The Santa Cruz County Democratic Central Committee has endorsed Kristen Brown for District 2 county supervisor over her opponent, Kim De Serpa.
According to committee chair Andrew Goldenkranz, the decision in a virtual meeting on Thursday came after a brief Q&A that touched on the county’s rail-trail project, private beach access and coastal erosion.
The committee is also endorsing a “yes” vote on Measure Q (an $87 tax on each parcel of land in the county, with some exceptions, that would fund about $7 million a year in water quality and wildfire resiliency work), Measure Z (Santa Cruz’s 2-cent-per-ounce tax on the sale of sugar-sweetened drinks), Measure Y (Capitola’s sales tax rate increase to 9.25%) and Watsonville’s proposed charter amendments, which include removing a citizenship requirement to serve on the city’s boards and commissions. The committee is recommending a “no” vote on Measure U, a San Lorenzo Valley Water District proposal that would cap regular service charge increases to 2% per year until 2049.
The SCCDCC will meet again on Thursday, Sept. 5, to consider endorsements in the Capitola, Scotts Valley and Watsonville city council races, as well as the San Lorenzo Valley Water District board race.
Meanwhile, Tuesday night (Sept. 3) at Bruno’s Bar & Grill in Scotts Valley, the North County Democratic Club will meet for an endorsement forum on county ballot measures including: Measure O (Scotts Valley School District bond), Measure Q (the county water and wildfire protection parcel tax), Measure S (Scotts Valley Fire Protection District bond), Measure T (Zayante Fire Protection District tax), Measure U (San Lorenzo Valley Water District rate increase cap) and Measure X (Scotts Valley business tax). The event will kick off at 6:30 p.m. The group will then convene on Sept. 17 to make candidate endorsements.
The Democratic Women’s Club of Santa Cruz County will also gather at 10 a.m. on Saturday inside the Santa Cruz Police Department to decide who and what to back in a slew of races — Capitola, Scotts Valley and Watsonville city councils — and ballot initiatives — Measures Q, X, Y and Z.
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