Election season is here – and if the energy in the room on April 15 was any indication, South County voters are ready.
Lookout Santa Cruz hosted its first election forum in Watsonville that Wednesday evening, bringing together the three candidates vying for the District 4 Santa Cruz County supervisor seat: incumbent Felipe Hernandez and challengers Tony Nuñez and Elias Gonzales. Nearly 80 people packed the room (and 50 joined online) to hear the candidates make their case on issues that hit close to home – housing, economic investment, homelessness and the controversial battery storage project proposed for outside Watsonville.
The conversation was lively, substantive and at times pointed. All three candidates agreed on one foundational truth: South County has long been underserved by county government. What they disagreed on – and debated with real energy – was what to do about it.
Election coverage is free – thanks to our members
All of Lookout’s election coverage – forums, candidate profiles, voter guides – is free and open to everyone. That’s only possible because of our members, who make it their business to ensure that civic information reaches the whole community, not just those who can afford a subscription.
If you want to be part of making that happen, now is a great time to join. We have a special election membership offer: your first year for just $99 with coupon code Election2026.
Democracy works better when people are informed. We’re here to help with that – in English, in Spanish, in Watsonville, and across the county.
Tony Nuñez (far left) speaks during an April 15 Lookout forum for District 4 Santa Cruz County supervisor candidates. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz 
District 4 Santa Cruz County supervisor candidate Elias Gonzales speaking at a Lookout forum on April 15. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz 
Tony Nuñez 
Left to right: Tony Nuñez, Elias Gonzales and Felipe Hernandez. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz 
Incumbent District 4 County Supervisor Felipe Hernandez speaks during Wednesday’s Lookout candidate forum. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz 
District 4 county supervisor candidate Tony Nuñez speaks during an April 15 Lookout candidate forum. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz 
District 4 Santa Cruz County Supervisor Felipe Hernandez speaking at a Lookout candidate forum on April 15. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz
Two years ago, we welcomed Tania Ortiz to the Lookout team as our South County correspondent. Tania covers the Pajaro Valley with the depth, context and community trust that only comes from being genuinely embedded in the place you cover. The April 15 forum, with bilingual translation available, was a direct expression of that commitment – bringing Lookout’s civic journalism not just to South County online, but in person.
You can read Tania’s full coverage of the forum and overall South County candidate coverage – including Spanish-language versions – on our election central page.
What’s next: Mark your calendar for May 7
Our election season is just getting started. Join us on Thursday, May 7, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at Hotel Paradox for our next forum, covering the Santa Cruz city mayoral race and city council races for Districts 4 and 6. If you care about the direction of Santa Cruz city government, this is the event to be at. Space is limited and spots are filling quickly, so RSVP now.
