A Contrast in Councilmen's Parting Words

At their final meeting as members of the City Council Tuesday night, Mayor Richard Bloom cited his accomplishments over the past 13 years and Bobby Shriver reflected on the relationships he formed with "wild" and "crazy" Santa Monica residents.

Bloom, who appears likely to win the November run-off for the 50th Assembly District seat, distributed a 10-page list, enumerating successes such as the planting of 8,000 trees, compiled by city staffers at his request.

"I think it’s instructive… to see just how much a city can accomplish when things are working well," Bloom said. "And things work well in Santa Monica."

Neither Bloom nor Shriver sought reelection to the local dais and their seats will be filled by Planning Commissioner Ted Winterer and Tony Vazquez, who served on the council in the 1990s. They will be installed in December.

For his part, Shriver, who served eight years, said, "although it’s great to have this list… I agree with Richard there are some amazing things on here… I think of the relationships with people I formed who I didn’t know."

He said he enjoyed getting to know residents such as former mayor Denny Zane and taking heat from gadflies and "rebellious" groups who protested at City Hall. He described canvassing and meeting a black woman who told him she wasn't able to start voting until she was in her 50s in 1964.

"To me... that's what makes the city great," Shriver said.

Bloom is a family law attorney. He chairs the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission. Shriver formerly worked in the venture capital business and co-founded (PRODUCT)RED. He has chaired the California State Parks and Recreation Commission.

Councilwoman Pam O'Connor credited both men for their work addressing homelessness in Santa Monica and on a regional level.

"You brought your heart… you brought analytical skills," she said.

As much as they were similar in their dedication to local politics, their styles of governing were different, councilman Terry O'Day noted.

O'Day said Shriver asked piercing questions of financial issues and Bloom "brought the council together" and helped find common ground.

Their future might be headed in the same direction, councilman Bob Holbrook said.

"[Bloom] is going on to a higher office and I have a hunch [Shriver] is, too," he said.

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