Every two years, Santa Cruz County residents are inundated with requests to vote on measures, propositions and local candidate races. Quadrennially, those attempts to garner votes seem to increase in propensity and quantity, with some local intersections plastered with so many signs that they can’t all be absorbed during an average red light wait.
Amid the calls for support, area residents careen through the month of October, eager to get to the ballot box and emerge with their preferred candidates and measures in place. Similarly, the candidates and those who authored and support ballot measures are excited for the outcome of the Nov. 5 election.
With so much information to take in, there will be upcoming articles outlining the many options available to local voters. We begin with an encapsulation of the race for Fifth District supervisor.
SUPERVISOR RACE
Since splitting the votes in the March 2024 primary race, Boulder Creek’s Christopher Bradford and Felton’s Monica Martinez have squared off in a number of candidate forums.
Faced with questions on everything from ecological concerns to disaster planning to supporting small businesses, Bradford and Martinez have each made their positions known in an array of settings. Each has attended community-based events (think Scotts Valley’s State of the City address, FireWise educational programs and the much-hyped meetings regarding the installation of a pump track at Felton’s Covered Bridge Park), marched in Fourth of July parades and held individual campaign events to foster community and conversation around their ideas.
As a Santa Cruz County Parks Commissioner and the CEO of Encompass, the county’s largest health and human services nonprofit, Martinez has years of experience working with the county and has an innate understanding of its strengths and weaknesses. She appears as a sure-footed if not quieter version of current Supervisor Bruce McPherson, whose tenure will end on Dec. 31, 2024, and whose own endorsement Martinez has secured.
Bradford, a small business owner and treasurer of the FireSafe Council, knows firsthand how the county planning department has failed its constituents. Having lost his family’s home in the CZU August Lightning Complex Fire in 2020, Bradford’s main focus is on supporting displaced residents and helping to strengthen the county’s response to local crises. He is kind and engaging, and seeks to shake up the status quo by running as the antidote to perceived local governmental incompetence.
Martinez and Bradford hold similar views on issues that concern local voters. They both advocate for more low-income housing to ensure that workers can afford to live in the county where they are employed; they are both aware of management and infrastructure issues within the San Lorenzo Valley and Big Basin water districts and have pledged to offer support to ensure that residents have access to clean, safe water. They share a belief in lifting up small businesses and helping to engage local communities in their efforts to attract visitors and locals alike.
Given that they each live in the San Lorenzo Valley, local residents are thrilled to finally have a seat at the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors’ table. Often self-referred to as the “red-headed stepchild of Santa Cruz County,” residents, businesses and agencies will finally have the representation so sorely needed, especially considering the magnitude of disastrous events that routinely affect the area. From floods to fires to landslides, broken water mains and power outages, the San Lorenzo Valley suffers the most catastrophic occurrences but is seemingly left behind when it comes to financial relief.
Bradford and Martinez both see themselves as outsiders in this race. While they have been involved in supporting their communities for many years, neither has ever run for supervisor.
Martinez, a queer Latina from Bakersfield, prides herself on her boot-strappy nature and ability to meet people where they are. Bradford, an African-American who moved to the San Lorenzo Valley in 2016, immediately became an involved community leader and source of support in the aftermath of the CZU Fire.
Neither of them see themselves as establishment candidates. Despite the multitude of endorsements from local governmental leaders, Martinez pooh-poohs the idea of following in the footsteps of McPherson, who has held his seat since 2012.
“Since when is a queer Latina part of the establishment?” asks Martinez.
Bradford has peddled a more grassroots approach to his candidacy, and has focused on getting endorsements from small business owners and local community members, eschewing the long-standing practice of seeking approval from current and former government officials.
CANDIDATE VIEWS
While there are similarities between the candidates, there are also differences in their approach to various issues.
Regarding collaborative governance and building consensus, Martinez said, “I know from experience that meaningful change on the Board of Supervisors requires the ability to secure three out of five votes. My public service career reflects this collaborative approach, where I’ve consistently built alliances and negotiated to get results for our community. I am committed to bringing my track record of collaboration to ensure District 5 has a strong, effective voice on the Board.”
On funding and fiscal strategy, Martinez said, “I’ve demonstrated my ability to bring in state and federal dollars by fostering partnerships, and I have concrete plans to secure additional funding streams for the county. My experience aligns with our district’s need for increased investment without sacrificing services, ensuring we bring every resource possible to our community.”
In discussing disaster recovery, response and preparedness, Martinez noted, “Disaster recovery is a cornerstone of my campaign, as ensuring the safety and resilience of our community is essential. I emphasize using data to hold the county accountable for results, ensuring resources reach those most affected. While my opponent and I both recognize the need for disaster preparedness, my background in public service has equipped me with practical experience in leading local recovery efforts. This experience prepares me to take effective, measurable action for District 5.”
On budgetary issues, Bradford stated, “We can’t base our budget or spending on hopeful grants—we have to live in the real world where we have to make hard choices. We cannot keep trying to balance the budget through the ballot box, people don’t have much more to give. We have to see the differences between wants and needs, and act accordingly.”
Regarding fire recovery, Bradford said: “We need a grassroots approach to connect with disaster survivors who often don’t engage with the county because they don’t trust it. I have this lived experience, creating dashboards and pie charts isn’t serving the public. Serving the public means meeting those affected where they are at, if you expect people to come to you they will always be underserved.”
And, on public engagement, Bradford announced: “I have been involved with my community for years before ever running for public office. I am running because of my lived experience in being underserved, I have skin in the game. I am not running as a career move or because I was picked by the establishment. I am running because it was the right thing to do. I have been available and communicative the entire campaign, which shows that I will be an engaged and available supervisor.”
Still not registered to vote? Visit registertovote.ca.gov to get signed up. Residents must be registered to vote at least 15 days before Election Day.
