Capitola City Council Candidate Statements

(Vote for 2)

Margaux Keiser, 33
Small Business Owner
www.margauxforcapitola.com 831-334-1799 [email protected]

I have decided that I want to represent the community on Capitola’s City Council. With many recent shifts happening in regards to the COVID19 pandemic, I have found that there is no better time than now to stand up and represent Capitola residents.

As a twelve-year resident and small business owner, my heart and soul belong to this town and I would want nothing more than to be the voice of the people.

We have watched the pandemic wreak havoc on Capitola businesses, employees, and tourism and I want to help us recover and move forward. I want to allow hard working people to continue to have a place here in our town even in the wake of hard times. There is room for those that can benefit our community and society.

Yes, business is important, but so is maintaining our quaint “Capitola By The Sea”. There needs to be a balance of environment, community, safety, and business in order for everything to thrive here.

I feel that going through the quarantine over the last few months has solidified how important our environmental and community surroundings are, and we need to fight to maintain them.

Kristen Petersen, 33
Incumbent
www.kristenforcapitola.cam 831-435-0806 [email protected]

Since my election to Capitola City Council in 2016, I have taken an active role in many local, regional, and statewide projects and initiatives to benefit the residents of Capitola.

I added youth members to all of the City’s advisory bodies, chaired committees to address coastal resiliency and village enhancement, created a task force for economic resilience, and supported residents impacted by the COVID pandemic.

Additionally, I fundraised for our new Capitola Branch Library opening this winter, pushed for the development of a hotel on the new Capitola Mall site rather than in the village, secured dedicated funding for children’s programs, and helped raise money for multiple local agencies including the Capitola Police Department and Junior Guards.

I’ve spent many hours meeting with residents and community groups, advocated on behalf of business owners, volunteered at community events, and built relationships throughout the region and state to champion the City of Capitola.

In my next term, I am looking forward to supporting the development of affordable housing, confronting the impacts of climate change, and striving for an equitable recovery from the COVID pandemic.

I’ve found great joy in serving this City that my family has called home for four generations. I am eager to finish what we have started in the past four years and begin to consider innovative ways of moving into the next four years.

Please vote to re-elect Kristen Petersen to Capitola City Council.

Will Little Bear Reising, 45
Account Executive & Business, Owner
www.linkedin.com/in/willreising 831-234-6896 [email protected]

I have lived in Capitola for most of my life. The Capitola Jetty is where I surfed my first wave at 10 years old and fell in love with our beaches. The Capitola Mercantile and Restaurants are where I had my first jobs and started to earn the benefits of hard work and self reliance.

I have been a musician in this town and cherish the value of and understand the challenges for our artists. I came up through the Soquel School District and put myself through college. I was the 2nd graduating class at CSUMB and have since worked for some of the largest technology companies in the world IBM, Oracle, now Google as a technologist and Account Executive.

I am a homeowner, business owner, and a working father. I know hard work. I know the importance of scale with caution and compassion. I know how to deliver results in chaos and in calm.

I will earn your vote for City Council Member of Capitola if you give me the honor.

Anthony J. Rovai, 55
Financial Advisor/Lender
moneyconcepts.com/arovai 831-475-3442 [email protected]

COVID has brought on some challenging times and tough decisions lie ahead for our amazing city. I believe my experience will best serve our community at this time.

I graduated from San Jose State University with a degree in Marketing and Economics. As a Wealth Manager, Realtor® and Mortgage Broker I bring a trifecta of knowledge to my clients.

I moved to Santa Cruz County in 1975. I have lived in Capitola for 23 years, remodeled two homes and built another gaining insight to the inner workings of our planning department.

I feel blessed to live and work in Capitola and I’m reminded of this every morning during my walk through the neighborhoods. We enjoy a healthy natural environment, clean, safe streets, vibrant business, social and cultural communities. Those are the qualities and services I will continue to prioritize as we balance the budget and build back better.

If you share my love for Capitola, like balanced budgets, and want to keep our community special, then vote for Anthony Rovai to bring commonsense solutions to Capitola. I will work hard to provide positive outcomes for our beloved City of Capitola.

I’d be honored by your vote.

www.cityofcapitola.org/citycouncil