Francisco Estrada: Watsonville’s new mayor and councilman

35 year old Francisco Estrada says it came as a surprise when Watsonville’s city clerk informed him if he won the council seat, he would also serve as mayor in his first year.

Now that the “if” factor is gone, Estrada says he’s ready to get to work, having been elected by voters to the council.

“If you give a Watsonville resident a chance to overcome or succeed, they will come through,” says Estrada while describing the character of the city.

The District 4 city council seat he was elected to was previously held by Jimmy Dutra. It was a seat which was next in line in the city’s rotating mayor policy.

The work as mayor begins as early next year for Estrada as he attempts to tackle what he believes are key issues, such as farmworker housing and health in the community.

“We want to help them afford rent so they can have income for food, doctor visits and pro-social activities,” he says.

Estrada talked at length about removing the misconception that there’s nothing to do in Watsonville.

He says there’s not only plenty to do for residents, but also for those visiting. He hopes to make Watsonville a tourist destination.

Estrada also wants to lend a hand to the city’s youth as they transition to adulthood with the help of educational programs.

That transition may start at home where kids have either developed interest in the tech industry, one which may lead to a job in the Silicon Valley, or they may grow up to be farmworkers.

“I want to be able to have those pipelines. So they can start in middle school and once they’re done with college they can go to either Driscoll or Ryders or Giant will hire them,” Estrada says.

The Watsonville native says of his many prime motivations to run for city council was simply to help motivate others to do the same, if not more for their community.

“I talked the talk for a long time and I was very cynical and I think it was easier for me to point out all the bad stuff,” he explains. But I wasn’t doing anything about it. I want to show my peers and students that if you work hard for something you can achieve anything.”

Francisco Estrada is scheduled to be sworn-in as the new District Four city councilman for Watsonville tonight.

His role as mayor will begin as early as next month.