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Sonja Brunner was elected to the Santa Cruz City Council in November 2020 saying the connections she built in different segments of the community during her 28-year residency paid off with voters. She served on several different boards during her time in Santa Cruz, including chairing the Santa Cruz Housing Authority and serving as president of the Santa Cruz Downtown Association. In 2017, she survived a devastating car accident where the other driver was eventually arrested for driving under the influence. She advanced from a wheelchair to a cane to the point where she is now back to her old hobbies of stand-up paddleboarding and roller skating.
When Brunner won her seat in 2020, she ran as an at-large representative. In 2024, the remaining at-large representatives—Brunner, Sandy Brown, Shebreh Kalantari-Johnson and Martine Watkins—must run for district seats. Up for election in 2024 are Districts 1, 2, 3 and 5.
When Brunner stepped down as mayor in December 2022, that also represented a major shift in Santa Cruz’s political landscape: a change from mayors selected by a vote of the council to a mayor directly elected by voters.
First elected: Nov. 3, 2020
Day job: Small-business owner
Alma mater: Cabrillo College
Notable quote: “In order to fund needed public services, we need a vibrant small business community that is generating local jobs and sales tax revenues.”
The City of Santa Cruz has begun weekly two-hour parking bans on streets in Harvey West, Midtown and Westside for a street sweeping pilot program. City staff may ticket or tow vehicles that violate the restrictions.
Heidi Luckenbach is the Water Director for the City of Santa Cruz. In this role, she is responsible for maintaining the water system's infrastructure, ensuring a reliable climate-resilient water supply, advancing environmental sustainability initiatives, and maintaining financial stability.
As climate change ushers in more frequent droughts and wildfires, and more powerful winter rainstorms, several water-related construction projects are underway in Santa Cruz County that proponents say are vital to keep water taps flowing reliably.
After a catastrophic collapse in December, the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf is putting out the message: Support local businesses that depend on foot traffic to stay afloat.
A 389-unit apartment proposal on a neglected block of Ocean Street sailed to approval at a Santa Cruz Planning Commission meeting on February 20, with nearly all supportive comments on the design and some praise for the developer’s outreach with neighbors.
