Meet Hap Henry, Candidate For Malibu City Council

MALIBU, CA — As ballots start to hit Malibu mailboxes, it’s time for locals to get to know their candidates.

Come Nov. 8, six candidates will vie for two open Malibu City Council seats as Karen Farrer and Mikke Pierson have terms ending this year. Neither will run for reelection.

Malibu residents will also weigh in on a number of other local elections, including the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District.

Visit this link for more information about the upcoming Malibu election.

A number of City Council candidates answered questions to introduce themselves to Patch readers. Get to know Hap Henry:

Age (as of Election Day)

30

Party Affiliation

Democrat

Family

Mother Kevin Hanna; father James Henry (deceased); sisters Moon Blauner & Grace Brown; girlfriend Emma Larson

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

My father worked as a staff member for a time under longtime Los Angeles County Supervisor Kenneth Hahn.

Education

Wonder Years Nursery School, Children's Creative Workshop, Juan Cabrillo Elementary School, Malibu Middle School, Malibu High School (2010), University of California, San Diego (BA, Political Science, 2014), briefly attended law school at Chapman University under full academic scholarship prior to pursuing entrepreneurship

Occupation

Co-Founder, Original Art Trading Society (OATS)

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

Student Body President, Malibu Middle School; Student Body President, Malibu High School; Vice Chair, Harry Barovsky Memorial Youth Commission, City of Malibu; Member, Measure BB Advisory Committee, SMMUSD; Commissioner, Point Dume Community Services District, Los Angeles County

Campaign website

haphenry.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

I am running for Malibu City Council to defend our natural environment and rural character, pursue new public recreation programs, promote safety on PCH and in our neighborhoods, continue the ongoing school district independence movement, adequately plan for future natural disasters, and ensure city government operates more efficiently and effectively to serve Malibu. My experiences as a product of Malibu public schools and youth sports and recreation programs, employment across Malibu and keen understanding of the issues we face, university education studying local government and urban planning at the university level, and volunteering in a wide variety of positions has prepared me to serve on Malibu's City Council.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I am the first candidate to be born in Malibu since our city's incorporation in 1991, and would bring a fresh perspective to the office. I am around half the age of the youngest of my fellow candidates, and have held leadership positions in government, education, and both nonprofit and for-profit businesses.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency):

There are six candidates campaigning for two open seats, with no incumbents running for re-election. The current City Council has failed the community by not successfully passing a short-term rental ordinance, ineffectively negotiating with outside agencies and relinquishing local control, inadequately prioritizing Woolsey Fire home rebuilds and not doing enough to expedite the process, and approving development variance requests that are contrary to Malibu's rural character.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform:

Addressing homelessness, fiscal responsibility, and implementing environmentally-conscious policies are also central tenets of my campaign platform.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

In my various leadership positions, I have worked with diverse coalitions of stakeholders to reach solutions to wide-ranging issues. For example, as Malibu High's Student Body President, I worked to ensure that the school could install lighting at the athletic field, while successfully lobbying to limit the amount of nights during which the lights would be used, in order to respect the neighborhood character and wildlife.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

As a kid, my dad told me, "Always remember to have fun!"

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I am running to represent all of Malibu, and to bring an end to business-as-usual politics at City Hall. I am firmly committed to preserving Malibu's natural beauty and being a steward of our environment. Decades of mismanagement at City Hall which has compromised our resident quality of life will not be erased overnight, though the election of reform-minded candidates will certainly be a step in the right direction. It is time to get Malibu back on track, quit selling out our city to benefit a select few, and work to bring our community back together. With Hap there's hope.