How the Sentinel Editorial Board Approaches the Nov. 5 Election – Santa Cruz Sentinel

In the past, the election period for the November ballot began just after Labor Day. But school also began for children after Labor Day.

But times have changed. Santa Cruz County students returned to school earlier this month, and election season is in full swing.

Most of the news is about the presidential election, and this week's Democratic convention will keep the focus on that race even sharper.

At the local level, the ballot will be crowded, although it will not be as divisive as in previous elections, where local measures such as the rail trail and building heights generated local passions and have, at least for now, been decided.

Among the local measures (and these are all taxes of one kind or another):

• Seven school obligations and a school property tax;

• Measure Q, which would add an $87 property tax to fund water conservation, water quality and a host of environmental projects;

• Measure S, the Scotts Valley Fire Protection District bond, which is coming to that city's voters for a second time;

• Measure R, a requirement of the Santa Cruz County Central Fire District;

• Measure X, Scotts Valley Business Tax, which changes the city's business tax from a payroll basis to a gross receipts basis;

• Measure Y, an increase in the City of Capitola sales tax;

• Measure Z, the city of Santa Cruz's soda tax, which would impose a 2-cent per fluid ounce tax “on the distribution of sugary beverages in the city.”

Among the contested elections to public office are:

• County Board of Supervisors: A runoff in District 5 between candidates Monica Martinez and Christopher Bradford to replace incumbent Bruce McPherson, and a runoff in District 2 between Kristen Brown and Kim De Serpa to replace incumbent Zach Friend.

• Two seats on the Capitola City Council, with incumbent Brown up for election and incumbent Margaux Morgan among four candidates;

• Three seats on the Scotts Valley City Council, where incumbents Randy Johnson and Jack Dilles are stepping down, and incumbent Donna Lind is among seven candidates;

• In Watsonville, two incumbent city council members, Eduardo Montesino and Vanessa Quiroz-Carter, are running unopposed in their districts.

There are also numerous school board elections, including three district seats on the Pajaro Valley Unified School District board; three fire board elections; and one water district board election.

• Voters will also be able to choose from candidates in the 18th and 19th Congressional Districts, where Democratic incumbents Zoe Lofgren and Jimmy Panetta will face Republican challengers Peter Hernandez and Jason Michael Anderson, respectively;

• The 17th State Senate District, Democratic incumbent John Laird is opposed by Tony Virrueta;

• In the 28th State Assembly District, incumbent Democrat Gail Pellerin faces Republican Liz Lawler, who also ran for the seat in 2022;

• 29th State Assembly District, Democratic incumbent and Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas is opposed by JW Paine;

• 30th State Assembly District, incumbent Democrat Dawn Addis faces Republican Dalila Epperson;

• For the US Senate, Democrat Adam Schiff and Republican Steve Garvey are vying for the seat long held by the late Senator Dianne Feinstein, now held by Laphonza Butler.

As if that were not enough, there are several thorny proposals from the State. We will return to them in a future editorial.

It almost goes without saying that in every partisan race, Democrats are heavily favored in districts and in a state where the party holds an overwhelming registration advantage.

For many local and state policies and elections for public office, the Sentinel's editorial board will interview proponents, opponents and candidates in order to make recommendations.

These recommendations will be echoed in subsequent editorials. Stay tuned, as mail-in ballots go out on October 7 and the November 5 general election is just 80 days away.

Originally published: August 17, 2024 at 12:44 p.m.