Woodmansee Named Capitola’s Interim City Clerk

By Jondi Gumz

Chloe Woodmansee has been tapped as the interim Capitola city clerk, succeeding Linda Fridy, who retired after eight years with the city and four as city clerk.

Woodmansee, 30, who grew up in Scotts Valley, joined the city as records coordinator in 2017 after earning her master’s degree in public history and cultural heritage at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland.

She spearheaded a digitization initiative for Capitola and built the city’s presence on social media.

“We have more than 1,700 followers on Instagram, which is about a tenth of our city population, “ she said.

There’s a photo of Surfing Santa, the sea lion sculpture and the beach for which Capitola is famous.

“You have some great shots in your gallery,” wrote a follower from Junior Achievement Australia.

There’s also an announcement about council meeting changes due to the outbreak of coronavirus COVID-19, which is contagious. To slow the spread, presentations have been postponed. Members of the public are not invited to attend meetings in person but are welcome to comment via email instead.

In years past, the city clerk toiled behind the scenes preparing agendas, duly recording minutes and meeting deadlines for city elections. Now electronic systems make agendas and reports accessible to anyone with a computer and Internet.

“In light of the current health crisis, I am doing what I can as interim city clerk to help staff, City Council, and Capitola residents,” Woodmansee said.

She added, “I was lucky to work closely with our previous City Clerk, Linda, and to have learned a lot from her. Of course, stepping into this role for the city, even on an interim basis, is a challenge. But, especially knowing I have support from the entire management team, I am confident that I can rise to the occasion.”

Woodmansee sees social media as an especially valuable tool these days.

“I hope that during this time of unknowns and social-distancing, our residents can benefit from our posts to stay informed and connected,” she said.

Woodmansee is part of a wave of millennials stepping into responsible roles in municipal government, according to Patrice Olds, San Mateo city clerk and president of the City Clerks Association of California.

Asked if Woodmansee might be one of the youngest city clerks in California, Olds said she didn’t know but data may be on the way.

“We’re doing our first statistically valid survey of membership,” she said.

Anecdotally, Olds has already seen a shift from the dais, looking out at clerks attending the group’s meetings.

“I personally may be the last “baby boomer” president (of the association),” she said. “The next president will be a millennial.”

That’s Anthony Mejia, city clerk for Palm Springs, who as first vice president of the association is in line to become president.

“Energy and passion is coming from millennials,” Olds said, referring to young people 20-38. “They are our future.”