Quick Take
Lookout offers short videos from the two candidates – Scott Newsome and Hector Marin – running for the District 4 seat.
How will the next Santa Cruz City Council look? What priorities matter downtown and on the Westside?
Here, Lookout offers short videos from the two District 4 candidates, incumbent Scott Newsome, a UC Santa Cruz lecturer, and Hector Marin, a community activist and public school educator. We asked each candidate the same five questions. We think hearing from the candidates directly – in addition to the rest of our Election 2026 coverage – will give readers a sense of who they are, what they stand for and how they could shape the future of the city. We include their responses here in alphabetical order.
ELECTION 2026: Read more local, state and national coverage here from Lookout and our content partners
A reminder: District 4 covers downtown and part of the Westside bounded by High Street to the north and Bay Street to the west.
The first vote happens in the June 2 primary. Whether you’re already following the race or just getting up to speed, here’s a look at each candidate – in their own words – before you cast your ballot.
You can also see them live at Lookout’s next candidates forum, Thursday at Hotel Paradox, featuring these candidates, along with mayoral contenders and District 6 candidates Renee Golder and Gabriella Noack. Get more information and RSVP for free here.
Hector Marin
Scott Newsome
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