The Culver City community leader is running for one of four City Council seats up for election on April 10, 2012.

Meghan Sahli-Wells will officially declare her candidacy for Culver City Council at a “Campaign Kick-off” event on Sunday, January 8, 2012, 3 PM – 5 PM at Gregg Fleishman Studio, 3850 Main Street, Culver City, 90232 (NE corner of Culver and Main).

Meghan will be joined by supporters, current and former City officials, and other community leaders who believe she is the best choice to serve on the Culver City Council. The event is open to all members of the public, who are invited to come learn more about the candidate, her ideas for improving Culver City, and her significant record of achievement and service to the community.

Numerous current City officials, representatives and community leaders have already endorsed her candidacy, including U.S. Representative Karen Bass, Culver City Council member and former Mayor Christopher Armenta, School Board President Karlo Silbiger, and newly elected School Board members Laura Chardiet and Nancy Goldberg. “I cannot imagine a better advocate for Culver City residents,” Goldberg said of Meghan.

Sahli-Wells was awarded “Democrat of the Year” in 2010 by the L.A. County Democratic Party, and was recognized by the National Women’s Political Caucus (L.A. Westside chapter) in 2011 as one of twelve “Remarkable Women” alongside Attorney General Kamala Harris and Assembly members Holly Mitchell and Betsy Butler. She also served as Second Vice-Chair of the Culver City Democratic Club.

Chair and CEO of the nonprofit Culver City Downtown Neighborhood Association, Sahli-Wells is dedicated to helping residents create a more sustainable, safe and healthy community. Appointed to the City’s Advisory Committee on Redevelopment (ACOR), she favors development that creates safe and vital neighborhoods, and preserves the qualities that make our City such a great place to live, work and play.

A consistent advocate for smart transportation in Culver City, including the use of bicycle lanes, light rail integration, and pedestrian-friendly sidewalks, Meghan served as Vice-Chair of Culver City’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Initiative Advisory Committee, where she helped craft the city’s first Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan. She also co-founded the Culver City Bicycle Coalition, and is on the steering committee for Transition Culver City, a group committed to community-building and sustainable practices. In addition, she is a member of the recently formed Green Space Advisory Committee, a group meeting to evaluate the use of Culver City Parks. A champion of environmental initiatives, Sahli-Wells believes Culver City can be a model community that employs the best ways to increase energy efficiency, reduce pollution, and protect natural resources like Ballona Creek.

Please note: There is bike parking at the front entrance of the gallery. Culver City Bus #1 stops right in front of the gallery. There is 2-hour free parking in the Ince parking structure at 9090 Culver Blvd., and in the Cardiff parking structure at 3846 Cardiff Ave.