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4 candidates are vying for the District 28 Meeting seat within the wake of Scotts Valley Assemblyman Mark Stone’s choice to retire after serving 10 years within the Legislature.
The winner will face the problem of representing a newly drawn, sprawling district that stretches from Santa Cruz by way of the Santa Cruz Mountains to Boulder Creek and east to Los Gatos, southwest San Jose and Morgan Hill. The best candidate would perceive the wants of coastal dwellers, mountain folks, city residents and small-farm operators.
Two candidates stand out — former Santa Cruz County Clerk Gail Pellerin and Los Gatos Mayor Rob Rennie. We give the sting to Pellerin as a result of her data of voting rights points, ardour for enhancing California’s psychological well being challenges and 7 years of expertise working within the Meeting would greatest serve the district.
Pellerin, who has Stone’s endorsement, is energetic, possesses robust individuals expertise and is extensively recognized for her long-standing advocacy for extra ladies in management roles.
She was appointed county clerk in 2004, was elected in 2006 and reelected 3 times earlier than retiring in 2020 to the place that manages all elections within the county. Pellerin served as president of the California Affiliation of Clerks and Election Officers from 2010-12 and co-chair of the Secretary of State’s Voting Accessibility Advisory Committee. Previous to serving as county clerk, she spent seven years working in varied places of work within the Legislature.
Pellerin is a Nationwide Alliance on Psychological Sickness board member and articulates options for the state’s psychological well being disaster higher than every other candidate we’ve interviewed. She argues that the state must put a a lot larger deal with elevated funding and staffing for psychological well being packages, including that California doesn’t have almost sufficient psychological well being staff to fulfill the rising want.
Psychological well being hotlines for these in want are beneficial, she says. “However that’s not sufficient.” She advocates for twenty-four/7 cellular psychological well being items all through California, which might not solely present in-person assist for the mentally ailing but in addition take away that burden from untrained law enforcement officials referred to as to help.
Rennie, an electrical engineer who's a Bay Space native and has lived in Los Gatos since 1997, supposed to run for the District 1 Santa Clara County supervisor’s seat earlier than redistricting rendered him ineligible. When Stone selected to retire Rennie turned a late entry within the race.
Rennie was first elected to the Los Gatos City Council in 2014 and has gained political expertise by serving on the Silicon Valley Clear Vitality Authority board, the Valley Transit Authority and the Santa Clara County Housing and Group Improvement Advisory Committee. He cites inexpensive housing, public security and training as his three highest priorities. He's vibrant and articulate discussing points and would do a stable job if elected.
The opposite two candidates within the race are Monte Sereno Councilwoman Liz Lawler and Starbucks barista and union organizer Joe Thompson.
Lawler is the one Republican within the race and desires to “restore steadiness and accountability to the one-party rule within the Legislature.” She, too, is well-versed on points, however her conservative strategy would make her ineffective in Sacramento.
Thompson, a UC Santa Cruz scholar, is participating and passionately progressive. He doesn’t have the monetary or political backing to make a severe run for the Meeting, however we hope he'll proceed to be concerned in politics and search to serve in some capability in Santa Cruz.
Pellerin is the only option for District 28 voters. Pellerin’s experience on voting rights and psychological well being could be a beneficial addition to the Meeting. We advocate her within the June 7 election.