Hear from District 2 Santa Cruz County supervisor candidates Kristen Brown, Tony Crane, Kim De Serpa, Bruce Jaffe and David Schwartz as they answer the question, “How will you provide the sort of leadership our community needs and how are you prepared to meet the moment as it arises?”
County Supervisor District 2 2024
Coverage of the race for supervisor in Santa Cruz County’s District 2, which includes Aptos, La Selva Beach, Seacliff and Rio Del Mar, along with the communities of Corralitos and Freedom plus portions of the cities of Capitola and Watsonville.
Kristen Brown for District 2 supervisor: We need someone ready to start on Day 1
Editor’s note: Lookout editors wanted to give you a chance to hear from candidates directly. But we also did not want them to simply repeat their campaign slogans. So we asked them a single question: “How will you provide the sort of leadership our community needs and how are you prepared to meet the moment […]
Kim De Serpa for District 2 supervisor: My experience with schools, budgeting and health care make me an ideal candidate
Kim De Serpa believes her 14 years on the Pajaro Valley Unified School District board of trustees and her job as a clinical social worker and hospital leader give her insights the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors needs. She says she has more than 30 years of experience, an understanding of budget and a deep concern for people.
Bruce Jaffe for District 2 supervisor: I have 21 years of experience with water, know how to collaborate and understand climate issues
Bruce Jaffe, who has been elected six times to the Soquel Creek Water District board of directors, believes his experience, understanding of climate issues and ability to form coalitions make him an ideal candidate.
David Schwartz for District 2 supervisor: I am not a career politician and will find ways to fix roads, rethink homelessness and eliminate budget waste
David Schwartz, an accountant who has lived in Santa Cruz County for 30 years, argues his fiscal responsibility and outsider status make him the best candidate for District 2. He has never held political office. He plans to focus on roads, housing and eliminating waste. He is against Measure K, the county’s half-cent sales tax increase and says leadership is about trust, compassion and listening.
Tony Crane: ‘I don’t want to win’ for District 2 supervisor. ‘My goal is to bring accountability back to our county.’
Tony Crane, a candidate for District 2 county supervisor, explains how the improper placement of an eight-bed mental health facility pushed him to run for office. He says he does not hope or expect to win.
Roads, climate, mental health, CZU rebuild fuel county supervisor hopefuls in Districts 2 and 5 during forum
In Lookout’s first candidate forum of the 2024 election season, those who would represent South County and the Santa Cruz Mountains discussed road maintenance, climate change response, improved mental health facilities and cutting red tape to speed recovery from 2020’s CZU fire. The primary election is set for March 5.
Lookout’s primary election forums series kicks off Monday with District 2 and 5 County Supervisor candidates
For the March primary cycle, Lookout will be hosting candidate forums for a number of elections. On Monday, we welcome the candidates seeking the District 2 and District 5 Santa Cruz County supervisor seats.
Field begins to coalesce in races for three Santa Cruz County supervisor seats
Incumbent Manu Koenig is facing a challenge from pro-rail Lani Faulkner in District 1, while the retirement of Zach Friend in District 2 has so far seen three candidates — Kristen Brown, Kimberly De Serpa and Douglas Deitch — file paperwork. Monica Martinez and Christopher Bradford are running to replace Bruce McPherson in District 5, with Sheriff Jim Hart still seen as a possible candidate.
Zach Friend won’t seek fourth term as supervisor, ushering in a new era for Santa Cruz County politics
District 2 Supervisor Zach Friend’s decision to not seek a fourth term means a new chapter for the five-member Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors, after four multiterm supervisors have retired or announced plans to retire over the past year.

