On Monday morning, Army veteran, Santa Monica Pier Board Member, and former
Democratic Club Vice President Dan Hall announced his campaign for Santa Monica City
Council.

“As one of the Army’s first out LGBTQ+ pilots, I am no stranger to tough fights and
standing up for what I believe,” said Dan in his launch announcement. “West Point taught
me the values of duty, inclusivity, selfless service, integrity, and personal courage. These
values have guided my professional career as an Army Officer, community organizer, and
public servant.”

Hall stated that his record of service and leadership in Santa Monica reflects the following values:

• Organizing against the City Council’s attempts to threaten our Rent Control law
• Door-knocking for Measure GS to bring millions of dollars to our schools and
  affordable housing programs
• Bringing economic opportunity to the City through my work at the Pier Board
• Flipping opposition to safe and inclusive restrooms designed for LGBTQ+ people,
  women, and children
• Supporting striking workers in their fight for better wages, protections, and
  benefits

“I’m running for City Council because I believe we can build a brighter future together,” said Hall. “One that’s safe and inclusive for all, no matter which neighborhood they’re from, where they work, the color of their skin, or who they love. Our beautiful beachside city deserves a government that serves and protects everyone: renters, workers, home and business owners, and visitors.”

Hall is launching his campaign with noteworthy support from local leaders including:

• Rick Chavez Zbur, State Assemblymember and Democratic Caucus Chair
• Sheila Kuehl, former Los Angeles County Supervisor
• Gleam Davis, Santa Monica City Councilmember and former Mayor
• Ted Winterer, former Santa Monica Mayor, Co-Chair, Community for Excellent Public
  Schools
• Judy Abdo, former Santa Monica Mayor
• Caroline Torosis, Santa Monica City Councilmember
• Jesse Zwick, Santa Monica City Councilmember
• Mike Bonin, former Los Angeles City Councilmember
• Margaret Quiñones-Perez, Chair, Santa Monica College Board
• Sion Roy, Santa Monica College Board Trustee
• Tom Peters, Santa Monica College Board Trustee
• Jennifer Smith, President, Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Board ofEducation
• Laurie Lieberman, Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Board of Education
  Member
• Danny Ivanov, Santa Monica Rent Control Board Commissioner
• Lonnie Guinn, Santa Monica Rent Control Board Commissioner
• Derek Devermont, Democratic National Committee Member, Chair, Public Safety
  Reform and Oversight Commission, Vice President, Santa Monica Democratic Club
• Susan Sheu, Los Angeles County Democratic Party Region 4 Vice Chair, Vice
  President, Santa Monica Democratic Club
• Keith Coleman, Vice President, Santa Monica Democratic Club, former Santa
  Monica-Malibu Unified School District Board of Education Member
• Sam Cozolino, Vice President, Santa Monica Democratic Club
• Cris Gutierrez, Co-Chair, Santa Monica Safe Streets Alliance, Co-Founder, Climate
  Action Santa Monica
• Melissa Goodman, Community for Excellent Public Schools Steering Committee
  Member
• Debbie Mulvaney, Community for Excellent Public Schools Steering Committee
  Member

He has also earned the support of regional and national progressive organizations including the Western States Carpenters Union and the prestigious VoteVets.

“Dan is exactly the kind of leader I want to partner with as we tackle tough regional
issues like homelessness, environmental justice, growing anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination,
racism, antisemitism, and all forms of hate,” said Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur, who
represents Santa Monica in the state legislature. “As Santa Monica’s second-ever out
LGBTQ+ Councilmember, he will bring needed representation to the City Council. I urge
Santa Monica to elect an extraordinary public servant and vote for Dan Hall.”

Hall was raised in a home that valued community and duty to others: his mother was a union
teacher and his grandfathers were a soldier and a firefighter. Feeling the call to serve others
himself, Dan enrolled in the United States Military Academy at West Point and joined the Army
at age 18. His military career began under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” which forced him to hide his
identity while serving our country. When the policy was repealed, Dan became one of the
Army’s first openly gay helicopter pilots, where he advocated for LGBTQ+ military health care,
pushed for access to anti-HIV drugs, and promoted mental health services for his soldiers.

Since exiting the military, Dan launched the world’s largest fleet of electric delivery vans, with an
emphasis on reducing carbon emissions in low-income, polluted communities. This led to a
transition into the diversity, equity, and inclusion field where he currently leads a team-building
programs supporting Black, Latino, Asian, women, and veteran leaders for a workforce of 1.3
million employees.

In January 2022, Dan was appointed by the City Council to the Santa Monica Pier Corporation
Board of Directors. While on the Pier Board, he leveraged his veteran status by supporting the
creation of the Direct Action Response Team (DART) to combat vendor violence, criminal
behavior, and safety risks at the Pier. Dan chairs the Leasing Sub-Committee where he partners
with the Pier’s small businesses and the City’s Economic Development Department to create a
safe, welcoming, and economically sustainable business environment.

From 2021-2023, Dan served on the Executive Board of the Santa Monica Democratic Club,
first as Vice Chair of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee, as Treasurer, and finally as Vice
President of Political Action, where he led the club’s organizing efforts supporting Labor’s strikes
in 2023. Dan was elected as a Delegate for Assembly District 51 to the California Democratic
Party, where he represents Santa Monica and currently serves on the Justice, Equity, Diversity,
and Inclusion Committee.

Dan holds a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School and will complete
a Master of Public Administration with a concentration in Local Government from the University
of North Carolina School of Government this spring.

He actively volunteers at Meals on Wheels West delivering meals to seniors throughout Santa
Monica. Hearing their stories of housing and food insecurity, bad-actor landlords, and City Hall
failing to properly enforce code requirements have further motivated him to launch this
campaign.

Hall is a member of the Mid-City Neighbors Association and attends church at the Unitarian
Universalist Community of Santa Monica on Arizona and 18th.

For more information, go to www.electdanhall.com and follow the campaign on Facebook,
Instagram, and Threads at @electdanhall.

Photo courtesy of Dan Hall.