During a moment in which an increasing number of local races draw no challengers, both water district elections in Santa Cruz County on Tuesday are competitive. The issues faced by the districts, however, differ considerably.
Local elections
Posted inK-12 Education
Happy Valley Elementary School District candidates on the biggest issues facing students and teachers
Sixteen candidates are running for nine seats in five school districts across the county. Lookout sent questionnaires to all of them asking about the most pressing issues facing their schools. Here, we take a look at Happy Valley Elementary School District.
Posted inEvents, K-12 Education
Soquel Union Elementary School District candidates on teacher pay, mental health, declining enrollment and pandemic learning loss
Sixteen candidates are running for nine seats in five school districts across the county. Lookout sent questionnaires to all of them asking about the most pressing issues facing their schools. Here, we take a look at Soquel Union Elementary School District.
Posted inWatsonville / Pajaro
Pajaro Valley Health Care District voters to decide who will lead hospital out of financial uncertainty, build relationships
Three candidates are vying for two seats on the board of trustees for the newly formed Pajaro Valley Health Care District — the district that now owns and operates the Watsonville Community Hospital. The board is made up of five members; the three other seats will have elections in two years.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Measure O offshoot: The new ruckus over Santa Cruz’s plan to remove Lot 4 trees
Could the timing have been any worse? As Santa Cruz voters go to the polls Tuesday to vote up or down on the controversial multiuse library/housing/parking structure downtown on Lot 4, all of sudden the trees on the parcel were tagged for removal. Was it all a plot, a clumsy move — or just part of a long-planned process that protestors find objectionable?
Posted inEvents, K-12 Education
Pajaro Valley Unified School District candidates on diversity, pandemic learning loss and teacher housing
Sixteen candidates are running for nine seats in five school districts across Santa Cruz County. Lookout sent questionnaires to all of them asking about the most pressing issues facing their schools. Here, we take a look at the Pajaro Valley Unified School District.
Posted inEvents, Politics & Policy
Eight lots: Debating the parking lots that Measure O would mandate for housing
The battle over Measure O is many things to many people, but at its base, it is an attempt by residents to push through their own vision for urban planning, one that contrasts against that of city staff. Sharing the stage in this struggle are a well-known library mixed-use project proposal and a broad outline of affordable housing on eight city-owned parking lots. Where are these lots? How large are they? What do they look like? Could housing realistically be placed on these sites as the measure promises? Lookout examines what we know.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
In Watsonville’s lone contested council race, only challenger Bilicich responds to Lookout questions
Watsonville has four city council seats up for election this November, but only one seat, District 7, has a race. The others are uncontested. In District 7, Mayor Ari Parker, the incumbent, faces veteran politician Nancy A. Bilicich. Lookout asked each candidate to answer two questions. Only Bilicich responded; here are her answers.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Five candidates for three Capitola City Council seats; budget, revitalizing mall, affordable housing are top concerns
The Capitola City Council race has five candidates vying for three seats. Only one candidate — Yvette Brooks, the incumbent and mayor in 2021 — has served on the council. The others are new to politics and offer diverse experiences and expertise. Joe Clarke is a retired Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s sergeant; Enrique Dolmo Jr. is an athletic director; Gerry Jensen owns a construction and development company; and Alexander Pedersen has a home enhancement business. Lookout asked each to answer two questions. Their answers are here.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
District 4 supervisor candidates battle for ground in Watsonville, citing infrastructure and proper representation as area’s greatest needs
Jimmy Dutra and Felipe Hernandez, both Watsonville natives and veteran politicians, are competing for the District 4 seat on the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors, a seat held by the retiring Greg Caput. The two squared off in the June primary, with Dutra receiving 3,003 votes to Hernandez’s 2,539. Here, Dutra and Hernandez answer two Lookout questions.