Fact sheet for 2020 elections in Santa Cruz County

The Candidates

U.S. Representative- Congressional District 18

District 18 includes most of northern Santa Cruz County, including Boulder Creek, Ben Lomond, Felton, Scotts Valley, and it extends into the southern Bay Area.

• Phil Reynolds (R)- Engineer/Father/Businessman
• Rep. Anna G. Eshoo (D)
• Richard B. Fox (R)- Physician/Attorney
• Rishi Kumar (D)- Saratoga city council member/Hi-Tech executive
• Bob Goodwyn (L)- Pilot

You may vote for one.

U.S. Representative- Congressional District 20

District 20 includes all of Monterey and San Benito counties and parts of Santa Clara and Santa Cruz Counties.

• Jeff Gorman (R)- Small business owner
• Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D)- Current U.S. Representative
• Adam Bolaños Scow (D)- Environmental advocate

You may vote for one.

State Senator, District 17

SD 17 includes the entirety of Santa Cruz and San Luis Obispo counties and parts of Monterey and Santa Clara Counties. Cities included in the district are Santa Cruz, Watsonville, Gilroy and Monterey.

• Maria Cadenas (D)- Nonprofit Executive Director
• John Laird (D) Natural Resources Secretary
• John M. Nevill (D)- Rancher/Respiratory therapist
• Vicki Nohrden (R)- Businesswoman

You may vote for one.

Member of the State Assembly, District 29

District 29 includes parts of Santa Cruz, Monterey and Santa Clara Counties. Cities include Monterey and Santa Cruz.

• Shomir Banerjee (R)- Physician/Engineer
• Assemblymember Mark Stone (D)

You may vote for one.

Member of the State Assembly, District 30

District 30 includes parts of Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, San Benito and Monterey counties. Cities include Watsonville, Hollister, Salinas, Gonzales, Soledad, Greenfield, King City and much of the Big Sur area.

• Assemblymember Robert Rivas (D)
• Gregory Swett (R)- Walnut grower/Trustee

You may vote for one.

Superior Court Judge Office 1

• Annrae Angel- Attorney at law
• Nancy de la Peña- Assistant county counsel
• Jack Gordon- Attorney at law

County Supervisor, District 1

District 1 includes Live Oak, Soquel, the Summit area, Santa Cruz Gardens and Carbonera.

• Betsy Riker- Medical professional
• Benjamin T. Cogan- Entrepreneur
• Mark Esquibel- Environmental Safety Manager
• Supervisor John Leopold
• Donald "Kase" Kreutz- Bus driver
• Manu Koenig- Nonprofit Executive Director

You may vote for one.

County Supervisor, District 2

District 2 includes Aptos, La Selva Beach, Seacliff, Rio Del Mar, Corralitos, Freedom, the Pajaro River basin and parts of Capitola and Watsonville.

• Supervisor Zach Friend
• Becky Steinbruner- Writer/Researcher/Mom

You may vote for one.

County Supervisor, District 5

District 5 includes the San Lorenzo Valley, most of Scotts Valley and part of Santa Cruz.

• Supervisor Bruce McPherson

You may vote for one.

City of Santa Cruz Councilmember Recall- Drew Glover

Shall Drew Glover be removed from the office of Santa Cruz City Councilmember?

Candidates to succeed Glover as councilmember if he is recalled:

• Tim Fitzmaurice- University, Prison teacher
• Renee Golder- Elementary school teacher

City of Santa Cruz Councilmember Recall- Chris Krohn

Shall Chris Krohn be removed from the office of Santa Cruz City Councilmember?

Candidates to succeed Krohn as councilmember if he is recalled:

• Don Lane- Charitable foundation manager
• Katherine Beiers- Retired librarian

Local Measures

Measure R- Cabrillo Community College District bond measure

If approved, the measure would provide $274,100,000 in bonds at legal rates, levying $19,000-$100,000 assessed valuation while bonds are waiting to be approved with audits, no funding for administrators and locally-used funds. It would go towards repairing and upgrading classrooms, technology and science labs. It would also help upgrade outdated wiring and sewer lines and acquiring, building and/or repairing sites, facilities and equipment. It requires 55% voter approval to pass. Read the full text here.

Measure M- Aromas- San Juan Unified School District Classroom Repair and Modernization

If approved, the measure would reauthorize $4.2 million of the Aromas- San Juan Unified School District's bonds that were approved in 2010 as new bonds with legal rates, projected yearly average levies less than 2 cents per $100 of assessed valuation through about 2031, yearly audits and taxpayer oversight. It would go towards repairing and modernizing classrooms and facilities, making earthquake safety upgrades and repairs and qualify for state matching funds. It requires 55% voter approval to pass. Read the full text here.

Measure S- San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District bond measure

If approved, the measure would provide $75,000,000 in bonds at legal interest rates and generate about $4.3 million per year while bonds are outstanding with levies of about 6 cents per $100 assessed value with yearly audits, citizen oversight, no money for salaries and all funds going to local projects. It would go towards repairing or replacing roofs, constructing Science/Engineering and Career Technical Education facilities and make health and safety improvements. It requires 55% voter approval to pass. Read the full text here.

Measure T- Santa Cruz High School parcel tax

If approved, the measure would renew the district's expiring parcel tax at the current $110 per parcel yearly rate, continuing $3.7 million in yearly school funding until it is ended by voters, without raising tax rates, including senior exemptions and keeping funds local. It would continue funding Career Technical Education as well as science, technology, engineering, arts, counseling, library and athletic programs. It requires two-thirds voter approval to pass. Read the full text here.

Measure U- Santa Cruz Elementary School District parcel tax

If approved, the measure would renew Santa Cruz City Elementary School District and Santa Cruz City High School District's expiring parcel tax at a rate of $208 per parcel, which provides $3.2 million in yearly school funding until voters end it, including senior exemptions, and all money stays local. It would go towards funding programs in science, art and music; attracting and retaining teachers; providing library and counseling services and maintaining smaller class sizes. It requires two-thirds voter approval to pass. Read the full text here.

Measure V- Soquel Union Elementary School District parcel tax

If approved, the measure would levy a $96 per parcel tax every year for 6 years, raising about $1,500,000 every year with independent oversight, senior exemptions and all funds going to local schools. It would go towards attracting and retaining teachers and staff; preserving reading, writing, math, science, technology, arts and music programs; maintaining small class sizes and giving locally-controlled funding that cannot be taken by the State. It requires two-thirds voter approval to pass. Read the full text here.

Measure W- City of Santa Cruz Contracts for Public Works

If approved, the City of Santa Cruz allow for the use of design-build or other obtainment of best value for public works construction, and said it will allow for more flexibility in contracting for public works construction projects, for example, major planned infrastructure improvements. It requires a majority vote to pass. Read the full text here.

Measure X- City of Santa Cruz Trustee Areas for School District

If approved, the City of Santa Cruz Charter would change to revoke Article XVI. The city said that would allow school districts to conduct elections by trustee areas adopted by the district instead of specifying the makeup of the School District Board of Trustees in the City Charter. It requires a majority vote to pass. Read the full text here.

Measure Y- City of Watsonville Sales Tax for Public Safety

If approved, the measure would keep the existing one-half cent sales tax until voters repeal it. It would be restricted to specific uses, subject to independent citizen oversight and audits and provide $4 million every year. The city said it would go toward fighting crime, ensuring rapid 911 response to emergencies and keep the city safe by maintaining and increasing after-school youth programs and safe places, neighborhood patrols, police officers, firefighters, and paramedics as well as public safety equipment. It would require two-thirds voter approval to pass. Read the full text here.

Measure Z- City of Scotts Valley Sales Tax

If approved, the city would adopt a 1.25% sales tax and eliminate the existing .5% sales tax. It would generate about $3,300,000 every year for 12 years, and all funds would be spent locally. The city said it would go towards maintaining financial stability, avoiding significant cuts and supporting city services, such as 911 dispatch and emergency police response; wildfire and emergency preparation; recruiting and retaining police officers; city, road, storm drain and parks maintenance and other general services. It would require a majority vote to pass. Read the full text here.