Candidates running for Scotts Valley City Council are focusing their campaigns on preserving the town’s unique local feel and looking for ways to make housing more affordable. From left to right, Greg Wimp (incumbent), Michael Zeller and Danny Reber. (Amaya Edwards — Santa Cruz Local/CatchLight Local)

SCOTTS VALLEY >> Three candidates are vying for two seats on the Scotts Valley City Council in the Nov. 3 general election.

Candidates Danny Reber and Michael Zeller are running against incumbent councilmember Greg Wimp, who was appointed last year. Councilmember Derek Timm isn’t seeking re-election.

Santa Cruz Local conducted listening sessions with community members across Scotts Valley that informed our reporting for this year’s election guide. Each candidate was asked the same questions. 

From those living in Scotts Valley, they told us they wanted to know how candidates would address pushing the Town Center project forward, preserving Scotts Valley’s small-town feel and how elected leaders would encourage new below-market-rate housing development, while preserving existing low-cost housing. Also, what they would do to stabilize rents.

Meet the candidates

Greg Wimp, 49, is a small-business owner and has lived in Scotts Valley for the last 26 years with his wife. Prior to being appointed to city council in October 2025, Wimp doesn’t have additional political experience, but said he has always made an effort to be involved in the community. He especially values art and said he has been working to bring the annual Open Studios art event to Scotts Valley. Wimp said he’d like to see a diversity of affordable housing programs, like for first-time homebuyers “to give opportunities for people to get into a home that they can purchase and build equity.”

“I think one thing we’re not addressing is [the] diversity of low-cost housing. Currently we have quite a few developments in process that are just low-income rentals and apartments but I’d like to see [programs] for first-time homebuyers,” Wimp said. He is also the owner of three Togo’s sandwich shop franchises in Santa Cruz County.

Danny Reber, 52, is a life-long Scotts Valley resident and is not new to elected office. He is currently the Executive Director of Valley Churches United and has served on the Scotts Valley Water Board for the last 14 years. Reber said he wants to provide housing developers with incentives to build more affordable housing in Scotts Valley. As the former Scotts Valley Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, Reber said he recognizes the importance of providing the community with affordable housing to sustain a solid workforce for local businesses. 

“As a council member, I think the first step would be working with our state representatives, John Laird and Gail Pellerin, and seeing if we can find some synergy with what the state needs,” Reber said.

Michael Zeller, 48, is a political newcomer to Scotts Valley, bringing his transportation expertise to the race. He is currently Director Programming and Project Delivery at the Transportation Agency for Monterey County. Zeller said he supports affordable housing but doesn’t support developments that utilize AB 2011, a law which streamlines housing proposals on commercial property and removes local control.

“Developers are increasing densities beyond what is reasonable in some instances,” he said, adding that while 100% affordable is great, it also means the city loses property tax revenue needed to fund services and infrastructure. 

“What I would like to see us do is try to offer a better financial model for developers to come to the table. There are state-level joint powers authorities that offer investor-backed developer bonds that developers can only get access to that by partnering with a city,” Zeller said.

Read more about the candidates’ full responses and positions on different issues here.

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