District 5 Santa Cruz County supervisor
The District 5 Santa Cruz County supervisor seat is up for election. District 5 straddles Highway 9 and includes Boulder Creek, Brookdale, Ben Lomond, Felton, Scotts Valley, part of Santa Cruz and some areas near Summit Road.
District 5 voters will choose between Theresa Ann Bond, Christopher Bradford, Tom Decker and Monica Martinez. Read our guide for each candidate:
Key differences in District 5 candidates’ positions
How to improve wildfire evacuation, cell service and emergency preparedness
Theresa Ann Bond:
- Encourage more local Firewise Communities to reduce wildfire risk.
- Repair evacuation routes.
- Consider a countywide program to distribute and maintain generators.
Christopher Bradford:
- Invest in efforts like brush-buster programs to prepare for wildfires
- Support fire breaks on large properties.
- Create more landlines, ham radio systems and alert sirens for emergencies.
Tom Decker:
- Encourage community groups to create phone trees.
- Encourage residents to have generators and emergency plans.
Monica Martinez:
- Build early warning systems like evacuation sirens.
- Prioritize evacuation routes for road repairs.
- Support community-based organizations for emergency response.
- Encourage utilities to build more cell towers.
How to improve power reliability
Theresa Ann Bond:
- Consider creating a local, publicly-run power utility.
- Consider penalizing PG&E for outages that impact schools.
Christopher Bradford:
- Support undergrounding of power lines.
- Advocate for solutions with PG&E and state and federal representatives.
Tom Decker:
- Work with other rural counties and state legislators.
- Hire a lobbyist to advocate for local power reliability.
- Encourage residents to own generators.
Monica Martinez:
- Ask the California Public Utilities Commission and state lawmakers to “encourage PG&E to do better.”
- Support rebates and incentives for generators.
How to reduce obstacles to post-wildfire rebuilding
Theresa Ann Bond:
- Have staff give more data to county supervisors about progress on rebuilding permits.
- Individually connect with wildfire victims who have not been able to rebuild.
Christopher Bradford:
- Don’t require rebuilders to conform to updated standards for septic systems and roof sprinklers.
Tom Decker:
- Set up a volunteer group to help applicants through the permitting process.
Monica Martinez:
- Remove local regulations and challenge state rules that impede rebuilding.
- Make septic requirements more flexible.
- Make permit review faster and more consistent.
How to fund affordable housing and where to add new homes
Theresa Ann Bond:
- Close the gap between housing costs and wages.
- Pursue funding for workhouse housing.
- Reject large, dense developments.
Christopher Bradford:
- Reduce septic requirements.
- Use county land for affordable housing.
- Increase housing density throughout the district.
Tom Decker:
- Cut costs for developers by loosening septic requirements.
- Build on empty lots.
Monica Martinez:
- Consider funding affordable housing with county money and tax increases on the wealthiest county residents.
- Build housing on county land and on transit corridors.
How to improve wildfire evacuation, cell service and emergency preparedness |
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Theresa Ann Bond |
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Christopher Bradford |
|
Tom Decker |
|
Monica Martinez |
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How to improve power reliability |
|
Theresa Ann Bond |
|
Christopher Bradford |
|
Tom Decker |
|
Monica Martinez |
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How to reduce obstacles to post-wildfire rebuilding |
|
Theresa Ann Bond |
|
Christopher Bradford |
|
Tom Decker |
|
Monica Martinez |
|
How to fund affordable housing and where to add new homes |
|
Theresa Ann Bond |
|
Christopher Bradford |
|
Tom Decker |
|
Monica Martinez |
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What we heard from Santa Cruz County Supervisor District 5 voters
Santa Cruz Local interviewed District 5 residents and collected responses through an online survey to better understand their top priorities for supervisor candidates in the March 5 election. The survey was not intended to be scientific, but rather a straw poll of issues important to voters.
District 5 residents’ priorities below are listed in order of frequency:
- Fire and flood preparation.
- Power, water, communications and roads.
- Housing affordability.
- Child care, safety and youth activities.