City of Watsonville City Council Councilmember Aurelio Gonzalez

Aurelio Gonzalez was elected to the District 2 seat on the Watsonville City Council in 2020, after beating Vanessa Quiroz-Carter. Gonzalez began his first stint on the council in 2018 after he won a special election to occupy the seat vacated by Oscar Rios. He is a retired construction worker and served in the Army National Guard for 12 years. He has lived in Watsonville for almost his entire life, graduating from Watsonville High School before earning a degree through Cabrillo College. He served on a number of boards previous to his tenure on the city council, including the Watsonville Planning Commission, Santa Cruz County Housing Authority and Pajaro Valley Unified School District Budget Committee.

Notable quote: “Despite these unprecedented times, I have put our neighborhoods first in public safety, infrastructure, parks, and housing. Police & Fire continue to make our community the safest in Santa Cruz County. Officers are also working with mental health professionals to find solutions for homeless in our streets.” (Source: Campaign statement)