ARTICLE
Every two years around the first or second week of February, the political season begins to gain speed as open elected seats appear on the horizon at the federal, state and local levels. This year also includes the redistricting of congressional, state, board of equalization and local districts which moves people into or out of a district. The 2020 Census and the 2021 redistricting shuffles the playing field significantly, and by adding term limits and the pandemic to the mix it has caused incumbent elected officials to rethink their career path or family priorities. In the last couple of weeks after the redistricting maps were finalized, five state Assembly districts now have vacancies — the latest was in Los Angeles where Assemblymember Autumn Burke suddenly announced her resignation effective immediately — citing the pandemic and needing to spend more time with her daughter. In her comments reported in newspapers in southern California and across the state, Burke wrote, “After seven years serving as your Assemblymember, my hope was to finish out my term but circumstances have recently changed.” If we look back since early 2021, seven lawmakers have left the Assembly during this two-year legislative session. Here is the list: Assemblymember David Chiu (SF) resigned to become San Francisco City Attorney; Assemblymember Jim Frazier (Elk Grove) resigned to take a job in the transportation industry; Assemblymember Ed Chau (LA) and Lorena Gonzalez (SD) resigned to new positions. Chau was appointed by Governor Newsom to a state judge post and Gonzalez will be taking over the leadership position of one of the largest labor federations in the nation. All Democrats. With term limits fast approaching in 2024 and 2026, we will see more movement at the state capitol with shifting alliances from moderate-leaning or more progressive-leaning elected officials. It is certain the recent resignations won’t affect the political division of the state Assembly — where Democrats control 55 of the 80 assembly seats. However, it will make it more challenging to reach the magic two-third majority vote — 54 votes — required for some legislation. These resignations are temporary as special elections will be held to replace the former assemblymember just in time for the final hectic weeks of this legislative session. This will cause multiple elections of a special election, followed by a June primary and then the November election where you might see the same person listed on each election ballot. Santa Cruz County will also have new candidates running against incumbents or in some cases incumbents representing new parts of the region because of the redistricting. A few examples: Congressmember Jimmy Panetta’s old district was split into two new congressional, assembly and state senate districts. Now, Panetta loses part of his old district in the Salinas and Pajaro Valleys and picks up parts of south Santa Clara County up to Cupertino. Panetta’s congressional colleague, Congressmember Zoe Lofgren (SJ) now represents Watsonville and the upside of Salinas Valley. Lofgren has been in public office for decades, first holding a seat on the San Jose Evergreen Community College Board, followed by eight years as a Santa Clara County Supervisor, and since 1994, she has represented the downtown and east San Jose area in Congress. Congressmember Anna Eshoo’s district shifts north where she will no longer represent Scotts Valley and the San Lorenzo Valley. Assemblymember Mark Stone’s district boundaries have shifted to the east further into Santa Clara County and split the district narrowly down the spine of South Santa Cruz County from the Live Oak. area to San Luis Obispo. Assemblymember Stone will run for re-election in the new district this year but he faces term limits in 2024. The rumor mill is humming on who will run to replace him in this newly formed district where a large percentage of voters will be in Santa Clara County. The southern part of that district will be an open seat where two city councilmembers — one from Seaside (Jon Wizard) and the other Councilmember from Morro Bay (Dawn Addis) have stated they are running for the Assembly. While state Senator John Laird’s district has shifted to the east picking parts of Salinas Valley and San Benito, he will not be up for re-election this cycle and will run in the new district in 2024. Early last year, Santa Cruz County Supervisor Ryan Coonerty announced he would not run for re-election in 2022. That announcement opens up the 3rd Supervisor seat that has been represented by a Coonerty for many years as Ryan won the open seat that his father Neil Coonerty once held. According to the County Election office there are four candidates who have filed to run for this seat: Santa Cruz City Councilmembers Shebreh Kalantari-Johnson and Justin Cummings, as well as two other candidates, Thomas Dean Ramos and Douglas Deitch. It appears that Deitch has also pulled out papers to run for Congress in the 19th District. In the South Santa Cruz County representing the Watsonville and Pajaro Valley region, once again former Watsonville Councilmember and Cabrillo College Board Trustee, Felipe Hernandez and Watsonville Councilmember Jimmy Dutra have filed paperwork to run. While incumbent Supervisor Greg Caput hasn’t announced his plans yet, he has not indicated that he won’t run for re-election. Assuming he does run for re-election this will be a re-match of the 2018 election cycle where it is believed that Hernandez and Dutra splintered votes from each other’s constituent base, which gave Caput the advantage of incumbency to win. So the election season is heating up and this update does not include the initiative activity at the state and local levels nor the Santa Cruz City Council races that are divided into separate district elections that have yet to be formed. We will continue to follow those issues in the weeks ahead. In the meantime, we encourage you to register to vote if you haven’t already taken that civic duty.
Every two years around the first or second week of February, the political season begins to gain speed as open elected seats appear on the horizon at the federal, state and local levels. This year also includes the redistricting of congressional, state, board of equalization and local districts which moves people into or out of a district. The 2020 Census and the 2021 redistricting shuffles the playing field significantly, and by adding term limits and the pandemic to the mix it has caused incumbent elected officials to rethink their career path or family priorities.
In the last couple of weeks after the redistricting maps were finalized, five state Assembly districts now have vacancies — the latest was in Los Angeles where Assemblymember Autumn Burke suddenly announced her resignation effective immediately — citing the pandemic and needing to spend more time with her daughter. In her comments reported in newspapers in southern California and across the state, Burke wrote, “After seven years serving as your Assemblymember, my hope was to finish out my term but circumstances have recently changed.” If we look back since early 2021, seven lawmakers have left the Assembly during this two-year legislative session. Here is the list: Assemblymember David Chiu (SF) resigned to become San Francisco City Attorney; Assemblymember Jim Frazier (Elk Grove) resigned to take a job in the transportation industry; Assemblymember Ed Chau (LA) and Lorena Gonzalez (SD) resigned to new positions. Chau was appointed by Governor Newsom to a state judge post and Gonzalez will be taking over the leadership position of one of the largest labor federations in the nation. All Democrats.
With term limits fast approaching in 2024 and 2026, we will see more movement at the state capitol with shifting alliances from moderate-leaning or more progressive-leaning elected officials. It is certain the recent resignations won’t affect the political division of the state Assembly — where Democrats control 55 of the 80 assembly seats. However, it will make it more challenging to reach the magic two-third majority vote — 54 votes — required for some legislation. These resignations are temporary as special elections will be held to replace the former assemblymember just in time for the final hectic weeks of this legislative session. This will cause multiple elections of a special election, followed by a June primary and then the November election where you might see the same person listed on each election ballot.
Santa Cruz County will also have new candidates running against incumbents or in some cases incumbents representing new parts of the region because of the redistricting. A few examples: Congressmember Jimmy Panetta’s old district was split into two new congressional, assembly and state senate districts. Now, Panetta loses part of his old district in the Salinas and Pajaro Valleys and picks up parts of south Santa Clara County up to Cupertino. Panetta’s congressional colleague, Congressmember Zoe Lofgren (SJ) now represents Watsonville and the upside of Salinas Valley. Lofgren has been in public office for decades, first holding a seat on the San Jose Evergreen Community College Board, followed by eight years as a Santa Clara County Supervisor, and since 1994, she has represented the downtown and east San Jose area in Congress. Congressmember Anna Eshoo’s district shifts north where she will no longer represent Scotts Valley and the San Lorenzo Valley.
Assemblymember Mark Stone’s district boundaries have shifted to the east further into Santa Clara County and split the district narrowly down the spine of South Santa Cruz County from the Live Oak.
area to San Luis Obispo. Assemblymember Stone will run for re-election in the new district this year but he faces term limits in 2024. The rumor mill is humming on who will run to replace him in this newly formed district where a large percentage of voters will be in Santa Clara County.
The southern part of that district will be an open seat where two city councilmembers — one from Seaside (Jon Wizard) and the other Councilmember from Morro Bay (Dawn Addis) have stated they are running for the Assembly.
While state Senator John Laird’s district has shifted to the east picking parts of Salinas Valley and San Benito, he will not be up for re-election this cycle and will run in the new district in 2024.
Early last year, Santa Cruz County Supervisor Ryan Coonerty announced he would not run for re-election in 2022. That announcement opens up the 3rd Supervisor seat that has been represented by a Coonerty for many years as Ryan won the open seat that his father Neil Coonerty once held. According to the County Election office there are four candidates who have filed to run for this seat: Santa Cruz City Councilmembers Shebreh Kalantari-Johnson and Justin Cummings, as well as two other candidates, Thomas Dean Ramos and Douglas Deitch. It appears that Deitch has also pulled out papers to run for Congress in the 19th District.
In the South Santa Cruz County representing the Watsonville and Pajaro Valley region, once again former Watsonville Councilmember and Cabrillo College Board Trustee, Felipe Hernandez and Watsonville Councilmember Jimmy Dutra have filed paperwork to run. While incumbent Supervisor Greg Caput hasn’t announced his plans yet, he has not indicated that he won’t run for re-election. Assuming he does run for re-election this will be a re-match of the 2018 election cycle where it is believed that Hernandez and Dutra splintered votes from each other’s constituent base, which gave Caput the advantage of incumbency to win.
So the election season is heating up and this update does not include the initiative activity at the state and local levels nor the Santa Cruz City Council races that are divided into separate district elections that have yet to be formed. We will continue to follow those issues in the weeks ahead. In the meantime, we encourage you to register to vote if you haven’t already taken that civic duty.