by Garth Meyer
“Hard to say, easy to support” is the tagline for Paige Kaluderovic, a candidate for city council in District Three.
The former college soccer and rugby player moved to Redondo Beach in 2021. Before buying a house here her husband had commuted to the South Bay for 10 years.
Kaluderovic (Kah-loo-jeh-ro-vich) is the legislative chair for Washington Elementary PTA. This is her first run for public office.
Her interest was sparked last August while walking her two daughters, ages 7 and 9, to Washington Elementary School. Their route crosses Lilienthal Avenue at Ralston Lane.
She recalled that current District Three representative Christian Horvath had sought a crossing guard at the intersection, for an annual cost of $19,000. But it was not included in the 2022-23 city budget.
“I started to pay more attention to what was going on then,” Kaluderovic said.
(Horvath did get approval for a crossing guard at the Inglewood Avenue and 182nd Street intersection).
Soon another item drew Kaluderovic’s interest — the Oct. 19 special election (cannabis initiative and Councilman Zein Obagi, Jr., recall attempt), and the elections’ cost, compared to if the recall was left on the November general election ballot, and the cannabis initiative this March.
“I was wondering why we’re spending money on things that don’t add value to our quality of life,” Kaluderovic said.
She has been endorsed by Horvath as “the only candidate who will ensure North Redondo priorities are not lost in a sea of competing waterfront needs. She is not beholden to special interests or the council majority.”
Another concern of hers is new housing the state has mandated for the city, much of it at the Galleria site in North Redondo.
“My understanding is the state mandate is to spread it out,” she said.
Kaluderovic is self-employed as a postpartum doula, which is someone who provides information to women after giving birth. She also works as a consultant for Bellibind, in post-partum support.
“This was not on my radar at all (to run for city council),” Kaluderovic said. “But I tell my daughters all the time, if you don’t like something, do something about it.”
Kaluderovic grew up in Parker, Colo., a suburb of Denver, and went to College of Charleston, where she played soccer for two years.
“I was not a debutante, so I didn’t stay in the south,” she said.
Kaluderovic transferred to Colorado State where she finished a degree in Business Administration and played on the club rugby team, then for the University of Barcelona as a walk-on while studying abroad.
“They say soccer is a gentleman’s game played by hooligans and rugby is a hooligan’s game played by gentlemen,” Kaluderovic said.
She was new to the game at the start.
“I went to the meeting, put on my cleats and started playing,” she said of her rugby experience. “Maybe that’s what I’m doing with city council.”
After college, she moved to Las Vegas for an internship with Richmond American Homes. After nine months she moved to Tarzana, Calif.
“I was dating someone (in L.A.). The job and the boy didn’t work out,” she said.
“People would say are you in the industry? I didn’t know what that meant. If you mean, do I have a job? Yes, I have a job.”
During the ensuing years, she lived in Brentwood, and after marrying, in Studio City and Santa Monica.
Her husband works for Sentinel Wealth Advisory Group in El Segundo.
Kaluderovic coaches their youngest daughter’s soccer team.
“With my older daughter, she and I agreed it’s probably better if I just cheer,” Kaluderovic said.
She also volunteered for two years as a Court-Appointed Special Advocate for foster children, in Santa Monica.
The following are Kaluderovic’s responses to a few short Easy Reader questions:
What does she think of the current city council?
“I see quite a bit of divisiveness. The impression I get from the people I’ve talked to (campaigning) is they don’t feel the council is as productive as they should be; and more political.”
What about the special council meeting on whether Horvath should vacate his seat?
“It seemed like he had addressed the question. I felt like they were over-reaching…,“ It made people who were unaware (of local politics) pay more attention.”
AES site?
“The power plant should go away. For what goes there… I would like to hear what the police department has to say about patrolling a 50-acre park.”
Campaigning?
“Campaigning is a great growth experience. It’s almost like being pregnant. When everyone seems to think it’s okay to comment on your physical appearance. Now, it’s to comment on your character and qualifications, which is good, it’s what you’re signing up for.”
Housing?
“(Spreading it out) can lift up our community and it wouldn’t be a burden. Everybody has to do their part. If it’s spread out, no one resource will be overused, to not overburden one school (for example).”
Catalina Village project?
“I watched some of the meeting, not all of it,” she said of the 10-hour city council session Jan. 24. “I fear that this is going to get us in another lawsuit. We’re not providing the housing that we even said we would.” ER
