City of Watsonville City Council Councilmember Ari Parker

In the 2022 election, Ari Parker was the only incumbent running for Watsonville City Council—and she was also the only one to face a challenger. The District 7 rep, who was first elected to the Watsonville City Council in 2018, faced a challenge from Nancy Bilicich, who had termed out of her council seat in Watsonville and then ran unsuccessfully for 4th District Santa Cruz County supervisor. 

The District 7 seat was the only Watsonville City Council seat out of the four open slots that saw more than one candidate come forward. Though the race was tight, Parker prevailed in the end, garnerig 53.85 percent of the vote.

Parker was born and raised in the Pajaro Valley, which includes Wastonville and outlying rural areas. She attended Santa Clara University, where she received her bachelor’s degree in political science. She then received a graduate degree from UC Santa Cruz before beginning her career as an elementary school teacher in Pajaro Valley Unified School District. She worked at MacQuiddy Elementary School before moving to Bradley Elementary School in Corralitos. Parker served on several area boards—including the Santa Cruz County Women’s Commission, the Watsonville Parks and Recreation Commission and the Independent Square Board—before her successful run for Watsonville City Council.

First elected: Nov. 6, 2018

Day job: Teacher at Bradley Elementary School

Notable quotes: 
“I walked my entire district and I knocked on all the doors. You represent values, you represent different focuses, so the idea is you go out and have to let them know who you are.” ( Source: Santa Cruz Sentinel, Nov. 9, 2022)

“This is my place, this is my valley. I love it here. I want to help to continue to make it the best place to live for future families and for us right now.” (Source: Pajaronian, September 21, 2018)