Women: Run For Office, By Jondi Gumz • U.S. Bank — Back in Aptos

COMMUNITY NEWS Women: Your Turn To Run For Office

By Jondi Gumz

If you see more names of female and Latinx candidates on your ballot in June, perhaps they were inspired by an October webinar featuring women who have run and won-- or ran and lost,

The 2-hour virtual event on Zoom was sponsored by the Santa Cruz County Women’s Commission and League of Women Voters of Santa Cruz County. A followup survey was in Spanish and English

At the peak, 75 were in attendance.

Women make up about half the population in Santa Cruz County and hold about 36% of elected offices.

The June 2022 election seems a long while off, but from committing to run, getting signatures of supporters, raising funds for the campaign, getting voters’ attention and securing their votes, is it a job for a rookie?

“I’m so glad I went first,” Ana Ventura Phares, who won her campaign

for a seat on the Watsonville City Council. To those who think they are not yet qualified, Santa Cruz Mayor Donna Meyers said women coming out of careers in nonprofts or teaching are natural leaders. A bigger question, Ana Ventura Phares Meyers said, is: “How do you bring your true self (to the elected role)? How do you keep your focus on what matters most to you?” An elected official must vote on hundreds of agenda items during a 4-year term, so it’s a challenge to keep the issue that got you elected in focus. Capitola Mayor Yvette Lopez Brooks, who won in her first campaign for office in 2020, admitted she “was terrified… but took the plunge.” She said she was asked to run by Capitola Councilwoman Kristen Petersen. Brooks posts regular updates about Capitola on her Facebook page. She

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has an interview series on Facebook Monday, October 18, from 6-7 p.m. she will talk with representatives from Central Coast Community Energy (formerly Monterey Bay Community Power) and then on Tuesday, Nov. 9, from 6-7 p.m. her guest is Santa Cruz County Superintendent Dr. Faris Sabbah.

“Put yourself out there,” said Jenny Sarmiento, who lost her bid for Watsonville City Council despite her nonprofit experience and serving on the Planning Commission.

She signed up for Toastmasters to improve her public speaking skills, and found it worthwhile.

“You understand other points of view,” she said.

“Our voices matter,” said Stephanie Barron Lu, executive director, executive director, Positive Discipline Communti8y Resources.

Dorian Seamster was the moderator.

Former longtime county clerk and elections official Gail Pellerin gave words of encouragement.

Tricia Webber, her appointed successor will be on the ballot in June, seeking a full term.

Superior Court Judge Syda Cogliati, who was elected to the bench in June 2018, will also be on the ballot.

In 2022, seats on local school boards, water board and recreation boards will be on county ballots — unless the number of candidates equals the number of seats, in which case, the candidates will be sworn in, no election needed.

“Women in Office” page 23

U.S. Bank — Back in Aptos

Ribbon-cuttings have been few this year, but U.S. Bank got a warm welcome from the Aptos Chamber of Commerce when it opened its newest branch on Oct. 6. The new office is located in the remodeled Rancho Del Mar shopping center in Aptos.

U.S. Bank formerly had a branch elsewhere in Aptos. n