A former San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District board member has entered the race for Santa Cruz County Supervisor in the 5th District.
Ben Lomond resident Susan Weber, 56, hopes to use her experience as a school board member and her passion to represent the people of San Lorenzo Valley and Scotts Valley to win a seat on the board in June’s election.
“I like being part of the decision-making process,” Weber said. “I enjoy it.”
Weber was a fixture on the SLV school board during the past decade, serving nine years (2001-10), including three as board president, as severe budget cuts decimated the district’s resources.
“The question was, how do we continue to provide what the students need with less money?” she said.
Weber was on the board when the district made the decision to close Quail Hollow Elementary School and move the district office to the campus.
She said the board and district staff was able to design a plan that helped the school remain financially secure while avoiding layoffs as much as possible.
Weber, who sees herself as smart, a quick learner and able to get along with people, is proud of helping to make the board’s decision to hire Superintendent Julie Haff. Weber also participated in some of the Measure O bond campaign activities that have resulted in new classrooms and a new library on the district’s campuses.
She also worked on a failed bond campaign that sought to build a new fire department in Ben Lomond.
Among her other activities are participation in the Ben Lomond Fire District Women’s Auxiliary, the Ben Lomond Town Association (until it folded), school site councils and a bond oversight committee, as well as raising her family.
Weber touts herself a fiscal conservative and sees the roads in the 5th District as one of the central issues facing local constituents. She also sees the shift of responsibility from the state to counties as something the supervisors will need to continue to handle.
“I have been reading the minutes and following supervisors meetings on TV,” Weber said. “They’re going to need someone to take that seat that has experience.”
In addition, Weber hopes to help volunteer fire departments by potentially funneling more county money into training budgets.
With supervisor Ellen Pirie leaving her seat in the 2nd District, Weber thinks the board could use a woman. She is one of six candidates who have filed for the 5th District job; the other five are men.
“I’m staying in for now,” Weber said. “Anything can happen between now and February.”
Weber is also affiliated with the Ben Lomond Fire District Women’s Auxiliary, the Ben Lomond Town Association (until it folded), school site councils and a bond oversight committee.
She is married to Bryan Weber, and the couple has two sons, Max, 22, and Alex, 19.
Her husband is a retired Cal Fire firefighter who currently serves on the Ben Lomond Volunteer Fire Team.
