Doug Trussler, co-founder of Santa Monica-based private equity firm Bison Capital Asset Management, is running for Santa Monica City Council for the first time in the Nov. 3 election.
The nonpartisan race has three open seats, and voters may choose up to three candidates. Trussler said on his campaign website that Santa Monica needs "a Democrat with experienced business leadership who can solve complex problems," pointing to the city's structural deficit and affordability crisis as central issues.
Candidate information
- Born: March 23, 1971, in Tosamaganga, Iringa Region, Tanzania
- Residence: Santa Monica resident for more than 20 years. Moved to Brentwood, then Santa Monica, in 2001 and bought a home in Santa Monica in 2005, according to his campaign
- Family: Married to Blythe Holden, general counsel of Taboola, Inc. Two sons attend Santa Monica schools, according to his campaign
- Education: Honors business administration degree, Ivey Business School, University of Western Ontario, 1993, according to his campaign
- Party identification: Identifies as a Democrat, according to his campaign
Experience and public service
Trussler said he arrived in the United States in July 1993 on an H-1B work visa to join First Boston (Credit Suisse First Boston) in New York. He said he received permanent residence in 2000 and became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2010.
He co-founded Bison Capital Asset Management in Santa Monica in 2001, with offices at the foot of the Third Street Promenade, according to Bison Capital's website. The firm has partnered with more than 45 businesses with a focus on renewable energy and healthcare, and has created over 20,000 jobs, Trussler said on his campaign website. He said he has served on more than 50 corporate boards.
This is his first run for office.
In the community, Trussler said he coached with the YMCA for more than five years, volunteered with Chrysalis to help adults rebuild their lives and officiated more than 500 American Youth Soccer Organization games. He has served as a board member, coach and referee with the organization's Region 20, according to his campaign.
On the issues
City finances: Trussler's campaign focuses on stabilizing the city's finances and delivering measurable results, according to his campaign website. He has described Santa Monica's structural deficit and affordability crisis as both political and execution problems he said he is equipped to solve.
Housing development: Trussler has said multi-unit housing should only be built in the downtown area to help revitalize the city's central district, the Santa Monica Lookout reported. He disputes characterizations that he supports building thousands of units of new housing citywide, according to the Lookout.
Labor and business relations: Trussler has said he views partnering with labor as critical for business success. He described his endorsement from UNITE HERE Local 11 as an effort to "lock arms with the City and the residents in a positive way to solve the significant challenges we are facing," according to the Lookout.
Endorsements
Trussler has received endorsements from LA YIMBY and UNITE HERE Local 11, according to the Lookout. Local 11 said that while Trussler "might not agree on every issue, he has a pro-union vision where business and labor succeed together." Northeast Neighbors gave Trussler early backing but later said it was reconsidering its endorsement after his LA YIMBY endorsement, the Lookout reported.
The other certified candidates in the race are Ashley Oelsen, Brett Morrow, Caroline Torosis, Daniel S. Ivanov, Derrick Townsend, Eli Gill, Ericka Lesley, Lana Negrete, Lindsay Davis, Phil Brock and Wade Kelley.
Candidate responses were gathered through the candidate's campaign website and published reporting. Not all candidates responded to outreach at the time of publication.
