Kera Blades-Snell is running for the Santa Monica Community College Board in the Nov. 3, 2026, election. Three seats are open. Voters may choose up to three candidates.
Blades-Snell listed four campaign priorities in her Santa Monica Democratic Club questionnaire response: student success and educational access, workforce development and career readiness, student wellness and support services including mental health, and transparent and responsible governance.
The other candidates in the race are Luis Barrera Castanon, Oscar De La Torre, Sion Roy and Tom Peters.
Candidate information
- Residence: Santa Monica (approximately 10 years), according to her questionnaire response
- Education: Bachelor's degree from the University of South Florida; master's degree in hospitality management from the University of South Florida, according to her questionnaire response
- Background: Immigrant from Belize; first-generation college graduate, according to her questionnaire response
Experience and public service
Blades-Snell serves as executive director of the Santa Monica Black Empowerment Association, according to her questionnaire response. She is also president of SMC Associates, a community organization affiliated with Santa Monica College.
Through the Santa Monica Black Empowerment Association, Blades-Snell said she founded the Empower Her Entrepreneurial Program, a ten-week business development course for women. She said she wrote the curriculum and textbook and personally teaches the course.
She also listed membership in the Rotary Club of Santa Monica and board positions with the Santa Monica History Museum and Santa Monica Travel and Tourism, according to her questionnaire response.
Blades-Snell said she has endorsements from Santa Monica Mayor Caroline Torosis, Superintendent Antonio Shelton and state Assembly member Rick Zbur. She also listed endorsements from SMC trustees Rob Rader, Luis Barrera Castanon, Anastasia Foster, Sion Roy and Tom Peters.
On the issues
Budget and fiscal governance: Blades-Snell said she advocates for stronger board engagement in budget planning, regular financial reviews and early identification of fiscal challenges. She said she would balance fiscal responsibility with the protection of educational quality and support of employees, emphasizing transparency and stakeholder engagement.
Student housing insecurity: Blades-Snell said SMC should address student housing insecurity through a combination of on-campus housing, community partnerships and supportive services. She said the college should work with the city, affordable housing providers and organizations such as Community Corporation of Santa Monica. She said access to new student housing should prioritize low-income students, homeless or housing-insecure students, former foster youth and students facing the greatest barriers.
Artificial intelligence in education: Blades-Snell said she supports developing a clear AI policy at SMC. She said students need to understand how to use AI as a tool, not as a replacement for critical thinking and research. She recommended looking at what other states, professors and teachers are doing and considering the American Federation of Teachers' 10-point plan to boost teaching and learning in the AI era.
Candidate responses are drawn from Blades-Snell's Santa Monica Democratic Club questionnaire for the 2026 College Board race. Policy positions and biographical claims are attributed to the candidate unless otherwise noted.
