Quick Take
In the contested races for the Watsonville City Council, agricultural manager Ed Acosta maintained his early lead against former city councilmember Nancy Bilicich in District 7, while political newcomer Angel Zuniga pulled ahead of incumbent Casey Clark in the race for the District 5 seat.
Wednesday, 9:24 a.m. – In the contested races for the Watsonville City Council, agricultural manager Ed Acosta maintained his early lead against former city councilmember Nancy Bilicich in District 7, while political newcomer Angel Zuniga pulled ahead of incumbent Casey Clark in the race for the District 5 seat.
In the latest batch of results, released at 1:53 a.m. Wednesday, Zuniga was ahead in District 5, with 50.45% of the votes counted, while Clark had 48.66% of the vote. In District 7, Acosta maintained his lead, with 52.3% of the votes counted, compared to 47.29% for Bilicich.
The next batch of election results is expected at 4 p.m. Thursday.
Clark, a state-licensed administrator for adult residential facilities helping adults with developmental disabilities, is finishing out his first term on the Watsonville City Council. Clark told Lookout that he wants to build upon the work he and his colleagues have done in the past four years, particularly around economic development and infrastructure.
Zuniga, an operations manager for supply-chain company Americold, is a political newcomer who is focused on supporting local businesses and public safety. He told Lookout he’ll bring “a lot of love and leadership, and a results-driven mentality” to the dais.
The winner of the District 5 race will become mayor in 2027. The city rotates its mayor and vice mayor positions among the council districts each year. Clark is currently the vice mayor.
Bilicich, a longtime educator, is seeking to return to the city council after an eight-year absence from city politics. She told Lookout that she’d like to see overdue projects, like repairs to the Pajaro River levee, reach completion. Bilicich would also like to explore the possibility of building a third fire station on the east side of Watsonville, where District 7 is located.
Acosta, an agricultural manager and a trustee for the Santa Cruz County Board of Education, is seeking a first-term on city council as a way to give back to his community. He’s focused on developing Watsonville’s local economy and prioritizing public safety, including support for a third fire station.
