Watsonville voters will elect councilmembers in four districts, but only two of the races are competitive. For District 5, incumbent Casey Clark faces challenger Ángel Zúñiga, and in District 7, former Watsonville planning commission chair Ed Acosta running against former councilmember Nancy Bilicich. Mayor Kristal Salcido, who represents District 4, and Councilmember Maria Orozco of District 3 are running unopposed. The winner of the Clark-Zúñiga race is set to become mayor in 2027.
The races are shaped by concerns about public safety – including shifting views on Flock Safety cameras – as well as affordable housing, aging infrastructure, street improvements and the quality of parks and other public spaces. The community is also still dealing with the consequences of Pajaro River flooding and the need for long-term flood protection in a predicted El Niño year.
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