Quick Take
David Schwartz, an accountant who has lived in Santa Cruz County for 30 years, argues his fiscal responsibility and outsider status make him the best candidate for District 2. He has never held political office. He plans to focus on roads, housing and eliminating waste. He is against Measure K, the county’s half-cent sales tax increase and says leadership is about trust, compassion and listening.
Editor’s note: Lookout editors wanted to give you a chance to hear from candidates directly. But we also did not want them to simply repeat their campaign slogans. So we asked them a single question: “How will you provide the sort of leadership our community needs and how are you prepared to meet the moment as it arises?”
We gave them 500 words to answer. We hope their answers will provide one more outlet of information as you decide who to vote for on March 5.
Leadership is all about standing up and taking risks.
I am taking a risk running for this position. I offer leadership based on mutual understanding, compassion, and respect. I will take the initiative to find ways to fix our roads and make commuting in Santa Cruz County less burdensome. I will not ignore the present, while planning for the future.
I will speak with every county department head to find out the most pressing issues they face. I will formulate a plan to address these issues. I will collaborate with all members of the board and other stakeholders to seek out and find real solutions to the problems like getting permits so you can build, fixing roads so you do not spend endless hours in your car getting back and forth from home, and building housing that is affordable.
I will identify and contact all outside agencies and businesses the county currently utilizes in providing services to our citizens and find out what if anything we can do to maximize the dollars we have available. I will find the waste in our budget and eliminate it.
We have a lot of work to do, and I am ready, willing and able to begin today.
Albert Einstein famously said, “Imagination is more important than knowledge.” He also said, “We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.”
I am not a politician or government employee. I am an accountant; I’ve operated my own local business for more than 30 years. I bring a different way of thinking to the county. My wife, Natalain, and I have two grown children, seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. We own and operate a certified organic farm in Corralitos. I am a veteran and have helped hundreds in Santa Cruz County start businesses, buy homes, save on taxes and make their lives better.
I want to get things done within a reasonable period and at a reasonable cost. I think about what you need to make your life better. I recognize we need to help those who can’t help themselves, but I do not agree that we should create an industry out of homelessness.
We need solutions.
Some things we should do include places where the unhoused can park a vehicle or pitch a tent, places where someone can shower in privacy or use a bathroom. These are ways we can help give people some dignity. Let’s work together to find other solutions.
With more housing comes the need for more water. Let’s stop wasting water by allowing homeowners to capture rainwater. Let’s find ways to use less water like helping people put in on-demand hot water systems. This saves water by reducing the amount of water lost by running a faucet until the water gets hot. There are very affordable plumbing items that can save gallons of water each day, which in turn saves people money. Let’s also limit the amount a water district can raise rates each year.
As your new supervisor, I will use my skills, knowledge, experience, compassion and imagination to help find unique solutions to problems facing our county.
I look forward to making your life better.
David Schwartz’s campaign site is here.