In the News……

De Serpa has stronger connection to residents

I recently attended a candidates' forum with District 2 supervisor candidates Kim De Serpa and Kristen Brown. Two things stood out. Kristen is definitely a policy wonk, conversant about the details of multiple county policies, but failed to show any concern about how those policies affect people. Kim, on the other hand, did not delve into policy details, but showed more concern about how county policies impact the people living in Capitola, Aptos, La Selva and the rural areas of District 2. She demonstrated a stronger connection to the needs of District 2 residents.

If you live in District 2 the choice is clear - vote for Kim De Serpa.

— Mick Routh, former Capitola Mayor, Capitola

De Serpa in District 2: A ‘tireless advocate’

On Nov. 5th, I will be voting for Kim De Serpa for District 2 Supervisor. I have known Kim for 29 years and can attest to her kindness, intelligence, integrity, commitment and passion for the people of Santa Cruz County. Kim’s entire life has been dedicated to serving others. First in social work, then in hospice care and for the past 20 years in medical social services supporting patients and their families. Kim has been a tireless advocate for our South County children since 2010 as an elected member of the Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees.

Kim is the hardest working person I know and she will work hard for all of us as Supervisor. She is a loving mother and wife, loyal and generous friend to so many of us, and a tireless advocate for our community. Santa Cruz County needs real people … good people … who have a history of getting things done. Kim De Serpa is the best choice for District 2 Supervisor.

— Mark Munger, Aptos

Kim De Serpa the right choice for District 2

As a 40 yr resident of Santa Cruz County and District 2, I was very appreciative when Kim De Serpa chose to run for the District 2 County Supervisor. As an Emergency Physician I worked with Kim–an ER Social Worker–in the Dominican ER. I was always extremely impressed by her compassion, intelligence and dedication to patients’ needs by problem solving. The challenges were diverse and often complicated. Needs related to abuse (all types), neglect, shelter, food, natural disasters, acute and chronic illness with deterioration, disability …etc. Kim is a concerned listener combined with a tenacious “can-do” commitment. She was resourceful and effective and very knowledgeable about assistance programs, regulations and navigating through barriers. I am sure Kim is not running for political reasons or career aspirations. She is running out of a commitment to serve her community and county. Her unbiased character, integrity, intelligence and extensive knowledge of county operations add up to an extremely well qualified supervisor. Kim De Serpa is offering outstanding knowledge and skills; hopefully District 2 will choose her.

– Andrew Nevitt, Day Valley

I’m an educator voting for Kim De Serpa

I have worked closely with Kim De Serpa for many years and in many capacities in the Pajaro Valley Unified School District, from counselor to interim superintendent, and cannot say enough good things about her. I have watched Kim’s leadership play a critical role in guiding the district to major accomplishments, including passing a major bond issue in 2012, negotiating difficult situations and greatly improving test scores. Staff, students and parents have benefitted from her work.

Kim is conscientious, careful and collaborative, and her straight-forward, solution-focused approach is the reason she has a reputation for honesty, integrity and hard work throughout PVUSD. As county supervisor, Kim will implement policies that will positively impact District 2 in many ways.

– Murry Schekman, Watsonville

Kim De Serpa will work for ‘future of our children’

If you care about the future of our children, Kim De Serpa is your candidate. Having worked with Kim for two decades, I can vouch for her character and tireless dedication to the well-being of our children.

We all know of Kim’s commitment to quality education, which fuels her tireless efforts to provide the best resources and opportunities on the PVUSD Board. What many people don’t know is the other ways Kim invests in the future of children, beyond any election cycle.

Kim has spent decades supporting the most vulnerable among us. Humbly, without seeking the spotlight, Kim cares for the sick and dying. She volunteers her time to train and supervise social work students in the art and practice of empathy including Jacob’s Heart, the Center for Child & Adolescent Mental Health, and the For Kids Foundation.

Frankly, we need more empathy in politics. We’ll find it in a smart, hard-working county supervisor like Kim.

She’s not in this race for the love of politics, she’s in it for the future of our children.

– Lori Butterworth, Soquel
Founder, Jacob’s Heart Children’s Cancer Support, Co-Founder, Center for Child and Adolescent Mental Health

De Serpa lives in district unincorporated area

After considering and hearing from each candidate vying to replace Second District Supervisor Zach Friend, we believe Kim De Serpa is the best candidate. Kim’s social worker background makes her uniquely qualified to address the County’s many social needs: housing, homelessness, health care, etc. She understands the challenges families face. She is also not an ideologue and therefore could collaborate with people of all perspectives. The 2nd District largely consists of unincorporated areas of the county (unlike the other districts, which largely include municipalities). For this reason, it is important that the supervisor live in the unincorporated area and not in Capitola or Watsonville (which already have duplicate representatives on several commissions). Kim lives in the unincorporated portion of the district and can best represent the residents of the 2nd district.

– Ashley Winn, Jane Grady, La Selva Beach

Kim De Serpa will fight for agricultural land

A large part of Santa Cruz County’s District 2 is agricultural land. Kim De Serpa has a deep knowledge of the needs of this area because her family has had land that Kim put into conservancy rather than sell it. She did this to protect it from future development. Few candidates for District 2 supervisor have ever had such an appreciation or interest in this component of our district.

Our agricultural businesses need an ear on the board of supervisors, someone who will listen and take their concerns about rural areas seriously. Kim will do just that.

– Lila Steiner, Seacliff

Kim De Serpa will do for the county what she did for my son

Kim De Serpa is my choice for District 2 Santa Cruz County supervisor.

I have had personal experience with Kim as a social worker. When my son went to her, she worked tirelessly to get him the benefits he needed to live independently. Her follow-through was amazing. He had seen other social workers, but no one was able to do what Kim accomplished for him. I’m certain Kim will treat all tasks she takes on in the same manner – tirelessly and with great follow-through.

We need that type of person for supervisor in District 2.

– Earleen Overend, Aptos

De Serpa: Compassion – and understanding

I met Kim De Serpa in 1997 when we both worked at Child Protective Services, for the County of Santa Cruz. As recent Social Work graduates, we were just learning what our chosen careers were all about. Child welfare was definitely challenging work; life stories you never forget.

Kim has an innate understanding of people’s needs, and a strong sympathy for their challenges. I watched her deal with problems with fairness and kindness. Her sense of humor, compassion, and positivity are wonderful qualities to find in a work partner and a welcome distraction while doing tough work.

My mother, Rosie Gomez, as the district translator, had the opportunity to work alongside Kim for her entire term, and strongly supported Kim’s work as a board member.

With Kim, Santa Cruz County citizens will gain a board person who works tirelessly, and whom they can trust to take care of the needs of the district.

– Carla Gomez, Watsonville

De Serpa has unrivaled record of advocacy

Kim De Serpa stands out among fellow candidates for her decades-long advocacy for humanity from infancy to senior citizens. As a veteran school board trustee, she’s navigated delicate human and fiscal dynamics, invariably with positive youth outcomes as a goal. As a parent, she will bring invaluable perspective, experience and sensitivity to the myriad issues facing families in District 2. As a seasoned social worker, her track record on community advocacy (from mental health to housing to educational opportunity) is unrivaled by fellow candidates.

A vote for Kim will be a vote for fresh perspectives coupled with practical, hands-on, lived experience from someone who’s earned her stripes championing community health in all regards, working collaboratively to the benefit of our district and well beyond. Please join us in supporting Kim De Serpa as she seeks to further serve in the role as District 2 Supervisor.

– Les and Mary Forster, Capitola

Kim De Serpa is a grassroots leader

The recently published list of longtime, prominent Capitola leaders’ endorsement of Kim De Serpa over Kristen Brown should get voters’ attention. These leaders are the best – no political titles, just ordinary citizens who quietly go about making their city better each day with no intent to further a political career.

Kristen Brown’s list of endorsements is filled with political title holders, most of whom are outside of Capitola and out of Santa Cruz County. And most of her financial contributors hail from large political organizations, not local residents. In contrast, most of Kim De Serpa’s 550 endorsers and 1,000 supporters reside in District 2.

Voters are not impressed that Kristen Brown is part of the Santa Cruz County machine politics. District 2 voters are too smart to vote for a candidate who is using the office of supervisor as a steppingstone to higher offices. Indeed, they know that Kim De Serpa’s focus, ambition and commitment is to serve the people of District 2 without owing favors to machine politicians or seeking the next new title and office.

– Pat Wickman, Aptos

De Serpa will make a difference in District 2

Our support is behind Kim De Serpa for the Santa Cruz Board of Supervisors 2nd District. Kim will make a difference for the district. We have known her for many years and worked with her on a wide range of community issues. She has the integrity, knowledge, and ability to navigate the challenges of any issue, and simply get it done.

You will not be disappointed in her leadership. She possesses an unbridled passion for serving our community. Please join us in supporting her for the Board of Supervisors March 5th.

– Brett and Marci McFadden, Aptos

De Serpa will advocate for older adults

I know Kim De Serpa will fight for rights and services for older adults. That’s why I am proud to endorse her for a seat on the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors.

Kim and I worked shoulder to shoulder when I was coordinator of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman program in Santa Cruz and San Benito counties. She was a strong ally in our fight against abuse and for quality services for residents of skilled nursing and assisted living facilities.

The best way to judge how a candidate will perform in office is to look at what she did in the past. Kim De Serpa has a record of being a strong advocate for older adults and effectively getting them the services they need and deserve.

Please vote for Kim De Serpa on or before March 5.

– Wayne Norton, Aromas

Kim De Serpa for supervisor

Although I am not in her district, I fully support Kim De Serpa for the District 2 county supervisor position. I have worked with her over the past several years and have found her to be a highly intelligent, thoughtful, creative, compassionate and pragmatic person and professional. She has integrity, listens well, is easily approachable and is collaborative in her activities.

She has experience working with county and state agencies as well as with large grant processes. She will work hard to improve her district as well as the entire county.

I encourage my local friends who have the opportunity, to cast your vote for Kim De Serpa. If still undecided and/or seeking more information, go to her website and learn more about her, her background and areas of focus.

– Marc Yellin, Aptos
MD FACEP

De Serpa knows the District 2 communities

The one candidate in District 2 who best fits the varied overall needs of the diverse district is Kim De Serpa. Kim is currently a long-time trustee for the Pajaro Valley School District. It is interesting that with the exception of Capitola, Soquel and inter city of Watsonville the school district boundaries and District 2 boundaries are nearly the same.

Kim knows the communities of Aptos, La Selva Beach, Corralitos, Salsipuedes, Freedom, Sunset Beach and the farm-worker labor camps. She knows the issues of river and creek flooding and water conservation programs of the Pajaro Valley. The list goes on.

She has served for several years as a trustee of one of the largest public agencies in the county. Kim has valuable leadership experience dealing with million-dollar budgets, union and management bargaining, employee contracts, construction of buildings and working with the many agencies impacting the business and individual properties of the region.

As a public health official she understands the health care needs of the farm labor workers and families.

Vote for Kim De Serpa for supervisor.

– James S. Baker, Aptos