By Jon Chown
Greg Wimp has joined the Scotts Valley City Council after being appointed at the opening of the Oct. 1 council meeting.
Wimp has lived in Scotts Valley for 25 years and owns Togo’s sandwich shops in Scotts Valley, Capitola and Watsonville. He is highly involved in the community. He completed the Scotts Valley Citizens Academy and Leadership Santa Cruz County programs and volunteers for numerous local events. He was named the Scotts Valley Chamber of Commerce Man of the Year in 2018.
Wimp said he hadn’t considered serving on the city council until community members began approaching him two years ago to ask him to run. At the time, he said, his business responsibilities were too demanding for him to serve effectively. “It is a big commitment,” he said. This time, however, he threw his hat in the ring.
Wimp said he has knowledge and skills to contribute. He bought his first Togo’s in 2017 after a career in the tech industry, where he led two companies as CEO. In his application, he wrote that he would bring skills in managing teams, community building, business development and collaboration. “I have a calm and balanced approach to leadership,” he wrote. He listed commercial and residential development and attracting and retaining businesses as top priorities. His references included Mayor Derek Timm, retired local banker Chuck Maffia and Danny Reber, executive director of the Scotts Valley Chamber of Commerce. His term will expire in December 2026.
The opening on the council occurred when Vice Mayor Alan Timms abruptly resigned on Sept. 4 due to personal reasons. He said he was moving out of town and would no longer be eligible to serve.
Wimp was selected from among eight candidates who applied. Each made a quick pitch to the council.
“I see a lot of opportunities and challenges ahead for the city and I think my many years of community engagement makes me a strong candidate,” Wimp told the council.
Another candidate with strong support was Michael Zeller, a director for the Transportation Agency for Monterey County who has lived in the city for 10 years. He holds dual master’s degrees in business administration and international environmental policy.
“I care deeply about preserving the characteristics that make this city strong while practicing fiscal responsibility,” he told the council, adding that he foresees a lot of complex issues coming up that his experience managing a public agency would help with. His application listed six issues as “most important,” including housing affordability, the town center, and fiscal sustainability.
Maffia, despite being listed on Wimp’s application as an endorsement, also put his hat in the ring. The retired banker has served on the Scotts Valley Planning Commission and its Traffic Committee. He has also served as treasurer for numerous community organizations for more than a dozen years and has served as chair of the Dominican Hospital Foundation. He asked to serve out the term with the promise of not running again because he felt appointing somebody could thwart a “robust and vigorous” campaign between a lot of good candidates in 2026.
“I believe incumbency gives a candidate a tremendous advantage and should be earned at the ballot box,” he told the council.
Also applying were Kassandra Flores, who made an impassioned speech about serving her community; Orenda Randuch, a conservation photographer; Alex Titus, a senior business planner at Microsoft; and John Lewis, a housing advocate and technology consultant. The council members said they were delighted that so many candidates applied.
“Some of the candidates, in reading their applications, I think don’t realize the commitment, but I’m thrilled to see the interest,” said Vice Mayor Donna Lind.
Mayor Derek Timm noted how civil the discussion was during a time of such political polarization across the nation. “We don’t see that everywhere, and I think that’s what makes Scotts Valley special,” he said.
The council ranked their top three candidates and came to the unanimous decision on Wimp. Mayor Timm said he didn’t know how the vote would go and that it was close, despite the unanimous decision.
“There’s some really incredibly experienced candidates here tonight and I really want to see your names on the ballot,” Timm said.
TOP PHOTO: Greg Wimp at his Togo’s in Scotts Valley