The District 5 Santa Cruz City Council seat is up for election. The Santa Cruz City Council converted to a district-based representative system in 2022. The March 5 election is the first time District 5 voters will choose a council member.
District 5 includes most of the UC Santa Cruz campus, Pogonip, the Harvey West neighborhood, the El Rio Mobile Home Park and parts of upper Westside north of High Street.
District 5 voters will choose between Joe Thompson and Susie O’Hara. Read Santa Cruz Local’s Election Guide for each candidate:
Key differences in candidates’ positions
| Susie O’Hara | Joe Thompson |
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| How to make housing more affordable: | |
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| Where and how new housing should be built in District 5: | |
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| How to address homelessness: | |
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| View on Measure M: | |
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How to make housing more affordable
Susie O’Hara:
- Build high-density housing downtown, medium-density on major streets and smaller developments in neighborhoods.
Joe Thompson:
- Enact more tenant protections.
- Introduce rent control.
- Build denser housing on major city streets.
Where and how new housing should be built in District 5
Susie O’Hara:
- Use community engagement to create housing projects supported by neighbors.
Joe Thompson:
- Concentrate new developments downtown and near Harvey West Park.
- Build smaller multi-family homes elsewhere.
How to address homelessness
Susie O’Hara:
- Expand programs like the Downtown Streets Team that connect housed and unhoused residents.
- Pursue expansion of Coral Street Campus.
Joe Thompson:
- Reject laws that limit where homeless people can live.
- Invest in affordable housing, mental health services and substance use services.
View on Measure M
Susie O’Hara:
- Against Measure M.
Joe Thompson:
- Against Measure M.
What we heard from Santa Cruz City Council District 5 voters
To understand voters’ priorities for the March 5 election, Santa Cruz Local interviewed and surveyed 75 Santa Cruz residents from four city council districts. Santa Cruz Local heard from residents ages 18 to 84 from August to October. The survey was not intended to be a scientific study, but rather a straw poll of issues that matter to voters.
The top themes raised by District 5 residents were:
- Increasing housing affordability.
- Housing development.
- Addressing homelessness.
- Access to student housing.
- More information on local government and how to get involved.
Map of District 5 Santa Cruz City Council
Click here for an interactive map of Santa Cruz City Council districts.
The Santa Cruz City Council converted to a district-based representative system in 2022. The March 5 election is the first time District 5 voters will choose a council member. (City of Santa Cruz)
