Working Together for Community
Increasing housing at all levels and addressing the needs of the unhoused
Understanding rural community needs
Improving road maintenance and infrastructure for transportation projects
Completing the Pajaro River Levee Project
Championing health equity across the county
Ensuring environmental protection
Investing in improvements for economic vitality to support local businesses and attract new businesses to the county
Encouraging education and workforce development
Supporting public safety and law enforcement, firefighters, and first responders
Working collaboratively with labor to protect workers’ rights and benefits
Protecting agriculture production
Supporting both Rail and Trail.
Backing programs designed to assist:
Children and Families
Seniors
People with disabilities
Behavioral health needs
Substance use disorders
The LGBTQIA community
Reproductive rights
Elected & Appointed Officials
Dr. Fernando Torres-Gil, Vice Chair of the National Council on Disability* (Obama Administration - 2010), U.S. Assistant Secretary on Aging in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services* (DHHS) - (Clinton Administration - 1993); and Professor of Social Welfare and Public Policy at UCLA*
Ellen Pirie, former Santa Cruz County Supervisor,* District 2
John Leopold, former Santa Cruz County Supervisor,* District 1
Bill Kelsey, former Santa Cruz County Superior Court* Judge
Abel Sanchez, Santa Cruz County Board of Education,* Trustee Area 7
Reed Geisreiter, Santa Cruz Port District* Trustee
Jennifer Holm, Pajaro Valley Unified School District,* Trustee Area 7
Gail Levine, retired educator, and San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District Trustee
Maria Orozco, Watsonville City Council,* former Pajaro Valley Unified School District* Trustee
Theresa Bond, Trustee, Los Gatos-Saratoga Union High School District* and former candidate, Santa Cruz County Supervisor, District 5
Amanda Jackson Miller, Soquel Union Elementary School District,* Board President
Patty Threet, Santa Cruz City Schools* Trustee
Jennie Andersen, former Live Oak School District* Trustee
Jane Barr, former Pajaro Valley Unified School District* Trustee and Santa Cruz County Office of Education* Trustee and retired Affordable Housing developer
Amy Christey, Retired Police Chief, Pacific Grove
Pat Dellin, former Executive Director, Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission*
Leslie DeRose, former Pajaro Valley Unified School District* Trustee
Rose Filicetti, Santa Cruz County Office of Education,* former President and Trustee
Doug Keegan, former Pajaro Valley Unified School District* Trustee
Judy McGooden, former Soquel Union Elementary School District* Trustee
Karen Osmundson, former Pajaro Valley Unified School District* Trustee
Jennifer Schacher, former Pajaro Valley Unified School District* Trustee
Deb Tracy-Proulx, former Santa Cruz City Schools* Trustee
Kim Turley, former Pajaro Valley Unified School District* Trustee
Jeff Ursino, former Pajaro Valley Unified School District* Trustee Area 7
Sandra Wallace, former Soquel Union Elementary School District* Board Trustee
Nels Westman, former Chair of Capitola Traffic & Parking Commission*, former President of Capitola Village Residents Association*
Susan Westman, former Capitola City Manager*, current Capitola Planning Commissioner*
Libby Wilson, former Pajaro Valley Unified School District* Trustee Area 1
The late Willie Yahiro, former Pajaro Valley Unified School District* Trustee
Education
James Baker, Former Superintendent of Pajaro Valley Unified School District*
Robin Butterworth, retired PVUSD* staff
Kendall Byington, PVUSD* Teacher
Gina Chekouras, PVUSD* Teacher
Olga De Santa Ana, Former Administrator, PVUSD*
Ivan DeiRossi, Retired Education Administrator
Les Forster, Retired School Administrator and Community Advocate
Mary Gaukel Forster, Retired Teacher, Community Advocate, and 2023 Santa Cruz Sentinel County Hero
Kathleen Howard, Former SUESD* Superintendent
Danny Jacobsmeyer, PVUSD* Teacher
Mary Ann James, Former PVUSD* Assistant Superintendent
Margie Jennings, Retired PVUSD* Teacher
Jan & Fran Jimenez, Retired Teachers
Roy Johnston, Retired Science Teacher
Ryan Jones, PVUSD* Teacher
Susan Karz, Retired PVUSD* Teacher
Lauren Leff, Retired Teacher
Ian MacGregor, Retired School Administrator
Monica Marlatt, Santa Cruz City Schools* Career Specialist
Kalae Miles, Teacher
Carol Morgan, Retired Assistant Principal
Stella Moreno, Retired Administrator
Casey O'Brien, School Administrator and Former Principal Of Aptos High*
Holly O'Brien, PVUSD* Administrator and Former Teacher
Susan Perez, Retired Educator
Lesley Ramos, PVUSD* Tech
Risa Schwartz, PVUSD* Teacher
Eileen Shea, PVUSD* Teacher
Tina Solinas, Retired Educator
Barrett Vitol, PVUSD* Teacher
Non-Profit Leaders
Foster Andersen, Founder, President, and Executive Director of Shared Adventures*
Lori Butterworth, Founder, Jacob’s Heart Children's Cancer Support Services* and Center for Child and Adolescent Mental Health*
Ray Cancino, CEO, Community Bridges*
Carina Chavez, Associate Director of Communications & Public Affairs, Salud Para la Gente*
Douglas Deitch, Executive Director/CEO/Founder, Pogonip Foundation, Inc.
Grace Feldeisen, Board President, Coastal Kids Home Care*
Buzz Gray, Vice President and Board Member, Vets 4 Vets*
Arushie Nugapitiya, Associate Director, San Andreas Regional Center*
Patrice Keet, Co-Founder & Board President Santa Cruz Children's Museum of Discovery*
Janet Mayou, Founding Board Member, Pajaro Valley Prevention And Student Assistance, Inc.*
Wayne Norton, Board Member, Seniors Council of Santa Cruz and San Benito County* and former Long-Term Care Ombudsman
Kate Pavao, Executive Director, Live Like Coco Foundation*
Maureen Wilmot, Nonprofit Director of Operations, Earthquake Engineering Research Institute*
Healthcare Professionals
Dr. Tim Allari, Physician
Kelly Foreman Allari, Social Worker
Josephine Arcilla, Assisted Living Administrator
Thomas Berg, LMFT, Retired Behavioral Services Manager, Monterey County Department of Behavioral Health*
Dr. Thomas Bush, Physician
Dr. Satish Chandra, Physician
Trevor Davis, Social Worker
Sonya Drottar, Case Management Director, Dominican Hospital*
Pat Emard, Retired psychotherapist
Maria Elena Ferber, Registered Nurse
Heather Franks, Mental Health Practitioner
Leora Fromm, CNM, Dignity Health*
Sarah Fulop-Furlano, Lactation Consultant, RN
Bonnie Gold, Nurse
Carla Gomez, Social Worker, Palo Alto Medical Foundation*
Adrienne Hagan, Retired Nurse
Susan Hawley, Retired Nurse
Chris Homan, CNS, Dignity Health*
Saundie Isaak, Geriatric Care Manager
Dr. John Kaufman, Physician
Dr. Robert Keet, Physician, Dignity Healthcare*
Janey King, Registered Nurse
Kimlin McDaniel Keith, Public Health Nurse
Casey KirkHart, Physician, Medical Director, Santa Cruz Community Health*
Susan Kitchen, Retired Nurse
Steven Leuck, Pharmacist
Lisa Lifrak, MFT
Jayne Lovell, Social Worker
Kathleen Lynch, LCSW, Medical Social Worker
Virginia Macneil, LCSW
Lisa Hall Magee, Social Worker
Dr. Michael McGannon, Retired Emergency Room Physician
Dr. Ned McNamara, Physician
Roger McKowan, Program Coordinator, Dominican Hospital*
Mikki Michaud, Registered Nurse
Margann Mentor, Certified Nurse Midwife
Dr. William Morris, Physician
Annalisse Morrison, LCSW
Maggie Muir, LMFT
Dr. Misty Navarro, Physician
Pamela Nell, Social Worker
Dr. Neel Palakurthy, Physician
Eleni Pappazisis, QI Program Advisor, Central California Alliance for Health*
Dr. Steve Plumb, Physician
Yingwei Qi, Physician
Dr. Lawrence Rosenbaum, Physician
Elizabeth Ruggles, Registered Nurse
Grace Sanchez, Retired Dominican Hospital* Occupational Therapist
Dr. Anisha Sarma, Physician
Francie Schusterman, Retired Nurse
Julie Scurich, OTR-Caremanager A.L.S. Golden West*
Dr. Rosalind Shorenstein, M.D., Ph.D.
Dr. Kathrin Sidell, Physician
Dr. Josefa Simkin, Physician
Laurie Stuart, Nurse
Dr. Michael Suval, Physician
Johna Tolch, Retired Nurse
Molly Waite, Physician Assistant
Erin Watson, Registered Nurse
Dr. Jack Watson, Physician
Janet Windt, Nurse
Dr. Marc Yellin, Physician
Nancy Yellin, Registered Nurse
Local Business
Paul Bailey
Robert Bailey
Brion Berkley, Esq.
Dale Berman
Berkley Brannan, Esq.
Brad Brereton, Esq.
Ray Buetens
Michael Carballo
Kate & Lindsay Connor
Allison Cruz, Esq.
John Fuchs
Kay Holcomb
Roy Horn
Julie Kellman Hunt
Dan Hunt
Kevin Jeffrey
Sergio King
Tiffany Ella King
Margaret Leonard, Esq.
Richard Magnuson
Aimee Martin
Andy Martin
Candie Noel
Pam Nootbaar
Barbara Palmer
Nicola Pennebaker, Esq.
Kyla Holcomb Piramoon, Esq.
Miles Reiter
Bob Ridino
Renee Roberts
Staci Sambol
Francisco Sanchez
Gil Stein, Esq.
Peter Testorff
Bruce Willy
Brant Wilson
Scott Wilson
Rose Wood
Community Members
Claire Andrews
Buzz Anderson
Aileen Barandas
Tory and Rich Beale
Greg Becker
Bill Beecher
Dottie Bella
Claire Biancalana
Carolyn Biddick
Rene Bloch, Santa Cruz County Democratic Central Committee* — District 2
Eric Bloom
Jeanne Boudreau
Danny Braga, retired Cabrillo College instructor
Jack Brown
Brielle Bumba
Marilyn Calcíano
Tere & Paul Carrubba
Michele Chaney
Ron Chaney
Fran Church
Robert Cole
Harry Cominos
Cathy Conley & Bill Merkalio
Gail Costello
David Cristofano
David Cronin
Rob Darrow
Sonia & Tom Deetz
Sacha Defoy
Michelle Dennis
Nicole Dennis
Yvonne Doerre
Suzanne Doty
Melanie Fishbin
David & Rose Flores
Joy Flynn
Cindy Frost
Carol Fuller
Dori & Gabe Galster
Ofelia Garcia
Adele Gardner, Santa Cruz County Democratic Central Committee* — District 2
Laura Garnette, Retired Chief Probation Officer, Santa Clara County
Shirley Ginzburg
Jane & David Godley
Andrew Goldenkranz, Santa Cruz County Democratic Central Committee* Ex-Officio Alternate and Chair
Violetta Gomez
Gary Griggs Distinguished Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences at UC Santa Cruz
Conrad & Diane Hamako
Susan Hammer
Mary Hart
Chuck Hawley
Casey Hemard
Coni Hendry
The late Chris Hogeland
Joe Hood
Mike Hopper
Mark Hucklebridge
Jack Hunt
Paul Karz
Phyllis Katz
Gigi Kelbert, Santa Cruz County Democratic Central Committee* — District 2
John Kelbert
Karin Kerber
Jeanne Koploy, D.V.M.
Margaret Leonard & Clare Shiels
Teresa Buika Leopold
Carolyn Lewis
Marq Lipton
Rabbi Rick Litvak
Carolyn Livingston
Steve Luckenbach
Jesse Luis
Janna Malizia
Shila Malizia
Natalie Manning
Pat Manning, Santa Cruz County Democratic Central Committee* — District 2 alternate
Barry Marks & Julia Lorraine
Jeanell Martin
Ellen Martinez
Juana Martinez
Judith Maxfield
Janet Mayou
Marci & Brett McFadden
Lynn McNussen
Andrea Miller
Jamie Molinar
Mary Jo Morris
Patricia Morse
Amy & Mark Munger
Nancy Napoli
Elias Nepa
Sarah Newhouse
Earleen Overend
Anita & Dave Painchaud
Lisa Pepperdine
Deborah Peronto
MariJo Pezzi
Janet Quinn
Marilyn Radisch
Suzanne Redfield
Roseanne Reiter
Maryanne Rehberg
Jennifer Rosenbaum
Shana Ross
Luanne Rotticci
Tony Russomanno, Santa Cruz County Democratic Central Committee* — District 1
The late Glen Schaller, retired MBCLC*
Susan Sebring
Gaurav Singh
Susan Skotzke
Bruce & Lisa Smith
Kristin & Steve Smith
Lila Steiner
Robert Stephens
Peter & Pam Swarzenski
Darcy Thole
Nadene Thorne
Maria Gitin Torres
Robert Torres
Jackie Tucker
Carol Turley
Jenni Veitch-Olsen, Santa Cruz County Democratic Central Committee* — District 4 and Vice Chair
Mel Vento
Jed Virts
Dee Vogel
Tracie White
Rachel Williams, Santa Cruz County Democratic Central Committee* — District 2
Ashley Winn
Tricia Wynne
Bryn Young
Randy Zar
Patricia Zerounian
*for identification purposes only
Working Together to Solve Problems and Improve People’s Lives
Pajaronian: Living strong: After years at nursing home, woman gets her own space
“This is the biggest joy for me in my job,” De Serpa said of getting patients such as Strong into independent living situations. “This is like a life-changing miracle.”
After living in Watsonville Nursing Center for nearly three years, Rosalie Strong spent her first night in her new apartment on Dec. 28, a step that seemed an unattainable dream just a few months ago.
Strong’s new life comes thanks to the cooperation of several local and state agencies, a process that started when her doctor realized she could live independently.
A New Life
MIKE LYON, PajaronianRichard Piontkowski spent the previous 12 years of his life in a nursing home, where nearly every aspect of his life was controlled by others.
On Tuesday, he slept in his own apartment for the first time, a one-bedroom place in the Paloma Del Mar apartment complex, a low-income senior village.
How one group funded its accessible playground project, making recess fun for all students at the school.
Building a Special Needs Playground
At first glance, the playground at Valencia Elementary in Aptos, Calif., might look like any other: there are several slides, a small climbing wall, and plenty of platforms featuring wheels, cranks, bells, and other imaginative play prompts. But a second look reveals something truly special about the school’s new playground. The ramps connecting each platform, the tabletop play areas, and the lack of wood chips on the ground are just some of the unique features that make this playground accessible to kids of all abilities. And if you visit during recess you’ll see children with wheelchairs, walkers, and other support equipment playing alongside their peers.
