District 1 county supervisor candidates, from left: Lani Faulkner, Manu Koenig.
District 1 county supervisor candidates, from left: Lani Faulkner, Manu Koenig. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

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. Find the answers from each candidate below. 

Lani Faulkner for District 1 supervisor: I believe we work better together

Manu Koenig for District 1 supervisor: I’m a leader who cares about outcomes and learns from mistakes