Incoming supervisors on rail, road policy

All results as of 4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 22

Santa Cruz County Supervisor, District 2 

• Kim De Serpa: 12,684 (50.96%)
• Kristen Brown: 11,960 (48.05%)

Santa Cruz County Supervisor, District 5

• Monica Martinez: 15,080 (56.58%)
• Christopher Bradford: 11,507 (43.17%)

Kim De Serpa and Monica Martinez are expected to be the first women on the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors since Ellen Pirie in 2012.

In pre-election interviews, De Serpa and Martinez both said they wanted to prioritize road repair. Both districts have miles of severely degraded roads, including many damaged by natural disasters.

• De Serpa said she wants to reallocate the county’s budget to prioritize infrastructure like roads, sidewalks and bike lanes. She said she won’t know where the money should come from until she becomes supervisor.
• Martinez said money from Measure K, a sales tax hike approved in March, should be prioritized for road repair. But she said she doesn’t support deep cuts or layoffs in other departments to increase money for roads. 
• Martinez said she wants to “strike a better balance” between routine maintenance and emergency repairs, and dedicate more money to severely damaged roads.

If De Serpa and Martinez are declared winners of their county supervisor races, they’ll also join the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission. On both bodies, the new electeds could shape the future of transportation funding.

• De Serpa would replace Zach Friend for District 2 supervisor. Friend has recused himself from votes concerning proposed passenger rail because he owns property near the Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line. De Serpa’s vote could push the board toward a more critical outlook on rail.
• De Serpa said she’s willing to support passenger rail “if feasible” but has concerns about its cost and usefulness. De Serpa could be an ally to Manu Koenig, who has also raised concerns about the plan for rail. 

A conceptual report on passenger rail is due to the regional transportation commission in early 2025. The commission will face a critical decision on whether to start environmental review for the project.

Capitola leaders to guide housing growth

Melinda Orbach and Gerry Jensen are poised to take the Capitola City Council seats of Margaux Morgan and Kristen Brown. (Contributed)

Capitola City Council

• Gerry Jensen: 2,734 (34.02%)
• Melinda Orbach: 2,293 (28.53%)
• Margaux Morgan: 1,547 (19.25%)
• Enrique Dolmo Jr.: 1,404 (17.47%)

Two new members on the five-member Capitola City Council will help oversee a state-mandated plan to allow at least 1,336 new homes by December 2031. 

Gerry Jensen and Melinda Orbach are set to replace Margaux Morgan and Kristen Brown. Both discussed their views on housing development on the campaign trail. 

• Orbach suggested streamlining the approval process for new single-family homes and second-story additions to single-family homes, and removing the requirement for a public hearing. 
• In an interview for Santa Cruz Local’s Election Guide, Orbach said she wanted to promote accessory dwelling units throughout the city and supported larger housing developments “along the eastern side of 41st Avenue, between Clares Street and Capitola Road.” 
• Jensen, a current member of the Capitola Planning Commission, said that in addition to the anticipated redevelopment of the Capitola Mall, there are opportunities for more housing on Bay Avenue, Capitola Road, Capitola Avenue and Clares Street.

Ethnic studies and a new school board

From left, Gabriel Jesse Medina, Jessica Carrasco and Carol Turley are poised to oust three incumbents on the Pajaro Valley school board. (Contributed)

Area 3 tally includes Santa Cruz and Monterey counties as of 5 p.m. Friday.

Pajaro Valley Unified School District, Trustee Area 6

• Jessica Carrasco: 2,600 (57.0%)
• Adam Bolaños Scow: 1,916 (42.0%)

Pajaro Valley Unified School District, Trustee Area 3

• Gabriel Jesse Medina: 1,582 (53.4%)
• Oscar Soto: 1,380 (46.6%)

Pajaro Valley Unified School District, Trustee Area 2

• Carol Turley: 2,948 (55.2%)
• Georgia Acosta: 2,356 (44.1%)

Four of the seven Pajaro Valley Unified School board trustees who voted not to renew an ethnic studies contract are expected to leave the school board if the Nov. 5 election results hold. Their replacements could choose to rekindle the discussion on ethnic studies.

In 2023, the school board voted not to extend a contract with ethnic studies consultant Community Responsive Education over allegations of anti-semitism, triggering backlash from faculty and students. Trustees Georgia Acosta and Kim De Serpa, members of the board’s three-member agenda-setting committee, voted on Nov. 2, 2024 not to agendize a discussion on the contract, despite community calls to do so. 

• Jessica Carassco said she “100%” supports expanding the district’s ethnic studies curriculum. 

• Gabriel Medina has sharply criticized the board, saying they have refused to listen to students’ and teachers’ demands to reconsider the ethnic studies contract. “I will advocate for the full implementation of ethnic studies across all PVUSD schools, ensuring that teachers receive proper training and resources,” he said during the campaign.
• Carol Turley said, “The district has chosen to embed ethnic studies across the curriculum. I will support the superintendent’s plan to engage the community, students, and staff to choose a curriculum guide,” Turley said during her campaign. On Nov. 13, she said she would need to study the curriculum before deciding if the contract should be renewed.
• De Serpa has 50.96% support for District 2 county supervisor. If she wins, she would be replaced on the school board through an appointment or special election.

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