The Lookout Editorial Board writes endorsements because we believe a strong, trustworthy, independent and nonpartisan local news organization owes its community a stand-back, whole view of the candidates before us, based on extensive one-on-one interviews. And, on your behalf, we look for four factors in making our recommendations: voting and other decision-making records, experience, judgment and political skills – and how the candidacy meets the moment.
Election 2026: Santa Cruz mayor
News and Community Voices opinion coverage of the 2026 race to succeed Fred Keeley as mayor of Santa Cruz.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
A Lookout View: Ryan Coonerty for Santa Cruz mayor
The Lookout Editorial Board endorses Ryan Coonerty for mayor of Santa Cruz. The mayor’s race will help usher in the next Santa Cruz – shaped by new housing mandates, changing expectations around public space and ongoing decisions about how our community grows while holding on to what makes us special, the board writes. Coonerty is the candidate best prepared to help guide that transition.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Santa Cruz candidates discuss the city’s most pressing issues in latest Lookout forum
Homelessness, development, hurdles to local business and the city’s budget were among the topics as candidates for Santa Cruz mayor and city council Districts 4 and 6 joined a Lookout forum on Thursday ahead of the June 2 primary election.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Ryan Coonerty says Santa Cruz residents are concerned about quality-of-life issues, not so much with criticism from opponents
With ballots set to go out to voters on Monday, Santa Cruz mayoral candidate Ryan Coonerty says his discussions with prospective voters show a great deal of concern with quality-of-life issues. He says he doesn’t hear the same concern about his policies and political positions that his opponents have raised.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
In first run for elected office, Santa Cruz mayor hopeful Gillian Greensite wants to stop ‘overbuilding’
Gillian Greensite has spent many years in Santa Cruz attending city council meetings and working in rape prevention and environmental advocacy. Now, she’s diving into electoral politics for the first time to run for mayor, in the face of what she sees as “overbuilding.”
Posted inPolitics & Policy
In first electoral run since his recall, Chris Krohn aims to stop the ‘selling off’ of Santa Cruz to developers as mayor
Returning to electoral politics six years after he was recalled in March 2020, former city councilmember and mayor Chris Krohn is stepping back into the ring with the goal of stopping the “selling off” of Santa Cruz to outside developers and shifting the focus on affordable housing providers.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Five candidates, five questions, one big decision: Meet the voices vying to lead Santa Cruz – and get ready for the June 2 primary
Who will be the next mayor of Santa Cruz? Here, the five candidates – Ami Chen Mills, Ryan Coonerty, Gillian Greensite, Chris Krohn and Joy Schendledecker – describe what they would do in short videos.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
A look at local candidates’ first pre-election campaign finance disclosures of 2026
Thursday was the deadline for candidates in the Santa Cruz mayoral and city council races as well as the District 4 county supervisor and superior court judge seats to file their first pre-election campaign finance disclosures of the election cycle. Here’s what they show.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Ami Chen Mills envisions a mayorship with more community conversations, leading to more people engaged in politics
Ami Chen Mills, an educator, writer and activist, aims to bring more community involvement to city government should she become Santa Cruz’s next mayor. She aspires to be an educator in office, too, with the hope of getting more people excited about and engaged in politics.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Joy Schendledecker, embarking on second mayoral campaign, wants voters to have robust choices at the ballot
Joy Schendledecker, having run for Santa Cruz mayor and city council in 2022 and 2024, respectively, says that the issues keep bringing her back to electoral politics. She wants voters to have a choice of candidates with diverse opinions when they cast their ballots.