Fifth District Santa Cruz County Supervisor candidate Bruce McPherson has gained a well-connected ally in his bid to become the next Santa Cruz County Supervisor.
McPherson and Santa Cruz County Treasurer Fred Keeley made the rounds to local media outlets Tuesday, Aug. 14, to announce that Keeley will actively endorse and support McPherson in his bid for Santa Cruz County Supervisor.
The endorsement by Keeley, a self-described liberal Democrat and former 5th District County Supervisor and Assemblyman, comes about one month after McPherson dropped his affiliation with the Republican Party and registered as “declined to state.”
“I’m very proud to add my name and step up in the general election and add my full and complete support for Bruce,” Keeley said. “When looking at this election, there is not a bad person in the race, but there is a great choice.”
McPherson won 49.33 percent of votes cast in the 5th District primary election on June 5 — just shy of the 50 percent-plus-one majority he needed to win the race outright.
He is in a runoff with Eric Hammer of Brookdale, who in June garnered 37.95 percent of the district-wide vote.
"They have a long time friendship, so I am not surprised,” Hammer said after hearing about Keeley’s endorsement. “I’m proud of all my local neighborhood endorsements, and we’re going to win because I represent the Fifth District of Santa Cruz County, not Sacramento. This isn’t a race for large name endorsements – big name endorsements won’t protect our environment, fix our roads or bring resources to our families. I’m focused on local issues, local endorsements, and what my local community needs."
Keeley added his name to McPherson’s supporters, he said, because of their time in the legislature. McPherson’s eight years as a state senator (1996-2004) coincided with Keeley’s six years as an assemblyman. During that time, Keeley said, they developed a strong professional relationship.
One of their key accomplishments was the passage of Proposition 40, the Safe Neighborhood Parks, Clean Water, Clean Air and Coastal Protection Bond Act of 2000.
The two co-authored the $2.1 billion bill, which Keeley points out helped to pay for Junction Park in Boulder Creek, the Felton Covered Bridge Park in Felton and the Tannery Arts Center in Santa Cruz.
Keeley also said that as the state shifts more responsibility and funding to the county level for services, that he believes McPherson’s connections and understanding from his time in state government would serve Santa Cruz County well.
I am have no doubt that Mr. McPherson is a good man who has the best intentions, he is the perfect candidate for 3rd District supervisor, the community he has lived in and served.
That whole redistricting thing now seems really fishy, remove good potential community candidates who have long served and know well the 5th district (Dene). Time to follow the money.
Keeley's Treasurer job had less to do with his party affiliation than his connections on all sides.
As an aside, I had been undecided until today when I read the letter in the Sentinel today from a Hammer supporter or operative. It made me nauseous. My full support goes to McPherson now.
No matter how bad that would be.
I think that's a wrong direction for the Democratic Party. At some point, cut your losses and work toward the candidate who will lead with grace, class, and ability to get things done.
I am not beholden, just Jane decline to state citizen, thinking independent thoughts about a non-partisan race, marveling that the folks who have benefitted so richly, on my dime, from playing those politics are now getting a hall pass to condemn the same, and to continue business as usual under the banner of bipartisanship.
Agree that Dene would have been a good candidate.
It's a nonpartisan race, yet the banner of bipartisanship is a good one.
The same people who gerrymandered the 5th District to exclude a guy who would have done the right thing for the community he served, had the concern and backbone to stay locally focused because you are right, that job is not about partisan politics, it is about knowing the community you serve first hand and advocating for the needs of the people who live in it.
A more diverse board of directors would better represent the diversity in Santa Cruz County. Expecially in the 5th District.
Absolutely happy with this endorsement and absolutely happy to vote for Bruce McPherson.
Long time Democrat as well.
Voting for Bruce in November. Gracias, Fred Keeley!