Santa Cruz County has nearly 50 vacancies on its boards and commissions

Across the 38 boards and commissions that advise on policy decisions throughout Santa Cruz County, 45 seats sit vacant, an issue that has slowed the work of some appointed bodies. 

The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors is responsible for filling the vacancies. Twenty-nine are considered at-large vacancies, which means any supervisor can nominate a person to fill the position; 16 of the total vacancies are tied to supervisor districts, and must be nominated by specific supervisors. 

Of the at-large vacancies, the Childhood Advisory Council has the largest number of vacancies with 10, followed by the Workforce Development Board with four, the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Commission with three, and two each for the Treasury Oversight, Latino Affairs, In-Home Supportive Services Advisory and the Integrated Community Health Centers Co-Applicant commissions. 

District 3 Supervisor Justin Cummings has the most vacancies of any of his colleagues, with six. The Arts, First Five, Equal Employment Opportunity and Women’s commissions, as well as the Commission on the Environment and Emergency Management Council are each missing an appointment from Cummings. 

District 5 Supervisor Bruce McPherson is responsible for five of the vacancies, on the Seniors, Emergency Medical Care and Women’s commissions, as well as the Commission on Disabilities. 

District 4 Supervisor Felipe Hernandez needs to fill vacancies on the Parks and Recreation and Emergency Medical Care commissions, as well as the Commission on Disabilities. 

District 1 Supervisor Manu Koenig needs to nominate a person for the Women’s Commission, and District 2 Supervisor Zach Friend has a vacancy on the Commission on Disabilities. 

With four openings on its 10-person board, the Women’s Commission has suffered the most vacancies among the district-specific seats. Each supervisor is supposed to nominate two seats from within their district. Both of McPherson’s Women’s Commission seats are vacant (though he will be out of office in less than three months), and Koenig and Cummings still need to appoint one seat to the commission. The Women’s Commission is supposed to meet monthly, but until this month had met only once in 2024, with nearly all of its meetings canceled due to a lack of a commission majority. 

Those interested in applying can use this form to express interest. Some seats require specific qualifications based on profession, expertise or living location.

For a full list of the vacant positions, check out the county’s website.