Democrats open first campaign office in Scotts Valley

California election law, Elections Code 334, describes a “nonpartisan office” as an office, except for a voter-nominated office, for which no party may nominate a candidate. Judicial, school, county, and municipal offices are nonpartisan offices.
When voters cast ballots, beginning with votes-by-mail on Oct.11 and ending on Nov.8, for city council and board of education trustees, there are no party designations next to their names.
Scotts Valley goes a step further, in its Campaign Reform Act of 2010, by prohibiting any campaign contributions more than $100 from any individual or group.
This does not mean that political parties, specifically the Democratic or Republican parties, don’t have influence.
Rather than nominating or providing cash, as they do in the campaigns for state or national offices, the parties exert influence by endorsements. And in a presidential election year, these endorsements combined with voter turnout, could impact local elections.
Enter the Crosson North County Democratic Club, a rejuvenated party organization that defines its territory as the county’s 5^th Supervisor district.
The club, whose leadership include San Lorenzo Valley and Scotts Valley party activists, opened its first-ever campaign office in the heart of Scotts Valley, at the Scotts Village Shopping Center, this week, announcing with posters and brochures and rented office space, that it intends to help local Democrats in non-partisan races as well as the state and national Democratic tickets.
That pits two Democrat challengers – Jack Dilles and Rosanna Herrera – against Republican incumbents Randy Johnson and Donna Lind and independent Dene Bustichi.
The Crosson club will hold a candidates forum on Sept. 6, to be followed by endorsements and campaigning. The county Democratic Women’s Club is holding a similar event on August 27, and Dilles said he will be speaking, seeking their endorsement.
Republican county leaders did not respond to questions whether it would be scheduling similar forums.
The Crosson club said it also will be registering voters – regardless of their political preference – at the Scotts Valley storefront.