By Jondi Gumz
About 150 people showed up to hear Christopher Bradford, IT systems administrator at Joby Aviation, and Monica Martinez, CEO of Encompass, the largest nonprofit in Santa Cruz County, answer questions at a Sept. 18 forum hosted by Lookout Santa Cruz at Felton Community Hall.
Monica Martinez and Christopher Bradford
Bradford and Martinez are running for county supervisor in the 5th District to succeed Bruce McPherson after for 12 years.
Forum moderator Christopher Neeley allowed rebuttals.
These are not exact quotes but paraphrases due to space limits.
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Your position on the Service Employees International Union, the county’s largest union, 1,800 people, prepared to go on strike?
Bradford: I support your efforts to get a fair contract. The supervisors have a duty to all of us to not agree to things that will impoverish the county. Sometimes you can go halfway, sometimes only one-quarter.
Martinez: SEIU endorsed me. I’m transparente. We built a record of trust. I stand with labor.
Bradford rebuttal: The union endorsement is a problem, not a benefit.
Where will you find money for storm repairs to roads?
Bradford: I will look for opportunities for infrastructure. We lost half our budget for road repairs and FEMA money isn’t coming any time soon.
Martinez: I would look for ways to grow. In mental health, when the governor made money available, I applied and I dragged Sen. John Laird out to our site and I got $9.5 million.
Bradford rebuttal: We can control what we spend like we do at home.
Martinez rebuttal: When state bonds made money for mental health available, I learned our county was not going to apply. So my organization applied.
The Grand Jury reports 63% of county roads poor, with a $1 billion backlog of work under current county policy. Your thoughts.
Martinez: Look at the Mountain Charlie Road washout (which stranded residents) this year — 100% of road funds are going to Mountain Charlie Road. The county should strike a balance between emergency repairs and proactive fixes.
Bradford: The county didn’t listen. The road got worse by being ignored.
What is most important in the county budget?
Bradford: First, look at need vs. want. Roads, infrastructure and water are essential.
Martinez: There are so many important departments, the sheriff, probation, mental health.
Bradford rebuttal: We have to be willing to make the hard choices. We have to be realistic.
So many people have given up on rebuilding homes burned in the CZU fire, how much is the county to blame?
Martinez: The current response is completely inexcusable … I need to see a report on every parcel, how many sold, how many left the county. There’s been no after-report, no lessons learned.
Bradford: A large measure of blame is on the county. People were told they could rebuild what they had, instead they were required to meet new regulations. We had discretion on permits. We didn’t use it.
Martinez rebuttal: I would advocate with the state why regulations aren’t working.
Bradford rebuttal: We paid the mortgage every month living in a tent. We should rebuild every home we reasonably can and help those who can’t.
Martinez rebuttal: We need a dashboard of where we are in rebuilding and what barriers we face.
Shaking up the status quo, what does that mean to you?
Bradford: For years, our county lagged on building. We didn’t want to be San Jose and now only people who work in San Jose can afford to live here. People are pushing back, I’m a part of that.
Martinez: I heard the 5th District wants change. You’re going to get it. I’m known as somebody who’s looking for new solutions.
Your thoughts on the pump track the county proposed to replace the volleyball area at Covered Bridge County Park.
Bradford: I would have talked to the neighbors first. Let’s see if people want this. Listen, gather data, make a better decision.
Martinez, who represents the 5th District on the county parks commission: My job as a commissioner is to listen to folks, mitigate the issues that are possible, and advise on the best path forward. I did that effectively.
The supervisor’s salary is about $150,000. How will you relate to people in the 5th District?
Bradford: Well, $150,000 is not what it used to be. I have six children. I’m still living paycheck to paycheck. Because of county decisions, my rebuild cost me an extra $300,000.
Martinez: I answer calls when seniors don’t know where they’ll get health care. I’ve lost employees due to the cost of living.
Your thoughts on people losing home insurance or seeing rate hikes.
Bradford: The insurance commissioner wants to increase rates 5% in high-risk areas. We don’t have enough insurers in the market.
Martinez: Insurers want to see home hardening and defensible space. I would advocate with the commissioner.