The June primary election includes races for Santa Cruz Mayor, Santa Cruz City Council and Santa Cruz County Supervisor. (Amaya Edwards — Santa Cruz Local/CatchLight Local file)

SANTA CRUZ >> Those vying for a local political seat in the June 2 primary had their first campaign finance disclosure deadline Thursday, giving a first look at candidates’ coffers. 

There are competitive races for Santa Cruz Mayor, Santa Cruz City Council Districts 4 and 6, and Santa Cruz County Supervisor District 4 on the June primary ballot. Other races, including Watsonville City Council, will only be on the November general election ballot.

If a candidate receives more than 50% of the vote in June, they are elected outright. If no candidate in a race reaches 50% approval in June, the top two vote-getters will face off in November.

Santa Cruz Mayor

Among the five candidates running for Santa Cruz city’s four-year mayoral seat, longtime Santa Cruz politico Ryan Coonerty is leading with $55,115 raised, including a $5,000 loan. As a former city councilmember and county supervisor, Coonerty’s campaign has seen much fanfare since his entrance into the race, receiving endorsements from every sitting Santa Cruz City Councilmember.

Some have supported his campaign, including $450 from Councilmember Shebreh Kalantari-Johnson’s 2024 election committee, as well as individual donations from Santa Cruz Mayor Fred Keeley and Councilmember Renee Golder, both also for $450. He’s received support from more than 200 individual donors.

Coonerty has spent about $21,116, leaving him with $33,998 on hand.

Former city councilmember Chris Krohn is trailing Coonerty with $10,652 raised, including a $5,000 loan. He’s spent $3,403, leaving him with $7,248 on hand. Krohn was recalled in 2020 over allegations of bullying and opposition to his homeless policies. 

Environmental activist Gillian Greensite has raised $8,189 including a $3,500 loan, and Get the Flock Out co-founder Ami Chen Mills has raised $8,382 with a $1,718 loan. Santa Cruz Cares and Sanitation for the People co-founder Joy Schendledecker has raised $2,650 and has not taken out a loan. 

Of the five Santa Cruz Mayor candidates, every one except Coonerty signed a voluntary campaign expenditure limit agreement. It limits campaign spending to roughly $40,000.

Santa Cruz County Supervisor district 4

At the county level, incumbent District 4 Supervisor Felipe Hernandez faces challenges from Pajaro Valley Health Care District board chair Tony Nuñez and Youth Alliance associate director of movement building Elias Gonzales.

Despite filing for reelection and signaling his intent to run, Hernandez did not file campaign finance forms as of Friday.

Nuñez has raised $20,023 without loans, and has about $8,134 remaining on hand. He holds a substantial financial lead over Gonzales, who has raised $7,878 with a $2,000 loan and has spent about $4,567.

District 3 Supervisor Justin Cummings is running for reelection with no opponent. He has raised $4,303.

Santa Cruz City Council

There are two Santa Cruz City Council seats on the June ballot — District 4, where incumbent Scott Newsome is running against local paraeducator Hector Marin, and District 6, where incumbent Renee Golder is running against UC Santa Cruz student Gabriella Noack. 

Both challengers did not file campaign finance forms as of Friday. Newsome has raised $7,738 in the race with a $2,000 loan, and Golder has $11,659 raised without loans. 

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