Quick Take
Santa Cruz County made some strides in getting more women into office in this past election, but we can do better, say three advocates from Women in Leadership for Diverse Representation/Mujeres en Liderazgo para la Representación Diversa. Here, they offer statistics on why we need more diversity in local leadership and offer to help interested women prepare as candidates.
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Santa Cruz County has a reputation for forward-thinking, inclusive leadership. Yet scratch the surface and you find that those in public service do not reflect the makeup of our population: Women and people of different backgrounds and experience hold fewer positions of power.
That is true, even after March elections, which next year will bring at least one, but possibly two, women to a county board of supervisors that has been all male since 2014. In Capitola and Watsonville, women serve as mayor and in Santa Cruz, four women won election (or reelection) to the city council.
WILDR – Women in Leadership for Diverse Representation/Mujeres en Liderazgo para la Representación Diversa – started in 2021 to work on changing the political landscape in our community. We wanted to provide a place for women to get information, share resources, and, most importantly, build a network in Santa Cruz County and all of its jurisdictions to support and encourage women to serve in public office.
WILDR’s core value is the core value of our democracy: Policies and decisions should be informed by residents who understand and experience these issues. Our vision is a democracy where elected officials and other leaders reflect the population, serving in roles that uplift all people in equity and justice.
We are thrilled the board of supervisors will shift after November elections.
Yet, we still have much work to do.
Two reports, “A Santa Cruz Like Me” and “A City Like Me: Santa Cruz,” looked at whether the diversity of the government in our communities is representative of that of the county. In 2021, these reports found South County critically underrepresented, with only 16% representation on county boards and commissions despite making up 31% of the county population.
Additionally, the reports found a critical underrepresentation based on race, ethnicity, ability and age, specifically noting that 16% of representatives identify as Latino in a county where 35% of the population identifies as Latino. This trend continued in 2022, reporting a critical underrepresentation of people of color, with the data showing a 34% undercount of people of color on local boards and commissions.
We at WILDR know local elected and appointed officials are incredibly powerful in shaping decisions and policies that can help – or hurt – those most impacted.
Lifting up the opportunities for both service and opportunities for representation is where we, here at WILDR, step in. One example is the list we have created – for both potential candidates and people who are interested in supporting them – of elected positions in our county with terms ending in 2024 on our website.
But it is not enough just to share opportunities.
At WILDR, we hear the stories of women who are running for public office and their encounters with racism, sexism and ableism. Behind each of their stories are the voices of residents who are not likely to be heard.
WILDR aims to facilitate the connection between residents and their elected representatives by sharing resources for candidates and voters alike on our website and social media, hosting forums to provide a place to come together to learn from one another. We also curate women’s political leadership circles for candidates to learn about running a campaign for public office and allow members to share their struggles and successes while developing a vital support network.
WILDR is currently recruiting applicants for our women’s political leadership circles. If you know a woman who is running for elected office, or considering running, please tell her to send a message to wildr.sc@gmail.com.
Now is the time. With November elections for city councils, school boards, water and fire districts and more on the line, it’s time for women and their supporters to join us in lifting up candidates.
Dorian Seamster is lead organizer for WILDR, and formerly was a health care administrator at Salud Para la Gente, Health Improvement Partnership SCC, Santa Cruz Community Health Center and Planned Parenthood.
Sarah Marschall is a consultant and educator supporting organizations to achieve greater impact through three major pathways: translating data into knowledge, uncovering and aligning peoples’ strengths and assets, and facilitating processes that catalyze results.
Cal Bobell is a third-year student at UC Santa Cruz majoring in history. They joined WILDR as a UCSC Humanities undergraduate public fellow in January and are serving as the communications and community development intern.