Margaret "Maggie" Bove-LaMonica is running for Hermosa Beach City Council in the Nov. 3 general election. Three seats are open. Six candidates are on the ballot: Bove-LaMonica, Dean Francois, Elka Worner, Eric Horne, Raymond A. Jackson and Rob Saemann.

Asked why she is running, Bove-LaMonica said in our candidate questionnaire: "I was born and raised on 30th Street, and I'm now raising my three children on the same streets. In 13 years on the school board, I saw what planning ahead can do." She added: "Residents and small businesses are stuck waiting on permits, and the city faces a predictable structural deficit from aging infrastructure and flat revenue."

Candidate information

Family: "I live in Hermosa Beach with my husband, John, our three children, our dog, two guinea pigs, and a rabbit. John and I met in the Peace Corps in Morocco … I'm a homeowner raising my kids on the same streets where I grew up, close to my mom and my sister."

Education: "Juris Doctor, Loyola Law School Master of Public Policy, University of Chicago Master's in Education, Loyola Marymount University B. A., Loyola Univ. New Orleans"

Occupation: "I'm Director of External Affairs for Alliance College-Ready Public Schools Foundation, building partnerships and support for public school students. Before that, I spent years in nonprofit leadership, including Director of Regional Impact at Leadership for Educational Equity (2017–2023), and leadership roles with BUILD and the LMU Family of Schools."

Party affiliation: "Democrat. I'm a lifelong registered Democrat and have never been registered with any other party. City Council is nonpartisan, and I'll serve every Hermosa resident."

Experience and public service

Bove-LaMonica listed the following offices in our questionnaire: "Trustee, Hermosa Beach City School District Board, first elected 2013 and elected three times. Current term ends December. ( Board President, Hermosa Beach City School District. 2017-2019, 2021) Elected delegate, California School Boards Association. (2018-2022) Elected Assembly Delegate, California Democratic Party, AD 66 (2017–2020). Chair, South Bay chapter of LA County's LA vs. Hate campaign. (2024-25)"

She also served as a Peace Corps volunteer, according to the Hermosa Beach City School District website.

Asked what accomplishments show she can handle the job, Bove-LaMonica said the school board "passed two facility bonds, Measure S and Measure HV, totaling about $87 million," "rebuilt two campuses and opened a third," and "avoided teacher layoffs when nearly every other county district made cuts."

On the issues

Asked to name the three most important issues facing Hermosa Beach, Bove-LaMonica identified permitting, the city budget and neighborhood character.

On permitting: "I'll replace open-ended waiting with fixed timelines for permits, zoning and code enforcement. I'll overhaul 1980s codes, update planning, parking and business rules, and build proactive notification so residents and businesses hear about construction or policy changes before they happen."

On the budget: "Hermosa faces a structural deficit driven by rising county contracts and aging infrastructure. I'll push for multi-year financial planning, tied to long-term infrastructure needs, instead of last-minute taxes and emergency fixes."

On protecting Hermosa Beach's character: "I'll protect beach access,public space, design streets, parks and access for neighbors from age 5 to 80, and keep open space, public safety and infrastructure strong. On housing, I'll prepare for the 2029 Housing Element. I'll hold study sessions on short-term rental safeguards, like density caps and 24/7 contacts, so we protect housing stock."

Asked what differentiates her from other candidates, Bove-LaMonica said: "I bring a track record, not just ideas. I've spent 13 years in elected local government … I'm also an attorney and policymaker, so I read the code, the contract and the budget."

Bove-LaMonica's responses come from a Surround Sound News candidate questionnaire submitted Monday, Oct. 5. The South Bay Tide publishes candidate profiles to help voters; profiles do not imply endorsement.