Cecilia Taylor, who has represented the eastern most district on City Council for eight years, has announced via email that she won’t be running for reelection in November.
Her decision throws open the door for other candidates to run for the District 1 council seat without having to challenge an incumbent.
“When I first stepped up to run for office in 2016, I could not have fully predicted the immense learning curve ahead of me,” Taylor wrote in an email on Sunday informing people about her decision. “However, being a third-generation resident of our neighborhood provided me with an invaluable perspective and an unshakeable insight into the real needs, history and heart of our people.”
Taylor ran unsuccessfully for council in 2016. Then the city received an anonymous threat that if the at-large system for selecting council members wasn’t dropped, the city would be sued because it didn’t have districts that made it easier for minority voters to win. The threat was communicated to the city by Malibu attorney Kevin Shenkman, who didn’t disclose the identity of his client. Council members at the time didn’t push to have Shenkman identify his client.
Instead, the city went to geographic districts for council by the 2018 election. Taylor won that election in the Belle Haven district.
Taylor has denied speculation that she was Shenkman’s client.
Taylor is the founder of Belle Haven Action, a nonprofit which advocates for Belle Haven residents. The city was recently given the OK by a state ethics agency to enter into a contract with Climate Resilient Communities, of which Belle Haven Action is a subcontractor.
With the introduction of district elections, fewer people have been running for council. In 2008, eight people entered the race. By 2024, the city had only three candidates, and one of them was 91 years old.
This time, voters will fill three seats this November in Districts 1, 2 and 4.
No candidates have yet announced for the District 1 seat.
In District 2, incumbent Drew Combs is seeking reelection and will be challenged by Vamsi Velagapudi. District 2 includes the Willows and Suburban Park neighborhoods.
In District 4, Betsy Nash has decided not to run again. Charlotte Reed and Laura Melahn have decided to run for that seat. District 4 includes Allied Arts and Downtown Menlo Park.
Hmmmm. Maybe i should be the first funeral director.