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SANTA CRUZ – A contentious presidential election trickled all the way down to the native stage as Santa Cruz skilled historic politics for town in 2020.
The yr began with a tumultuous recall vote. The recall was the primary time within the historical past of town {that a} recall ever gained sufficient help to be positioned on the poll. It was additionally the primary time a Metropolis Council member had ever been recalled in Santa Cruz.
The 2 councilmen, Drew Glover and Chris Krohn, confronted the recall effort which began in June of 2019 for various points. Complaints concerning the duo ranged from private conduct with metropolis workers and different neighborhood organizations to their stances on homelessness points in Santa Cruz.
Krohn known as the recall “pointless and costly,” in his response in June 2019, even going so far as to name it “undemocratic.”
“The Metropolis Council holds common elections each two years. The subsequent common council election is in 2020” he stated in his response. “On this recall, a candidate who earned fewer votes may change me. That’s not democracy.”
Each Krohn and Glover denied the allegations held towards them. Krohn claimed the allegations to be “trumped-up and unfaithful,” whereas Glover alleged that the 2 fell sufferer to the way in which the system works.
“I keep that the claims made to disparage me within the recall efforts are false and deceptive,” Glover stated in his June 2019 response. “There’s been no scandal, and the non-public assaults towards my character cross a line. However ultimately, I suppose that’s simply politics.”
The recall went via an extended course of, lasting nearly 9 months earlier than voters had the chance to make a closing determination in March. The choices have been made by a slender margin as the ultimate vote was tallied on March 30. Each Glover and Krohn have been unseated by 53% and 51% of the vote respectively.
“Taking a look at these vote tallies, it’s clear that our neighborhood is split,” Krohn stated in a press release in March. “It’ll additionally change into clear as soon as all of the required marketing campaign spending paperwork is submitted, that numerous the cash was spent to drive Councilmember Glover and me out of workplace over political variations round reasonably priced housing, homelessness and the expansion of UCSC. However the concepts, insurance policies and folks we represented should not retreating.”
Glover was changed by Metropolis Council newcomer and native elementary educator Renee Golder, who will cling on to Glover’s seat till the subsequent common council election in 2022.
Krohn was changed by former mayor Katherine Beiers, who has devoted greater than 15 years of her life as a public servant in Santa Cruz. Beiers not too long ago completed out the time period in December and didn’t run for reelection.
Alternative council members have been sworn in early April, shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic began and the nation went on its first stay-at-home order. The induction was accomplished just about through Zoom, which turned the platform for all future Metropolis Council conferences.
Shortly after the recall of Krohn and Glover, candidacy for the 2020 common council election opened. Poll areas turned official in August, as 9 feminine candidates confronted off for 4 seats.
The poll included two incumbents, Sandy Brown and 2019 mayor Martine Watkins. The remainder of the poll was full of council newcomers Sonja Brunner, Shebreh Kalantari-Johnson, Kayla Kumar, Maria Cadenas, Kelsey Hill, Elizabeth Conlan and Alicia Kuhl.
Because the election rolled in November, the 2 incumbents reclaimed their seats on the Metropolis Council.
“I believe it speaks to the final dynamic energy of incumbency,” Brown advised the Sentinel in November. “I believe we shared numerous values that can assist us transfer ahead collectively, regardless of considerably completely different approaches to easy methods to finest handle neighborhood wants.”
Brunner and Kalantari-Johnson crammed the remaining two seats. Brunner was the highest vote-getter in November, which finally noticed her seated as town’s vice mayor for the 2021 calendar yr after she was sworn in.
“I believe it’s a sworn statement of my expertise and my progressive method,” Brunner stated after her election. “I believe that basically speaks to the voters. Now that the marketing campaign is over, I’m prepared for the true work to start. The marketing campaign was its personal beast, so to talk.”
Heading the Metropolis Council within the 2021 calendar yr may also be town’s first brazenly lesbian mayor, Donna Meyers. She moved as much as the mayor’s seat after spending a yr as vice mayor . She was seated unanimously by the remainder of the council.
“I believe it’s vital that we’ve elected one other brazenly LGBTQ+ council member. I’m simply excited to have that id to tackle that mayorship,” she advised the Sentinel the day she turned the brand new mayor. “With the variety you possibly can deliver to elected leaders, you get the variety you want in policymaking. No matter it could be, I believe it simply gives extra perspective on the desk.”
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