On June 16, Santa Cruz County Supervisor Bruce McPherson, who represents the Fifth District, announced he will not seek a fourth term in 2024.
Bruce McPherson
McPherson, 79, first elected in 2012 and re-elected in 2016 and 2020, will retire at the end of his current term in early December 2024.
The seat will be open for the presidential primary election on March 5, 2024.
“We have accomplished so much together and have weathered many challenges, from the CZU Fire to the COVID pandemic to the storms of 2017 and this past winter,” McPherson said. “During the next 18 months, I look forward to working with my colleagues on the Board, our County staff and community members to tackle a long to-do list that includes disaster recovery, climate adaptation, housing growth and continued strong fiscal management.”
Santa Cruz County has the worst market in the nation for renters, according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, which reports renting a modest two-bedroom home here requires a wage of $63.33 per hour, compared to $56.56 for Santa Clara County and $51.44 for Monterey County. This explains why at homeowners rent out bedrooms and UC Santa Cruz students drive farther in search of affordability.
The housing shortage is most acute in the Fifth District and the Third District because of the 2020 CZU lightning fire, which destroyed 900 homes. So far, 11 homes have been rebuilt in the geologically challenging Fifth District and 21 in the Third District.
In April, Monica Martinez, 41, of Felton, CEO of the nonprofit Encompass Community Services, a major county contractor, and before that executive director of nonprofit Housing Matters, announced her candidacy.
She will face one, or perhaps two, 2020 CZU Fire survivors.
Jayme Ackemann, 46, of Ben Lomond, San Lorenzo Valley Water District director, who has worked in communications locally and over the hill, has filed.
Christopher Bradford, 43, owner of Bird’s Eye View Drone & Photography Services in Boulder Creek, who has shared his struggles to rebuild his home on YouTube and Facebook, says he intends to run to change policies so more housing can be built.
Before his political career, McPherson was editor of the Santa Cruz Sentinel, a newspaper his family owned from 1864 until 1982. He is a graduate of Santa Cruz High School and a 1985 journalism graduate of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
McPherson invested 13 years in state elective offices: California Assembly (1993-1996) and Senate (1996-2004) and Secretary of State (2005-2007).
He currently is a County representative to the California State Association of Counties, Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission, Santa Cruz Metro, Santa Margarita Groundwater Agency board of directors, Area Agency on Aging Advisory Council, and the policy board for Central Coast Community Energy.
He considers the creation of 3CE as his most important achievement in County government.
His Fifth District Office in 2013 began exploring how to boost renewable energy sources regionally, and this has become a 34-member community choice energy agency spanning five counties, the largest by geographical footprint in California.
“I regard serving in local government as the highlight of my career in public service,” Supervisor McPherson said. “I have been so fortunate to represent the San Lorenzo Valley, Scotts Valley and parts of Santa Cruz alongside the incredible staff at the County and fellow Board members who care deeply about this amazing community.”
McPherson looks forward to spending more time with his wife of 55 years, Mary, as well as his daughter, son-in-law and two grandchildren.
“My family has been tremendously supportive of my commitment to state and local government throughout the last 30 years,” McPherson said. “I couldn’t have done this work I love so much without them.”