Christopher Bradford says he is a listener whose grassroots campaign is hitting a nerve with people in District 5. Bradford lost his home in the CZU Lightning Complex fires and believes the county has been too slow to rebuild. He promises to have an office that “supports conversations” and transparency.
March 5 primary 2024
Coverage of the March 5, 2024, primary election.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Monica Martinez for District 5 supervisor: We need someone ready to challenge the status quo and bring positive change
Monica Martinez sees herself as a change agent. She believes Santa Cruz County needs leaders who show courage to shake up the system. She wants to lessen the red tape in our county’s bureaucracy to better attack climate-related disasters, income inequality, aging infrastructure and the rising cost of living.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Tom Decker for District 5 supervisor: Let’s stop the bureaucracy that has provided ‘amazingly poor service’ to our community
Tom Decker believes his experience as a builder of affordable homes and his commitment to family and service make him an ideal candidate for District 5 supervisor.
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 inOpinion from Community Voices
Hear from District 2 county supervisor candidates in their own words
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?”
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
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 […]
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
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.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
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.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
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.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
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.