Editorial | Tony Nunez for District 4 supervisor

Three candidates are vying to represent most of South County on the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors. The Sentinel Editorial Board recommends Tony Nuñez in District 4.

Nuñez is attempting, in his first run for public office, to unseat incumbent Felipe Hernandez. Also running is Elias Gonzales.

In a recent Editorial Board interview session both Hernandez and Nuñez stressed that the Pajaro Valley continues to deserve strong representation to deliver services and infrastructure that has in the past often been lacking. (Gonzales failed to appear for his scheduled appointment.)

Nuñez, 33, brings a fresh perspective and an impressive list of credentials to this race. He's a Watsonville High School graduate whose family emigrated from Mexico when he was 8. He became a reporter and then editor of The Pajaronian and Good Times publications, and then moved on to his present communications position with the nonprofit Community Bridges.

He's also board chair of the Pajaro Valley Health Care District, which oversees Watsonville Community Hospital and has been working at finding an outside partner to help the financially struggling hospital.

Nuñez said his journalism experience would serve him well as an elected official needing to ask tough questions. He also noted that he is not a registered Democrat, which, he said, allows him to not be tied to the two-party system and be more oriented to solving issues than hewing a party line (Hernandez is endorsed by the county Democratic Central Committee).

Nuñez said his platform in running for supervisor is to promote "access, opportunity and accountability" within the district in providing services and transparent leadership. In meeting with area voters, he said he frequently hears that Hernandez has been unavailable when issues come up that need to be addressed.

Regarding the planned battery energy storage system project on Minto Road, Nuñez said he doesn't like the location (near two lakes) and is not persuaded that the technology is there to ensure lithium batteries are safe.

Hernandez, who we endorsed in 2022, stressed that he has delivered services to the district, and helped work on long-term solutions for housing and local roads. Foremost among these are making sure the governor's office knows how essential Medi-Cal funding - which is scheduled to be severely restricted - is for residents within the Fourth District. The state budget, he thinks, will not be "bleak" as initially forecast.

Hernandez said one idea is to put a sales tax on a future ballot that would help fund Medi-Cal.

He also noted that he has supported local ordinances restricting ICE in local jails and requiring agents to be unmasked.

Regarding battery storage, Hernandez said he has supported a county ordinance that would regulate a facility but since the company proposing the project plans to go to the state to override local control, he now opposes it.

Hernandez points to his experience as a former member of the Watsonville City Council and appointed mayor, and his work on ensuring funds continue flowing for the Pajaro River levee project that will help prevent future flooding.

Regarding Nuñez (and, ostensibly, Gonzales), Hernandez said it's "not the time for someone new to come in" considering the difficulties the county faces from Trump administration health and welfare cutbacks and defunding.

But we question just how effective Hernandez has been on the county board. One tell: When Hernandez came into office he failed to attend the "onboarding" sessions that prepare an elected supervisor for the duties of their office - training that the most recently elected supervisors Monica Martinez and Kim De Serpa both undertook.

We also found it unrealistic to believe the state and federal government will somehow rescue the county from current funding crises.

The Editorial Board found Nuñez energetic and willing to think through issues in a way one member found "inspiring." At the same time, members acknowledged that Nuñez will face a learning curve should he be elected, but it's one we felt he has the background and intelligence to surmount.

If elected, Nuñez will be yet another new face on a board that is less tied to past practices. We like his energy and commitment and recommend voters in District 4 elect Tony Nuñez in the June 2 primary.

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This story was originally published April 29, 2026 at 2:34 AM.