Santa Cruz County Local News: Elections & Politics

Gambling on sports has been illegal in California since 1891. That may soon change.

The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors approved two items for the June ballot: to increase taxes on hotels and vacation rentals, and change the way fees on single-use disposable cups are used.

The Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees got a first look at its financial picture since the release of a proposed state budget that provides $100 billion for schools and community colleges.

After serving for 12 years as the representative of Santa Cruz County’s 4th District, Supervisor Greg Caput says that he will not seek reelection in the upcoming June primary.

WATSONVILLE—Watsonville City Councilman Jimmy Dutra announced on Saturday that he will run for the 4th District seat on the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors in June. It will be the third time that Dutra, who is fresh off his stint as Watsonville’s mayor in 2021, has run for the seat currently occupied by Greg [...]

The Watsonville City Council on Jan. 20 narrowly advanced a new district map that would stick to the status quo but make a significant change between the 2nd and 6th districts.

WATSONVILLE—The first candidate for one of several Watsonville City Council seats that will be up for grabs in this year’s general election has stepped forth. Kristal Salcido, an assistant district attorney for Santa Cruz County, announced Friday that she will run for the 4th District seat. Current representative Francisco “Paco” Estrada said Thursday that he [...]

Watsonville City Councilman Francisco “Paco” Estrada, elected into office in 2018, will not seek reelection to represent the 4th District. He served as mayor in his first year on the council.

This article is the first of a two-part series on the county sheriffs system and how it could be reformed.

WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a resolution to send a letter to the California Citizens Redistricting Commission demanding it not split Watsonville from its fellow Santa Cruz County cities in the upcoming congressional redistricting. The letter, penned by outgoing Mayor Jimmy Dutra, came to the City Council as an emergency item at [...]

After years of policy flip-flops, what will it take to create a real path to citizenship for immigrants?.

Read Jim Mosher's response to a recent Santa Cruz Sentinel editorial board commentary that supported Scotts Valley Mayor Derek Timm's, Supervisor Zach Friend's, and Supervisor Manu Koenig's last-minute proposal to shift a section of Scotts Valley into the 5th District. They succeeded and the ensuing press coverage has been decidedly enamored with the move. Here's a perspective from a Redistricting...

Prices are going up and inflation is making headlines—but what’s causing it and can it be stopped?

WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville Community Redistricting Advisory Committee is closing in on its final recommendations to the Watsonville City Council for how the city’s district lines should be redrawn. Every decade following the release of census data, jurisdictions must adjust their district lines to account for possible shifts in population from one area to another. This is [...]