District 2 Santa Cruz County supervisor candidates Kristen Brown and Kim De Serpa have spent years in elected office and public service, and seek to bring that experience to the board of supervisors come 2025. The two discussed everything from roads and managed retreat to the tight county budget and the divisive Coastal Rail Trail project Monday evening at a Lookout candidate forum.
Forums
Coverage of Lookout’s election forums, featuring candidates for state, county and city offices, plus opponents and proponents of local ballot initiatives.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Despite different backgrounds, Monica Martinez and Christopher Bradford aim to ‘fight the status quo’ in District 5
In the first of two Lookout Santa Cruz County supervisor candidate forums, District 5 hopefuls Monica Martinez and Christopher Bradford spoke Wednesday about the many issues affecting mountain communities, from failing roads and tight budgets to the seemingly never-ending rebuilding process following the 2020 CZU fires. Both positioned themselves as outsiders hoping to bring change to county government.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Five things we learned from Lookout’s March primary candidate forums
Lookout’s primary election forums brought together candidates for six seats across the county and city of Santa Cruz. Five themes rose to the top as the candidates answered questions about their platforms.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
One city, four elections: Santa Cruz City Council Districts 1, 2, 3 and 5 candidates take forum stage
In Lookout’s third and final candidate forum before the March 5 primary election, Santa Cruz City Council candidates for Districts 1, 2, 3 and 5 discussed the city’s major issues including homelessness, the fate of West Cliff Drive and Measure M.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Clashing on the issues: District 1 county supervisor candidates, Measure M debaters take the stage
In Lookout’s second candidate forum of the 2024 election season, candidates vying to represent District 1 on the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors and both Measure M advocates and opponents took to the stage to discuss and debate everything from transit and budgets to housing and inclusionary rates. The primary election is set for March 5.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
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.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Lookout candidate forum: What we heard and saw from Santa Cruz City Council, Assembly District 28 candidates
Lookout’s final forum of election season went down Monday night at Hotel Paradox, with District 4 council candidates Greg Hyver, Hector Marin and Scott Newsome, District 6 council hopefuls Renée Golder and Sean Maxwell and state Assembly District 28 foes Liz Lawler and Gail Pellerin mixing it up on the issues.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Lookout forum: Tracking what was said for and against Measure N and Measure O
The second of three Lookout election forums brought together those on both sides of two key ballot measures facing voters in the city of Santa Cruz. Max Chun and Christopher Neely break out key moments of Monday’s debate, moderated by Wallace Baine, with video from Kevin Painchaud.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Lookout candidate forum: Some sparks, some smiles as Fred and Joy, Shebreh and Justin debate
At Lookout’s first forum of the season Thursday evening, 75 Santa Cruzans packed a room at the Hotel Paradox to see mayoral candidates Fred Keeley and Joy Schendledecker and county supervisor candidates Justin Cummings and Shebreh Kalantari-Johnson face off. Community Voices editor Jody K. Biehl moderated the two panels, which covered the serious issues of the day and produced some sparks.