Prime real estate for campaign headquarters can be quite the upgrade in an election year, especially when it's on Santa Monica's .
The Westside Democratic Headquarters for the Pacific Palisades Democratic Club is officially opening its 2012 location Thursday morning at 1408 Third Street Promenade.
"We're happy," said Adam Wolman, PPDC vice president of communications. "It's difficult to find a good location."
The organization's 2008 election headquarters was at a space on Wilshire Boulevard and 9th Avenue. Being on the Promenade, where there's lots of foot traffic from tourists and locals alike will be a boon, Wolman said.
The grand opening is 4 to 8:30 p.m. for the public ribbon cutting ceremony and Democratic National Convention-watching party. An open house will follow from noon to 5 p.m.
The event is in partnership with Organizing for America (OFA) and the West L.A. Democratic Club. OFA is subleasing space at the headquarters and plans to hold daily phone banks and other Get Out The Vote activities until Election Day.
Wolman said there were 20 volunteers working at the headquarters as of last week. As many as 100 volunteers came out in 2008, so the group expects to conduct more outreach in the coming weeks.
Dignitaries scheduled to appear Thursday include U.S. Rep Henry Waxman (D-Beverly Hills), Santa Monica Mayor Richard Bloom, City Controller Wendy Greuel, City Councilman Eric Garcetti and L.A. Deputy Mayor for Neighborhood & Community Services Torie Osborn.
"We are thrilled to have found such a great space for our 2012 PPDC Westside Democratic Headquarters," said PPDC President Melissa Grant in a press release. "Although our club is based in the Palisades, we have many members who live in Santa Monica, Brentwood, and Malibu, and wanted a central, visible, well-trafficked location to draw in as many volunteers as possible."
Jane Crist, neighborhood team leader for OFA added that being located in a world-famous spot in one of Santa Monica’s busiest commercial districts will expose it to a multitude of potential volunteers and supporters.
"And we're confident we can duplicate the successes of 2008," Crist said in a press release.
For more infomation visit the PPDC's website, or follow the group on Facebook (facebook.com/PacPalDemocrats) and Twitter (@PacPalDemocrats).
