Tony Nunez (Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors District 4, California, candidate 2026)
Tony Nunez is running for election to the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors District 4 in California. Nunez is on the ballot in the primary on June 2, 2026.[source]
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Biography
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Elections
Nonpartisan primary
Nonpartisan primary election for Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors District 4
Elias Gonzales (Nonpartisan), Felipe Hernandez (Nonpartisan), and Tony Nunez (Nonpartisan) are running in the primary for Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors District 4 on June 2, 2026.
Candidate | ||
| Elias Gonzales (Nonpartisan) | ||
| Felipe Hernandez (Nonpartisan) | ||
| Tony Nunez (Nonpartisan) | ||
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Endorsements
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Campaign themes
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
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Campaign website
Nunez's campaign website stated the following:
Access to Healthcare
Tony believes Watsonville Community Hospital should be the best hospital in the region. That is the standard the community deserves, and it is what he has been working toward as Chair of the Pajaro Valley Health Care District Board.
He has been directly involved in the effort to bring the hospital into public ownership, help stabilize it, and move it toward a stronger future. Now, he believes the focus should be on continuing to improve quality, expand services, modernize the campus, and make sure families in the Pajaro Valley can count on excellent care close to home.
Tony also believes Santa Cruz County has a rare opportunity to bring a medical school to the region in partnership with the UC system. His goal is to make sure Santa Cruz County—and especially the Pajaro Valley—has the strongest possible case to be home to that investment. A stronger hospital, a stronger workforce pipeline, and stronger regional partnerships can create lasting benefits for the entire community.
Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS)
Tony believes battery energy storage is an important part of California’s transition to clean energy, and he is continuing to learn more about how these projects can be done safely, responsibly, and in a way that works for the communities where they are located.
At this point, he is not in favor of the current BESS proposal at 90 Minto Road in South County. He believes there are well-documented safety concerns associated with lithium-ion battery storage, especially when projects are located near neighborhoods and sensitive natural resources. He has met with residents and environmental experts, and he believes their concerns about health, safety, and quality of life are valid. In his view, when those concerns are raised, leaders have a responsibility to slow down, ask hard questions, and make sure the project is done right.
Tony appreciates the work the County of Santa Cruz has done to strengthen its BESS ordinance, but he believes policy should continue to evolve. He supports exploring additional safeguards, including greater setbacks from homes, the use of alternative non-lithium technologies, and stronger protections for agricultural land that is critical to the region’s economy.
He also believes this issue reflects a broader need for better planning, clearer communication, and more meaningful community engagement about the region’s future. As Supervisor, Tony would stay actively engaged, ask tough questions, and ensure that public health, safety, transparency, and preparedness remain at the center of every decision—an approach shaped by his background as an award-winning journalist.
Pesticide Use Near Schools
Tony believes stronger protections are needed to reduce pesticide exposure near schools, and that this issue should be treated as a public health priority.
He believes there has been too little progress because current leadership has not made it a real priority. Tony would change that by working with the state to launch a pilot program for fields near and around schools that could help transition to safer practices and serve as a model for communities across California.
He believes that work must be done thoughtfully, with the least possible impact on local farmers, farmworkers, and the agricultural economy. That means bringing people together, planning carefully, and proving that stronger health protections and a strong agricultural industry can coexist. In Tony’s view, protecting children’s health requires urgency, collaboration, and leadership.
Passenger Rail & Trail Project
Tony supports the Rail Trail project and believes the rail component should remain part of the long-term vision for Santa Cruz County. He voted No on Measure D in 2022 because he did not support giving up the right of way. In his view, preserving that corridor matters because it keeps the door open for future passenger rail when the project is more financially and operationally realistic.
At the same time, Tony believes the project must move forward in a way that is fair to South County and grounded in equity. He supports the current plan of the majority of the Regional Transportation Commission of continuing to build out the trail—especially in Watsonville and the Pajaro Valley—while making sure local residents are not asked to carry an unfair burden for a project that will take time to fully come together. His position is straightforward: keep the vision alive, preserve the right of way, move forward where progress can happen now, and make sure South County sees real benefits along the way.
Flock Cameras: Public Safety & Community Trust
Tony believes public safety is strongest when it is rooted in trust, visibility, and prevention. He also believes public dollars should be used thoughtfully to support those goals.
That is why he did not support spending $250,000 to double the number of Flock cameras in Watsonville. Instead of investing in surveillance technology, he believes those dollars could have gone toward foot patrols in Downtown Watsonville that pair a police officer with a mental health clinician.
Tony believes that kind of team can better connect with the unhoused population, support local businesses, and respond to challenges in a more proactive and relationship-based way. This would help prevent situations from escalating and improving outcomes for everyone involved.
As Supervisor, he would work to expand community-based public safety strategies that prioritize presence, partnership, and early intervention. In his view, public safety matters deeply, and so does making sure investments strengthen trust and reflect what the community has been asking for.
Housing, Cost of Living & Childcare
Tony believes the high cost of living is driving many of the challenges the community now sees in its schools, hospitals, and other public systems. When families cannot afford housing, childcare, and basic necessities, the pressure shows up everywhere.
Tony believes the county cannot solve the housing crisis alone. It must partner with the city and other institutions to create more starter homes and rental units so young families have a real chance to put down roots in the community they love. That means making it easier to build housing for working people and seniors, and being more honest and strategic about the barriers that keep those projects from moving forward.
But Tony is clear that housing alone will not solve the problem. Childcare is one of the biggest costs holding families back, especially for young parents trying to work and stay in the area. He believes the county needs a broader affordability strategy that helps ensure all families have access to good childcare by expanding capacity, especially for infants and toddlers, supporting providers so they can stay open and grow, and doing a better job connecting families to the childcare and early education resources already available.
In Tony’s view, this work has to be treated as both an economic priority and a family priority. If the community wants the next generation to stay and thrive here, it must make it possible for young families to afford a home, find quality childcare, and build a stable life in the community they love.
Local Economy & Small Business
Tony believes small businesses are the heart of the local economy—and that too many local residents are held back by one simple reality: they cannot access the startup capital they need to turn a good idea into a real business.
He wants to create a zero-interest revolving loan program that gives local entrepreneurs a more accessible path to startup funding. Tony believes too many people are ready to work hard and build something of their own, but never get the chance because the financial barriers are too high.
At the same time, he believes capital alone is not enough. He wants to connect small business owners with local youth empowered by youth-serving organizations to provide social media marketing and promotional support. That kind of model would strengthen local businesses while also creating real opportunity for young people to build skills, contribute to their community, and be part of the local economy.
In Tony’s view, this is how a stronger local economy is built: by investing in local talent, supporting entrepreneurship, and creating opportunities that lift up more than one generation at a time.
Parks, Public Health & Quality of Life
Tony believes parks and open spaces are a key part of a healthy community.
They give families a place to gather, kids a place to play, and contribute to both physical and mental health. He believes South County has not seen the same level of investment in these spaces for far too long, and that this needs to change.
As editor of The Pajaronian, Tony helped shine a light on the need to invest in community spaces that matter, including the renovation of Ramsay Park, improvements to Watsonville High School’s bleachers, and the completion of Pajaro Valley High School’s field. He understands these places connect kids, families, and seniors across the community.
Tony believes investment in the park system should ensure facilities are well-maintained, safe, and designed to meet the evolving needs of the community. That means not only building new spaces where they are needed, but also taking better care of the parks and facilities families already rely on. He also believes the county should partner with the city and school district to make better use of existing facilities closer to where people are, expanding access without always having to start from scratch.
Tony supports investing in parks, safe routes, and community spaces that improve quality of life and make neighborhoods stronger, healthier, and more connected.
Immigration & Solidarity
Tony believes immigrant families are a vital part of the Pajaro Valley and Santa Cruz County, and that local government has a responsibility to ensure people can access the services they need, especially during times of uncertainty at the federal level.
Through his work at Community Bridges, Tony has helped lead communications and outreach efforts that connect thousands of local residents to healthcare, food assistance, childcare resources, and emergency support—regardless of immigration status. He has worked alongside trusted community partners to make sure families have accurate information, know their rights, and can navigate complex systems with confidence.
Tony believes the county must continue to invest in language access, legal services, and community-based partnerships that help families stay informed and supported. In his view, when families are able to access care, stay healthy, and participate fully in their community, everyone benefits.
Homelessness & Behavioral Health
Tony believes homelessness is one of the most visible signs of deeper challenges in housing, mental health, and economic stability—and that addressing it requires a coordinated, practical approach.
He believes the county must continue to invest in solutions that combine housing with services, including mental health care, addiction treatment, and case management. At the same time, he believes local governments need to work more closely together to ensure efforts are aligned and resources are being used effectively.
Tony supports expanding community-based response models, including approaches that pair public safety with behavioral health professionals, to better respond to people in crisis and prevent situations from escalating. In his view, progress requires both compassion and accountability—making sure people get the help they need while also improving conditions in neighborhoods and public spaces.
Flooding & Climate Resilience
Tony knows that flooding in the Pajaro Valley is an ongoing reality that has already caused real harm for families and seniors, neighborhoods, and local agriculture.
That is why he would work to speed up the reconstruction of the Pajaro levee as much as possible by doing everything he can to reduce unnecessary delays. But Tony also knows the community cannot simply wait for that work to be finished. While residents remain at risk, he believes the county has a responsibility to keep people informed, prepared, and connected to clear, reliable updates about flood risk, safety planning, and emergency response.
This is especially true for our senior population.
In Tony’s view, this is what climate resilience looks like in practice: moving faster on the infrastructure the community needs while also making sure families have the information and support they need in the meantime.
County Budget & Fiscal Responsibility
Tony believes the county must be honest about its financial challenges and thoughtful about how public dollars are spent.
He has experience staring deficits in the face through his work with Watsonville Community Hospital, where difficult financial realities required steady, strategic leadership. In that role, he helped guide decision-making in a way that was responsible, forward-looking, and grounded in what was best for the community while never losing sight of the frontline workers who keep the system running.
Tony believes the same approach is needed at the county level. With growing demands and limited resources, the county must prioritize investments that deliver real results, be transparent about tradeoffs, and make sure decisions are guided by both data and impact.
He also believes the county must use its full advocacy voice to press the state to backfill losses caused by federal decisions. California has the economic strength to help protect essential local services, and communities like ours should not be left to carry that burden alone.
In Tony’s view, strong fiscal leadership requires innovative, strategic choices, protecting essential services, standing up for frontline workers, and fighting for the resources communities need to remain strong.
— Tony Nunez's campaign website (April 3, 2026)
See also
2026 Elections
External links
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Candidate Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors District 4 |
Footnotes
