Ken Edwards, Mayor During Santa Monica Rent Fight, Dies
Santa Monica City Councilman Ken Edwards, a liberal Democrat who was mayor during the city’s bitter struggle over rent control, has died after a three-year battle with liver cancer. He was 44.
Edwards died late Tuesday night at St. John’s Hospital in Santa Monica.
A county probation officer by profession, Edwards was active in politics for more than a decade. In 1975, he was elected president of the Santa Monica Democratic Club. He served on the city Planning Commission for three years, and was elected to the council on a tenant-activist slate in 1981.
When his fellow council members chose him to be mayor in 1983, Edwards pledged to restore the “politics of civility” to a city that was deeply divided over rent control. His emphasis on cooperation helped the council resolve several major development issues.
He was reelected to the council in 1984 with the highest vote in recent Santa Monica history, but lost the mayor’s post when the council majority became more politically moderate. Shortly afterward, his health began failing and he had to cut back his schedule.
He was admitted to St. John’s earlier this month.
Edwards is survived by his wife, Sue, and a son, David, 6. Services will be private.
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