Santa Cruz County Local Elections & Politics News Articles and Digest

City of Scotts Valley Elections & Politics

Scotts Valley Mayor Proclaims City’s Commitment to Diversity

09/29/2021
After designating September as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, Mayor Derek Timm issued another proclamation, announcing Scotts Valley’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. “It’s our obligation to reject hate and bias in all forms,” he said.

From The Pajaronian...

Elections & Politics Education

Recall Effort Against PVUSD Trustee Ends

09/28/2021
An effort to recall Pajaro Valley Unified School District Trustee Georgia Acosta failed when organizers were unable to meet the deadline to gather the roughly 2,200 signatures required to put the matter before voters.

From Good Times...

Elections & Politics Sustainability

Climate Activists Protest Banks That Support Enbridge

09/27/2021
Around 100 people protested at Wells Fargo and Chase banks in Santa Cruz on Sept. 24 to protest the banks’ investments in Enbridge, the company behind the Line 3 pipeline expansion. Organizers argue the expansion accelerates climate change and increases the risk of damaging spills.

From The Pajaronian...

City of Watsonville City of Watsonville City Council Elections & Politics

Two Candidates Meet Deadline for Watsonville Council Race

09/20/2021
Two contenders will vie for the Watsonville City Council seat vacated by Aurelio Gonzalez, and both are relative newcomers to politics. Francisco “Frank” Barba and Vanessa Quiroz-Carter both met the paperwork deadline for the Dec. 7 special election.

California Local Pin Marker From California Local...

Elections & Politics State of California

Recall Election Ends in Rout for Newsom, So What's Next?

09/16/2021
Image for display with article titled Historic Landslide in Recall Bodes Well for Newsom, But Elder Says it’s Good News For Him Too

Gavin Newsom's star is on the rise after a dominant victory over a recall attempt, but leading Republican candidate Larry Elder says he's only getting started.

From The Pajaronian...

Elections & Politics City of Watsonville Aurelio Gonzalez City of Watsonville City Clerk's Office

Watsonville Council Rep Aurelio Gonzalez Resigns

09/13/2021
Aurelio Gonzalez on Tuesday announced his resignation from his District 2 seat on the Watsonville City Council because of a family emergency. A special election will be held to fill the vacancy, and hopefuls have until Sept. 20 to submit paperwork.

From Times Publishing Group...

Elections & Politics County of Santa Cruz

Meetings Set to Discuss Santa Cruz County Redistricting

09/12/2021
New census data, to be released Sept. 30, will likely mean new district boundary lines in Santa Cruz County. The county has established a Redistricting Advisory Committee, created a website, and scheduled meetings on Sept. 22, 29 and 30.

California Local Pin Marker From California Local...

Elections & Politics

Santa Cruz Local Reports on Move to District Council Elections

09/10/2021
Image for display with article titled Santa Cruz Begins Transition to District Elections for City Council

The switch from at-large to district-based city council elections has yet to get the entire council on board, according to a Santa Cruz Local report.

From CapRadio...

Elections & Politics State of California

California Lawmakers Wrap Up Legislative Session

09/09/2021
The Democratic-held California Legislature passed roughly 900 bills this session, which wrapped up right before the recall election. CapRadio takes a look at some of the most significant ones.

California Local Pin Marker From California Local...

History Elections & Politics

Big Money Battles It Out as Recall Campaign Nears Conclusion

09/09/2021
Image for display with article titled Billionaires Battle it Out Over California’s Recall Election: Wealthy Donors Dominate Race on Both Sides

Image for display with article titled Billionaires Battle it Out Over California’s Recall Election: Wealthy Donors Dominate Race on Both Sides

When California adopted the recall law 110 years ago, it was to keep big money out of politics. Now billionaire donors are dominating this year's gubernatorial recall campaign on both sides.

From The Pajaronian...

Elections & Politics County of Monterey County of Monterey Board of Supervisors

Graniterock CFO Launches Run for Monterey County Board of Supervisors

09/07/2021
Longtime Royal Oaks resident Steve Snodgrass, 66, who has served as Graniterock’s chief financial officer for 35 years, plans to join the pack of candidates running for retiring Monterey County Supervisor John Phillips’ District 2 seat.

From Times Publishing Group...

Elections & Politics County of Santa Cruz

What’s in Your Ballot?

09/05/2021
Santa Cruz County Clerk Tricia Webber, the election chief, offers details on why ballots vary by county.

From Santa Cruz Local...

Elections & Politics City of Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz Leaders Still Wrestling With District Election Switch

08/31/2021
Residents in the city of Santa Cruz could vote for council representatives in their district rather than in at-large elections by the November 2022 election. Yet the change to district elections may not be a certainty.

California Local Pin Marker From California Local...

Elections & Politics History State of California

Is California’s Recall Voting Process Undemocratic?

08/30/2021
Image for display with article titled California’s Recall Election: An Example of Direct Democracy, or the Opposite of Democracy?

The next governor of California could win election with far fewer votes that the incumbent governor in the state's recall vote Sept. 14. How did the recall process become so undemocratic?

From The Californian...

Agriculture & Gardening Elections & Politics

Farmworker Wildfire Smoke Protections Act Heading to Newsom’s Desk

08/23/2021
The Farmworker Wildfire Smoke Protections Act seeks to build on the California Occupational Safety and Health program’s standard for protecting farm workers and address issues like unhealthy air conditions. The bill would also provide education on hazardous conditions.

From Good Times...

Elections & Politics Sustainability Land Use & Development City of Watsonville

Environmentalists Want to Protect Ag Land With Measure U Renewal

08/23/2021
Measure U, passed by Watsonville voters in 2002, put limits on where and how the city could expand. The Committee for Planned Growth and Farmland Protection recently filed a petition that seeks to extend Measure U through 2040. Supporters need roughly 2,200 signatures by Dec. 15 to get the item before voters.

From The Pajaronian...

Elections & Politics Neighborhoods City of Watsonville

Bust of Washington Removed From Watsonville Plaza

08/19/2021
In February, the City Council voted 5-2 to move a bust of U.S. President George Washington statue from Watsonville Plaza to the Main Branch of the Watsonville Public Library—a decision that was implemented this week.

From The Sacramento Bee...

Elections & Politics

California Recall Candidate Served Court Order During Debate

08/17/2021
GOP recall candidate John Cox was interrupted at the recent debate with a court order to pay an ad agency $100,000 owed for work from his 2018 campaign for governor.

From Santa Cruz Local...

Elections & Politics Economy & Jobs City of Santa Cruz

No Sales Tax on November Ballot in Santa Cruz

08/08/2021
Friday was the deadline for the city to declare a fiscal emergency—a prerequisite for setting up a referendum in November for a 0.1 percent sales-tax increase.

From The Pajaronian...

Elections & Politics City of Watsonville Aurelio Gonzalez

Watsonville Councilmember Confirms Leave of Absence

08/05/2021
Aurelio Gonzalez will take an indefinite leave of absence from his duties on the Watsonville City Council because of a family emergency, he confirmed Tuesday. Gonzalez hopes to be back in late September but says there is no guarantee when he will return.

Santa Cruz County Local News: Elections & Politics