Five candidates vie for four seats on SMMUSD board Play

Five people are running for the four open seats on the Santa Monica-Malibu school board this fall.

Santa Monica politicians always dominate the Santa Monica-Malibu school board elections, with Malibu voters sometimes able to get a Malibu board member elected — but only if there is just one candidate from Malibu.

Stacy Rouse, a Malibu resident, is seeking her second term. In her interview with the Santa Monica Democratic Club, she hit her Malibu credentials heavily.

“I am a resident of Malibu and as you know with our school district's at-large election, Malibu is not guaranteed,” Rouse said. “Everyone is voted by everyone in the community, and so Malibu is not guaranteed representation from somebody in Malibu who lives there on the board.”

Unlike the other four candidates — all from Santa Monica — Rouse talks about the Santa Monica-Malibu school district split from the beginning.

“I feel like it has been a vital time, as all times are, to have somebody who is in the Malibu community who is able to be that bridge between the Santa Monica city and the Malibu city and the residents, both directions,” she said. “And I know I've learned a lot in this year.”

The other four candidates are all Santa Monica residents. One of them, Robbie Staenberg, is endorsed by the bloc of Santa Monica school board members who have run the district for years. Staenberg right now works as a legislative staffer for the state assemblyman who represents Santa Monica. But he emphasizes his five years spent teaching government in an inner-city high school in Oakland.

“I have the experience of teaching at a Title I school. A Title I school, for those who don't know, is a federal designation about income levels of students,” Staenberg said. “I grew up here all around Santa Monica, but I am currently between Idaho and Montana on Third Street.”

The outsider is Harry Leshner, who says he is one of two candidates who have a kid in elementary schools. He is hoping to dislodge one of the other incumbents.

“As I have been engaging with voters on the campaign trail, literally everybody has been saying they think it's common sense that they have some board members who are parents with kids currently attending kids in the district,” Leshner said. “If I am elected, I would be the second member on the board, and actually the only one with elementary-age kids attending schools in the district.”

The other three candidates are veteran school board members. Alicia Mignano may be running for a second term, but she says she is running as a newcomer.

“I'm Alicia Mignano and I'm running for the school board to offer a fresh perspective,” she said. “I was an at-risk and an English learner in public schools, including schools in South Central Los Angeles. I am proud to be part of the SMMUSD community and I dedicate my time to ensure that all students receive an excellent public education.”

Laurie Lieberman is the veteran — she has been on the school board for three terms, since 2010.

“We're in the middle of a lot of things, we probably always will be. But I care deeply about what I do,” Lieberman said. “I care deeply about being on our public school board and about public education in general. We have two people on the board who have now are about to complete one term, who are fortunately running for re-election. We have other people who are probably not going to run next time.”

These sound bites are excerpts from extensive interviews conducted by the Santa Monica Democratic Club. They are very well done and we recommend them to your attention as you decide which candidate deserves your support. You can find them by searching YouTube for SMMUSD interviews 2026.