After running a very active campaign, which included a combination of riding her bicycle and mobilizing a precinct walk around the community in order to meet residents, the seasoned advocate for healthy environmental practices and a responsive government, Meghan Sahli-Wells became a member of the Culver City Council in the April 10 election.
It was her second attempt. She had lost by 32 votes in 2010.
“Riding my bike and walking helped target the most likely voters, and allowed me to meet new people, helping to put a face to a name,” Sahli-Wells said over a cup of coffee after arriving by bicycle to the interview before heading off to Earth Day events.
The candidate vying for one of the four available council seats came in second place by capturing 2909 votes and became the fifth woman to serve on the Culver City Council since its inception in 1917. She will serve a four-year term.
Watching the election returns at a party hosted by friends at a private home, Sahli-Wells victoriously celebrated by sipping on a glass of champagne.
“My two campaign managers were at City Hall texting results as they came in,” Sahli-Wells said. “We also had a whiteboard, so we could continually update the numbers.”
Set to serve a four-year term, Sahli-Wells clinched key recent endorsements from Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, Culver City Democratic Club, Culver City Employees Association, L.A. County Democratic Party, National Women’s Political Caucus Los Angeles Westside, and Southern California Americans for Democratic Action.
Earlier endorsements included U.S. Representative Karen Bass, State Assemblymember Holly Mitchell, Culver City Council member and former Mayor Christopher Armenta, and all five Culver City School Board members.
Armed with a vision to serve the community by working on the Council, and a commitment to make life better for the constituents of Culver City, Sahli-Wells said the City holds a special place in her heart.
“We’ve got something special, and I am confident and positive we can get things accomplished,” Sahli-Wells said.
Passionate about community involvement and aware of the responsibilities and rewards of leadership, Sahli-Wells was born in Los Angeles but grew up in Culver City. With a keen sense for political activism at an early age, she successfully ran for student government while attending Los Angeles County high school for the Arts, fighting against apartheid and racism with the L.A. Student Coalition.
The daughter of an artist and professional animator father and editor mother, who worked at the Social Studies School Service supervising the writers who worked on the catalogs, Sahli-Wells said her early influences came from her parents, because they actually talked and read, creating a suitable environment for having a conversation.
“We had no television,” Sahli-Wells said laughingly.
Introduced early in life to environmental issues by her conservationist father, she was aware of air pollution and the concept of saving water, declaring that individual action makes a difference.
“I remember smog-days. It’s better now, but it can still get better,” Sahli-Wells said.
With a long list of leadership credentials, Sahli-Wells is an avid supporter of Culver City community affairs. She is a member of Culver City Friends of the Library, the Culver City Historical Society, Ballona Creek Renaissance, and the Culver City Education Foundation. She also serves as first vice- president of the Culver City Democratic Club.
The tour-de-force of community involvement who is a big believer in collective action and hopes to inspire physical wellness and environmental awareness is also co-founder of the Culver City Bicycle Coalition, and is former vice-chair of Culver City’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee that helped craft the first bike and pedestrian master plan for the city.
“The bike plan is about both infrastructure and education,” Sahli-Wells said. “One of the ideas is to put bicycle sharrows along Sepulveda Boulevard, which are shared lane parking and bike ground markings to help guide riders in the right direction alongside traffic. People tend to have a lot of bad habits.”
Mindful of alternative modes of transportation, Sahli-Wells said with the new Expo light rail line stopping at the eastern side of Culver City and set to pass right through Culver City this summer, that one of the ideas is to implement bicycle and walking facilities from the Expo stop into the civic center, making access to downtown safe for both pedestrians and bicyclists.
Leading the charge to environmental awareness with a mission to make the community less dependent on fossil fuels and an advocate for healthy environmental practices, Sahli-Wells is on the Steering Committee of Transition Culver City, whichsupports safe and healthy community-building and sustainable practices. She also serves on the neighborhood group, Green Space Advisory Committee.
One of Sahli-Wells’ Earth Day events in April included a bike tour of the Fourth Annual Mar Vista Green Garden Showcase, which shares topography boundaries with Culver City.
“It’s a great garden tour that showcases gardens that are an alternative to chemical and water intensive gardens,” Sahli-Wells said. “It’s very inspiring.”
Sahli-Wells graduated from UCLA with two Bachelor’s Degrees. She earned a BA in World Arts and Cultures, and graduated cum laude in French. While living in Paris for 15 years, she also worked as a translator and a special collections librarian. She later did graduate studies in visual anthropology at the Ecole de Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales in Paris that subsequently led to creating a special children’s photography project in Madagascar.
Recognized in 2011 by the National Women’s Political Caucasus Los Angeles Westside chapter as one of 12 “Remarkable Women,” Sahli-Wells said she draws inspiration from her grandmother, teacher and journalist, Dr. Eleanor Harburton who passed away last October.
“She learned to fly an airplane. She was a great inspiration and was always helping people.” Sahli-Wells said in amazement. “She later became a certified financial planner and one of her goals was to help women become financially aware, teaching them how to budget their money.”
Sahli-Wells lives in downtown Culver City with her husband Karim, who owns a home-based graphic design business, and her two young sons, ages seven and 10, who attend Linwood Elementary School, where she participates in volunteer activities.
With her dedication to volunteering, Sahli-Wells is as an active member of the PTA, the Booster Club and Safe Routes to School Committee, which ensures that kids get to school safely by either walking or biking.
In 2010, she was elected Chair of the non-profit Downtown Neighborhood Association, which was formed as a reaction to development in the neighborhood because of improper excavation of existing structures.
“Because of led in the soil, it’s about responsible excavation.” Sahli-Wells said. “The structures are located near a pre-school and an elementary school, plus there are all the neighbors. We raised the alarm about the situation.”
Using tools of public policy and engagement, Sahli-Wells is all about input. With a life-long commitment to moving the community forward, Sahli-Wells’ overall vision for the City is to improve the quality of life for Culver City residents.
As far as the Council’s agenda, with rampant state budget cutbacks, Sahli-Wells said the City faces many challenges, especially for redevelopment and the schools. Because of the economy, Sahli-Wells added, the Council will have to be creative about leveraging money, going after grant funding.
“Our first order of business is how to address the budget-deficit issue without compromising core city services,” Sahli-Wells said. “This is our first hurdle.”
What stands out on her long-term agenda is that the residents voices be heard, wanting everyone to feel included by hearing their opinion on an issue, available community resources that serves all ages, friendly streets, support of local businesses, and a community that is less car dependent.
“Our greatest resource is the people of the City, which helps bring a different perspective,” Sahli-Wells said. “It’s astounding what people bring to the table.”
A voice of experience, Sahli-Wells said she has a willingness to explore ideas for a better community.
“As a community organizer, I have a great sense of community. I just don’t want to be against something, but for something,” Sahli-Wells said with conviction.
Sahli-Wells hit the ground running at her first Council meeting April 23, after taking the constitutional and loyalty oaths, when she conducted her first order of business as an official member of the City Council, which was electing Andrew Weissman for mayor and Jeffrey Cooper for the new vice-mayor.
After thanking her family, campaign managers and a host of others who supported her during the four-month campaign, Sahli-Wells expressed the disappointment in low-voter turnout, and said the city needs to improve on participation in the democratic process.
“With the issues confronting the City, I hope to bring a diverse perspective to the Council.” Sahli-Wells said from the dais. “I know we will work well together.”
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