Malibu three years ago, and what stood out to him was the "strength and commitment of our citizens in their engagement with public affairs," but he was "saddened to see that that commitment had created a divisive rift among the community on issues of development, land-use, and the future of our city." Read more about Lance Simmens on his campaign website.

Malibu residents will also be voting on two measures, Measure G and Measure M.

Measure G is an "initiative measure" which was certified by the Malibu City Council on July 9.

"Shall the ordinance be adopted to (1) allow and regulate cannabis (marijuana) businesses; (2) permit existing medical marijuana dispensaries to sell and deliver recreational (adult use) cannabis; and (3) impose a new general tax of 2.5% of gross receipts from sales of non-medical cannabis, the revenues from which may be used for general city purposes, until repealed by voters, which tax is estimated to raise approximately $75,000-150,000 annually," according to the City of Malibu website.

Measure M is a School Facilities Improvement District No. 2 bond measure, known as the Malibu Classroom Repair and 21st Century Education Bond: "to improve, repair, and modernize outdated Malibu classrooms, science labs, libraries, instructional technology and other school facilities; improve school safety/security systems; shall Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District's School Facilities Improvement District No. 2 (Malibu Schools) issue $195 million of bonds at legal interest rates, averaging $10.8 million raised annually to repay issued bonds through final maturity, from levies estimated at three cents per $100 of assessed value, with citizens' oversight, annual audits, all funds benefitting Malibu schools," the City of Malibu website said.

Need to figure out where and when to vote? Check out our calendar listing – Vote In Malibu: Election Day 2018