Santa Cruz Weekly presents our picks for the local elections. Here are our recommendations for the four open seats in the Santa Cruz City Council race to be decided Nov. 6:
Don Lane: Our straight-talking, pragmatic mayor knows how to work well with others and help various groups get what they want. That’s helped both with Project 180/180, which assists the most at-risk homeless and (hopefully) saves us all money, and with the Santa Cruz Warriors plan, which seems to have appeased neighbors and sports fans alike. Accepted all voluntary spending limits: Yes
Micah Posner: As a candidate, Posner has grown into more than just “the bike guy.” The Lower Ocean resident wants to relax strict planning ordinances, encourage startup businesses and increase urban density. The environmentalist also hopes to strengthen tourism on Twitter and the tech community with citywide broadband Internet. Accepted all voluntary spending limits: Yes
Richelle Noroyan: Noroyan spent six years as in the office of Assemblymember Ira Ruskin and four years on the transportation and public works commission. She brings in innovative ideas. She would like to see the city someday staff a fulltime mayor, which might restore balance to a system where staff currently wield much more influence than the elected part-time councilmembers. Accepted all voluntary spending limits: No
Cynthia Mathews: Four-time mayor Mathews may not be fount of new ideas, but she has a vast knowledge of the city. Even now, Mathews—serving on boards like economic development and the Museum of Art and History to name a few—puts in more hours as a volunteer than some councilmembers get paid for. Accepted all voluntary spending limits: No
