By Sharan Street
Published Oct 17, 2022

The League of Women Voters is about the same age as women’s right to vote. Image credit: Everett Collection Shutterstock

10-17-22: What’s in Your Ballot?

Last week’s newsletter was all about power, and the forms of energy that fuel it. This week we’re concerned with the fuel that drives democracy: the power of the people.

By now, most residents of Santa Cruz County should have received their ballots for the Nov. 8 general election. In addition to seven propositions and many statewide offices, there are a number of competitive races, including two supervisorial seats, two slots on the Scotts Valley City Council and three on the Capitola City Council, and the city of Santa Cruz’s first direct election for mayor and first district elections.

Give Yourself an Edge

Where can one find accurate information about these races and many others, including races for positions on school board of trustees and boards of special distrcits? The Santa Cruz elections page is a fine starting point, offering information on where to drop off ballots or vote on Election Day. To dig deeper, head to VotersEdge.org, a site offered by the League of Women Voters. Who are the League, or the LWV> Find out more in Tamara Warta’s article about the century-old organization.

A League of Our Own

The streets of San Francisco saw one of the many women's marches held after the 2016 election.

Founded in 1920, the year that suffragettes triumphed, the League of Women Voters now protects the entire electorate’s rights.

	Santa Cruz County's Homepage
Direct your browser to https://santacruz.californialocal.com/ to catch up on the latest news in California and Santa Cruz County. Bookmark the link and visit often, there's a lot happening in your community!

Fuel for Thought

The election isn’t the only thing on our radar. Gas prices are always front of mind. And speaking of gas and oil, watch out for Jonathan Vankin’s final two articles in his energy seres, which will look at the gas and coal industries in California.

How Much Will You Get From the California Gas Rebate?

A gas nozzle in a van at a central Fresno gas station on Sept. 29, 2022.

Here’s who is eligible for a 2022 gas rebate, how you will get it, when and how much you should expect.

Get to Know a Group

Santa Cruz Baroque Festival

The Santa Cruz Baroque Festival has been active since 1974, presenting early music as it sounded in its own era. Members strive for artistic excellence while transmitting the joy of Baroque music to future generations.

→ Learn more

From Our Media Allies

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	Bamboo Giant Offering First Nighttime Walkthroughs Starting Oct. 20
	Located on a busy thoroughfare between Aptos and Watsonville, Bamboo Giant Nursery and Gardens is one of the largest displays of timber bamboo in North America.

	Four Vying for Two Seats on Scotts Valley School Board
	With four names on the ballot for two Scotts Valley Unified School District board seats, locals are getting a say on the future direction of their local school system.

	Shakespeare Adaptation Celebrates Hispanic Culture
	When tasked with choosing a production for Cabrillo College Theater Arts Department’s fall 2022 season, Abel Cornejo knew he wanted to find something that celebrated Hispanic culture.

	Jimmy Dutra Denies Sexual Assault Allegations
	Santa Cruz County Supervisor candidate Jimmy Dutra says that allegations of sexual abuse made against him are “completely false and untrue,” and stem from a dispute with his late father’s ex-wife.

	Rockin’ at the Vet
	Joel Haston, the new event coordinator at Veterans Hall, is a Santa Cruz local who has spent the past 18 years traveling the state, promoting concerts and growing his business.

	Faultline Taproom Overcame Obstacles to Open in Scotts Valley
	It’s been a long road to the opening date for Faultline Brewing Company’s Scotts Valley location, in a building designed to look like an airplane hangar.

	Rare Fruit Growers’ Tasting Reveals Apples That Contains Multitudes
	Freddy Menge knows a lot about apples. To be fair, he’s been learning about the fruit ever since he was a kid—that’s when he remembers finding abandoned trees growing near his home by La Selva Beach.

Recent Local News

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• Finally, a Safe Ride to Nisene Marks

Aptos Creek Road, the main entrance to the Forest of Nisene Marks State Park, has seen a large surge of traffic since the pandemic. What hadn’t changed, until now, was the poor condition of this narrow single-lane access route.

(10/15/2022) → Times Publishing Group

• As Supreme Court Considers Affirmative Action Case, University of California Offers Cautionary Tale

SCOTUS is set to rule on race-based programs in college admissions. Since 1996, affirmative action in college admissions has been banned in California; an amicus brief filed by the University of California states that other efforts have failed to bring representative racial diversity to its student body.

(10/13/2022) → The Californian

• Santa Cruz District 4 Candidate Hector Marin Leads in Fundraising

With Bodie Shargel out of the race for the Santa Cruz City Council District 4 seat, three contenders remain. Campaign finance disclosure statements show low fundraising numbers for all three political newcomers with service worker Hector Marin raising the most.

(10/12/2022) → Read the full Santa Cruz County Sentinel report

• SC Mayoral Candidate Fred Keeley Raises $32,000 More Than Opponent

The campaign for mayoral candidate Fred Keeley has raised about $32,000 more than opponent Joy Schendledecker, according to the latest financial disclosures.

(10/11/2022) → Read the full Santa Cruz County Sentinel report

• Inversion Wines Opens In Scotts Valley

There’s a new wine tasting room in Scotts Valley called Inversion Wines, featuring wares from very small vineyards in the far reaches of the Santa Cruz Mountains.

(10/10/2022) → Read the full Edible Monterey Bay report

• Dutra Accuser Stephen Siefke Talks About Why He Came Forward Now

Stephen Siefke alleged in a civil suit filed last week, and in an interview with Lookout Santa Cruz, that 4th District supervisor candidate Jimmy Dutra, then 30, sexually assaulted him 12 years ago.

(10/10/2022) → Read the full Lookout Local report