Quick Take
Yvette Brooks will step down next week as mayor of Capitola to take over as CEO of United Way of Santa Cruz County, one of the region's more prominent nonprofits.
Capitola Mayor Yvette Brooks announced Friday she will step down as political leader of that city to become the next CEO of United Way of Santa Cruz County.
Brooks, who returned to the mayor’s seat at the end of 2024 as part of a mayoral rotation among city councilmembers, will trade the gavel for a C-suite office after six years on the Capitola City Council. Her final city council meeting will be Jan. 9, at which time the city council will decide whether to fill Brooks’ seat by appointment or special election.
“While it is an extremely difficult decision to step down from the council, I recognize the best way to continue to contribute to Capitola and this county I love is to dedicate all of my time and efforts to the United Way role,” Brooks said in a statement.
United Way of Santa Cruz County is among the more prominent nonprofit organizations focusing on education, health and financial stability, especially centered on youth. As a city councilmember, Brooks was a vocal advocate for improving children’s quality of life, pushing to create a tax-financed children’s fund and helping to lead the fundraising for an accessible playground at Jade Street Park. She turned her professional aim toward children as well, working as executive director of Your Future Is Our Business, a local nonprofit focused on linking students to careers.
In taking over as CEO of the local United Way, Brooks rises to a seat long held by Keisha Browder, the local organization’s first Black chief executive who left in the fall to lead the Bay Area chapter.
Hajime Arnold, board chair of United Way of Santa Cruz County, said in a statement that Brooks’ “proven leadership abilities and deep roots in our community make her the ideal choice to lead our organization forward.”
Brooks’ departure from the city council ushers in a new era for Capitola. Four years ago, Brooks, alongside Kristen Brown and Margaux Morgan, was part of the city’s first female city council majority. Now, none of those names will sit behind the five-member dais: Brown termed out at the end of 2024, Morgan failed in her fall reelection bid and Brooks will vacate her seat next week. The decision to appoint an interim city councilmember to finish Brooks’ remaining two years, or schedule a special election, will be up to incumbents Joe Clarke and Alex Pedersen, and new councilmembers Melinda Orbach and Gerry Jensen.
Have something to say? Lookout welcomes letters to the editor, within our policies, from readers. Guidelines here.