Endorsing Bradford for Santa Cruz County supervisor
Earlier this year, I had an opportunity to get to know Christopher Bradford from a unique perspective. I already knew Christopher to be a good family man and a well-known and highly respected community leader.
It was when Christopher and I were both running for the same elected office, Santa Cruz County supervisor for the Fifth District, that I got to know Christopher better.
I discovered Christopher to be a man of consistent good cheer who is always willing to go the extra mile for a friend or a member of his community in need. I watched Christopher speak about issues while being able to adapt and assimilate when new information was presented. I found Christopher to be a man of his word and that word is integrity.
I now know after spending many weeks observing him on the campaign trail, that Christopher Bradford is truly committed to making the Fifth District of Santa Cruz County the best that it can be for his community and for his family.
For these reasons and more, I and my family are endorsing, working with and voting for Christopher Bradford to be our next Santa Cruz County supervisor for the Fifth District.
Tom Decker
Ben Lomond
Challenge the status quo by electing Bradford
There’s a lot of discussion about “status quo” around the two candidates for Fifth District supervisor. I believe only one of the candidates has the true ability to disrupt the status quo by bringing a much-needed fresh perspective to County government.
Christopher Bradford will be able to drive change by using his lifetime of wide-ranging skills and experiences to the table. He won’t just provide out-of-the-box thinking, he’ll provide a new box, a new framework, for looking at the issues. He will ask “why” and “why not” and “what if.”
Christopher will invite conversation and compromise. He will not be constrained by special interests and existing political patronage. He will serve the people in our County equally, thoughtfully and with dignity. So, let’s challenge and change the status quo—let’s elect Christopher Bradford for Fifth District supervisor.
Karen Anderson
Boulder Creek
Ensuring fairness for all homeowners with Measure S
A response to Patrick Johnston’s letter to the editor dated Sept. 20, 2024:
I appreciate Mr. Johnston’s concerns about the impact of Measure S on newer homeowners, and I want to assure everyone that the Board of Directors has carefully considered the fairness and necessity of this bond measure. I would like to address some of his concerns and explain why Measure S is essential for the safety and well-being of our entire community.
First and foremost, Measure S was not designed to unfairly burden younger homeowners. The new fire station is a critical need for Scotts Valley and the Fire District. It will allow our emergency services to respond more quickly and effectively to fires and medical emergencies, which benefits every single resident in our community, regardless of how long they have lived here.
While it’s true that California’s property tax system, under Proposition 13, limits tax increases on long-held properties, Measure S is the most effective, and the only way for a District, to raise the necessary funds to ensure we can build and maintain the infrastructure that keeps us all safe. The bond measure applies equally to all homeowners, as property taxes are assessed based on the value of the property at the time of purchase.
Similarly, as properties are sold over the lifespan of the bond, they are reassessed and pay a greater amount than the previous owner. Though this may seem like it disproportionately impacts newer homeowners, the system is designed to protect residents from unpredictable tax spikes, especially seniors and retirees on fixed incomes.
The alternative and unlikely solution is reassessing long-held properties at current market value. This would require a statewide overhaul of Proposition 13, which is not within our local control. Our goal is to ensure that all residents, including those who are new to Scotts Valley, Branciforte, Pasatiempo and the surrounding areas enjoy the benefits of a safe and thriving community.
We recognize that affordability is a serious issue in Santa Cruz County, but public safety must remain a top priority. Measure S is a solution to address an immediate need, and it was crafted to provide the best balance between cost, equity and the safety of our residents.
Daron Pisciotta
Scotts Valley
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