ARTICLE
We are a couple of weeks out from the Labor Day weekend, which traditionally kicks off the 2024 General election cycle — this year is much different with the heightened and divided interest of a Presidential election. The Chamber does not endorse individual candidates for public office regardless of the level of government. However, one can't help but notice the intensity of the discussion, which will only ramp up in the short three month window before November 5th. There is clear evidence that top of the ticket elections, especially in a Presidential election year, have sway on what are called the bottom of the ballot issues. Every national poll and political commentary that I have seen or read in recent days says Vice President Kamala Harris will outpace former President Trump at the voter booths throughout California and has shifted the election significantly since President Biden handed the Presidential baton to Harris. What that means for our region and our voters is up to debate. The question for Santa Cruz County voters: Will their engagement at the presidential level trickle down to our local elections? Santa Cruz County voters have a long tradition of higher turnout above the state average. Lookout Santa Cruz’s political and policy reporter, Christopher Neely presented a storyline on the local elections in his August 9 article here: https://lookout.co/santa-cruz-county-2024-elections-what-we-know-at-the-filing-deadline-about-who-is-running/. I won’t go into details on every candidate running for local office. However, two interesting twists make this election cycle different: Long time Scotts Valley city council member Randy Johnson has decided not to seek re-election after serving the city for 28 years. His colleague on the City Council, Jack Dilles, is also hanging up his political shingle after serving the citizens of Scotts Valley for the past eight years. So the Scotts Valley City Council will have a new group of elected officials next year. Whoever wins those two seats may have a different opinion on the county board and commissions that may be selected to serve on than their predecessors. Stay tuned. Another intriguing candidate race is in the City of Watsonville’s 6th District where incumbent Jimmy Dutra will be facing a former council member, Trina Coffman-Gomez. We wish all the candidates the best of luck. The month of August is the election deadline, and candidates need to submit the proper paperwork to the Santa Cruz County Election office by Friday, August 9, to qualify for the ballot. A second deadline is Tuesday, August 13, the proponents and opponents of qualified ballot measures need to submit their arguments in support or opposition to the measure. We already know that the state ballot includes six propositions submitted to the Secretary of State by the state legislators and three propositions submitted through the signature-gathering system. The Chamber staff is in the process of reviewing those measures to determine if the Chamber Board will weigh in on any of them. Now at the local level — hold your hat — there will be 17 measures on the ballot throughout the county with school bonds for Aromas, (Measure D) Bonny Doon (Measure L) Pajaro Valley (Measure M), Live Oak (Measure N), Scotts Valley (Measure O) and Soquel School District (Measure P) and Lakeside Joint School District Parcel Tax. The voters will also decide on ballot measures for Santa Cruz County Water and Wildlife Protection Initiative (Measure Q), Central Fire District of Santa Cruz County bond (Measure R), Scotts Valley Fire Protection Bond (Measure S), Zayante Fire District Protection Bond (Measure T), Santa Lorenzo Water District Rate Initiative (Measure U). The City of Watsonville has two City Charter Amendments (Measures V and W), which modify how the city selects commission members and city staff positions. Scotts Valley voters will also consider a Business Tax increase for the first time in many years (Measure X). The City of Capitola has a Sales Tax increase on the ballot (Measure Y), and the City of Santa Cruz voters will consider a Santa Cruz Beverage Tax (Measure Z). You can review all the measures on the Santa Cruz County Election office webpage: https://votescount.santacruzcountyca.gov/Home/Elections/November5,2024PresidentialGeneralElection/LocalMeasures.aspx. In the upcoming weeks, the Chamber staff will take a closer look at these measures and might weigh in on those measures that will have an impact on the business community and Chamber members. So buckle in for a wild three-month election roller coaster ride to November 5, 2024.
We are a couple of weeks out from the Labor Day weekend, which traditionally kicks off the 2024 General election cycle — this year is much different with the heightened and divided interest of a Presidential election.
The Chamber does not endorse individual candidates for public office regardless of the level of government. However, one can't help but notice the intensity of the discussion, which will only ramp up in the short three month window before November 5th. There is clear evidence that top of the ticket elections, especially in a Presidential election year, have sway on what are called the bottom of the ballot issues. Every national poll and political commentary that I have seen or read in recent days says Vice President Kamala Harris will outpace former President Trump at the voter booths throughout California and has shifted the election significantly since President Biden handed the Presidential baton to Harris. What that means for our region and our voters is up to debate. The question for Santa Cruz County voters: Will their engagement at the presidential level trickle down to our local elections? Santa Cruz County voters have a long tradition of higher turnout above the state average.
Lookout Santa Cruz’s political and policy reporter, Christopher Neely presented a storyline on the local elections in his August 9 article here: https://lookout.co/santa-cruz-county-2024-elections-what-we-know-at-the-filing-deadline-about-who-is-running/. I won’t go into details on every candidate running for local office. However, two interesting twists make this election cycle different: Long time Scotts Valley city council member Randy Johnson has decided not to seek re-election after serving the city for 28 years. His colleague on the City Council, Jack Dilles, is also hanging up his political shingle after serving the citizens of Scotts Valley for the past eight years. So the Scotts Valley City Council will have a new group of elected officials next year. Whoever wins those two seats may have a different opinion on the county board and commissions that may be selected to serve on than their predecessors. Stay tuned.
Another intriguing candidate race is in the City of Watsonville’s 6th District where incumbent Jimmy Dutra will be facing a former council member, Trina Coffman-Gomez. We wish all the candidates the best of luck.
The month of August is the election deadline, and candidates need to submit the proper paperwork to the Santa Cruz County Election office by Friday, August 9, to qualify for the ballot. A second deadline is Tuesday, August 13, the proponents and opponents of qualified ballot measures need to submit their arguments in support or opposition to the measure. We already know that the state ballot includes six propositions submitted to the Secretary of State by the state legislators and three propositions submitted through the signature-gathering system. The Chamber staff is in the process of reviewing those measures to determine if the Chamber Board will weigh in on any of them.
Now at the local level — hold your hat — there will be 17 measures on the ballot throughout the county with school bonds for Aromas, (Measure D) Bonny Doon (Measure L) Pajaro Valley (Measure M), Live Oak (Measure N), Scotts Valley (Measure O) and Soquel School District (Measure P) and Lakeside Joint School District Parcel Tax.
The voters will also decide on ballot measures for Santa Cruz County Water and Wildlife Protection Initiative (Measure Q), Central Fire District of Santa Cruz County bond (Measure R), Scotts Valley Fire Protection Bond (Measure S), Zayante Fire District Protection Bond (Measure T), Santa Lorenzo Water District Rate Initiative (Measure U).
The City of Watsonville has two City Charter Amendments (Measures V and W), which modify how the city selects commission members and city staff positions.
Scotts Valley voters will also consider a Business Tax increase for the first time in many years (Measure X). The City of Capitola has a Sales Tax increase on the ballot (Measure Y), and the City of Santa Cruz voters will consider a Santa Cruz Beverage Tax (Measure Z). You can review all the measures on the Santa Cruz County Election office webpage: https://votescount.santacruzcountyca.gov/Home/Elections/November5,2024PresidentialGeneralElection/LocalMeasures.aspx.
In the upcoming weeks, the Chamber staff will take a closer look at these measures and might weigh in on those measures that will have an impact on the business community and Chamber members. So buckle in for a wild three-month election roller coaster ride to November 5, 2024.