Culver City Observer -

Thomas Small, a member of the Culver City Cultural Affairs Commission, has announced his intention to run for a seat on the Culver City Council.

Small joins a crowed race for three council seats. Incumbent councilmember Meghan Sahli-Wells is running for reelection along with Goran Erickson, Chair of the Finance Advisory Committee; Marcus Tiggs, Chair of the Fiesta La Ballona and former member of the City Planning Commission; and Scott Wyant, Planning Commissioner.

The election will be held on Tuesday, April 12.

Small will hold a campaign kick-off event and celebration on Sunday, January 10, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the home of David and Diana Hauptman, located at 8925 Carson St., Culver City.

David and Diana Hauptman are serving as honorary campaign co-chairs. "I am so pleased Thomas is running for city council," David Hauptman, former Culver City mayor, said. "Thomas is devoted to Culver City, and he's smart. What really sets him apart is his vast experience with urban design projects around the world. Culver City will be facing important challenges down the road, and Thomas is uniquely suited to help us respond to them."

Thomas Small is a writer and an expert in the fields of architecture and historic preservation, urban design and conscientious development.

He and his wife, Joanna Brody, have two young children who attend Linwood Howe Elementary School, where she chairs the PTA and he is a parent-volunteer in the before-school Spanish enrichment program, which his wife co-founded. Thomas has also coached AYSO youth soccer.

Recently elected School Board member Kelly Kent said, "We are exceptionally fortunate that Thomas and Joanna chose to live in Culver City. They are a tremendous asset to Culver City schools, both in terms of providing enrichment opportunities to our children, and supporting and pursuing environmental practices that will benefit the whole community of Culver City for decades to come."

As a Culver City commissioner of Cultural Affairs, Small initiated Culver City's new Artist and Poet Laureate program, helped bring an international film festival to Culver City, and is working to update the city's approach to historic preservation.

He also serves on the commission's Art in Public Places subcommittee, working closely with all new major development projects in Culver City. In addition, Small moderated the Cultural Affairs Foundation's Architecture Talks, created to elucidate Culver City residents and city leaders about the potential of excellent design to improve a community.

"I am committed to a Culver City where everyone thrives," Small said. "We will all thrive when we achieve true excellence in urban planning and transportation design; when we create more high quality and accessible cultural experiences for our children, and enhance the parks for our families; when we optimize services for our seniors; when we nurture the creative economy and bring more socially responsible revenue into our city coffers."

"Our residents and business owners must be given the opportunity to play a more central role in every development project," Small added. "We need to make sure that any development projects protect our small community environment. This includes improved public notice about all upcoming projects and increased community involvement early in the process. Development projects must reflect Culver City values by including excellent transportation and parking design, outstanding public art and open space, and the most advanced environmental design."

Mayor Mehaul O'Leary and Vice Mayor Andy Weissman will retire from the council in April having reached their term limits.

For more information about the event and to RSVP, email Coco Lim at colleenlim93@gmail.com. He can also be found at: http://www.thomas4culvercity.org

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