Supervisors candidates talk about the Pajaro Valley

Editor’s note: The Register-Pajaronian has asked the three candidates for Santa Cruz County District 4 Supervisor a series of questions that we feel should be important to voters. Today is the first of a three-part series that will reveal their answers to these questions.





Greg Caput



Why do you think you can best represent the 4th District?

The 4th District needs a representative for the South County who can vote on all issues that affect our area; current land-use areas are of utmost importance to our future.

I am not beholding to political action money, lobbyists or special-interest groups. My vision for the South County is similar to the majority of voters I have talked with. Our common agreement is jobs, public safety, and excellence in education, parks and protecting the environment of our beautiful Pajaro Valley.



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Tony Campos



Why do you think you can best represent the 4th District?

I am the best candidate to represent the community through these unprecedented economic times. What distinguishes me from other candidates is my proven leadership record of 22 years and my broad and diverse political, professional and life experience. I was born and raised in the Pajaro Valley by a working family of sharecroppers, graduated from Watsonville High School and loaded lettuce for 14 years, before my wife and I started our own real estate business.

As a businessman, I expanded my knowledge and refined my negotiation skills to successfully work with people, solving day-to-day business issues and forming practical solutions. During this time, I also developed valuable relationships with Watsonville residents, the business community and government officials.

My ability to lead and negotiate and my temperament led me to run for public office. I became the first Latino elected to the Watsonville City Council and the first Latino Santa Cruz County Supervisor in over 150 years. I served on the Watsonville City Council, served as Watsonville mayor, and have served as a supervisor since 1999.

In my political tenure, I have been a leader in bringing a diversity of individuals and groups together to discuss, negotiate and compromise on important community topics for the betterment of Watsonville and the Pajaro Valley. My candidacy has a broad range of credible public support because of my proven abilities and because I truly value the process to work with people to focus on the common goals that we cherish as a community.



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Emilio Martinez



Why do you think you can best represent the 4th District?

As elected officials, our duty and responsibility is to ensure that tax dollars are properly spent, to be accountable to members of the community for our decisions and to render business decisions that best benefit our community as a whole. This recession has and will continue to change how cities and counties conduct business. This is especially true in the 4th District, where we historically have led the county with the highest unemployment rates that now exceed an alarming 30 percent.

We have the highest foreclosure rates and we have become embroiled in costly lawsuits resulting from attempts to develop high-density housing on Buena Vista Avenue and Atkinson Lane. The consolidation of the county courts, which was discussed since January, was finalized in March and has further financially affected the 4th District’s city, Watsonville, crippling attempts to revitalize downtown.

Today, the 4th District is in dire need of fast-track representation that focuses on basic business principles. Prior to determining the best course of action for job creation, development of housing and cost-cutting measures, the person in the supervisor’s seat has to conduct due diligence, a fact-gathering process. This requires specialized skills acquired from experience, education and training — all of which I have. I was trained by the insurance industry and spent 20 years investigating, evaluating, negotiating and resolving complicated injury and property damage claims, including extensive involvement in litigation management, settlement conferences and complex negotiations.

I have owned my own business as a risk management consultant and licensed investigator. I have a B.A. in business management from St. Mary’s College, and an A.A. in police science. I have assisted Tanimura & Antle, Kaiser, Sunkist, the City of Ventura, Good Samaritan Hospital, San Jose Metro District, Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office, San Jose Unified School District and other private and public entities in claims and human resource investigations.

As a Watsonville City Council member, I have a proven and documented record of being a guardian of our taxpayers’ dollars by demanding accountability and transparency. My decisions have not, and will not be entwined with political favors, backroom deals or personal gain.

For the complete article see the 05-22-2010 issue.

Click here to purchase an electronic version of the 05-22-2010 paper.

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