Joy Schendledecker said she sometimes questions why she threw her hat into the ring for Santa Cruz mayor once again: “I wake up in the morning and lay in bed and think, ‘Why am I doing this again?’” she said with a laugh.
But Schendledecker says it’s the issues that keep bringing her back. She, like Hector Marin, has become a recognizable name in local politics following campaigns in three consecutive election cycles. In 2022, she ran for mayor, ultimately losing to Fred Keeley. In 2024, she ran for the District 3 seat on the Santa Cruz City Council, losing to incumbent Shebreh Kalantari-Johnson.
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