June 7 Primary: Watsonville Voter Guide

WATSONVILLE, CA - The June 7 primary ballot has either reached your mailbox or is on its way. To give our readers quick access to what you need to know before casting your votes, we've compiled races in your area and information on how to vote.

Here's a look at measures and races the Watsonville Patch is following in Santa Cruz County.

Measure F: Sales tax increase to 9.75% from 9.25% in Santa Cruz

• Measure F would authorize a 0.5% transactions and use tax, which would increase the total sales tax rate to 9.75%.
• If approved, this additional increment would go exclusively to the city’s general fund and be available to support the full range of local municipal services, the measure states.
• Those in favor say it will make Santa Cruz “a safer, more affordable, cleaner city to live in – benefitting all residents.”
• Opponents say because it goes to the city’s general fund, “it cannot be earmarked for special programs, no matter how worthy. The city budget should not be balanced on the backs of those least able to afford it.”

Measure F needs a simple majority (50% + 1) of “yes” votes to pass.

Measure D: Santa Cruz County Greenway Initiative

• Seeks to change the Circulation Element of the Santa Cruz County General Plan to support developing an interim multi-purpose trail (“the Greenway”) within the Santa Cruz Branch Line Rail Corridor, which would require a federal process called railbanking, the measure states.
• Supporters say it will get more people outside and reduce traffic and “The Greenway plan to build a 32-mile trail, accessible to all, is fully funded and can be built now. The trail will preserve the natural landscape and showcase the beauty of our coastline.”
• Opponents say the purpose is not clear and “Greenway Measure D advocates could’ve written a straightforward initiative for an honest debate about the rail corridor. But Measure D is riddled with misleading arguments.”

A “yes” vote would change the County’s General Plan Circulation Element to add language that supports the development of an interim multi-use trail in the rail corridor and would require removing of the existing tracks, the measure states. A “no” vote would mean no changes.

County Supervisors District 3 and 4

District 3:

Stretches from 7th Avenue in Live Oak through the City of Santa Cruz and up the North Coast.

Ryan Coonerty currently holds the District 3 position. Candidates on the ballot are:

• Justin Cummings
• Shebreh Kalantari-Johnson
• Ami Chen Mills

District 4:

This district includes most of Watsonville and much of the greater Pajaro Valley. It ranges from Hazel Dell and Mount Madonna Roads, the Pajaro River, Green Valley Road and Airport Boulevard and the Santa Cruz County borderline in Mount Madonna and Aromas.

Greg Caput currently holds the District 4 position. Candidates on the ballot are:

• Ed Acosta
• Felipe Hernandez
• Jimmy Dutra

Patch sent a candidate questionnaire to all candidates in the above races so you can learn a little bit about them and why they're running for office. We will publish all forms as they come in.

Along with local candidates, the election includes candidates for:

• U.S Senate
• Governor
• Lieutenant Governor
• Secretary of State
• Controller
• Treasurer
• Attorney General
• Insurance Commissioner
• Member of State Board of Equalization
• State Superintendent of Public Instruction
• U.S Representative in Congress
• State Senator
• State Assembly Member

Check out the full CalMatters 2022 Voter Guide here.

Find county voting information including your polling places here. Follow this link for Watsonville voting information.