One of my favorite parts of working at Lookout Santa Cruz is getting out into the community and connecting with people face-to-face. We spend a lot of time reporting on the decisions that affect our lives, but there’s something special about bringing people together in the same room to ask questions, hear different perspectives and learn from one another.

That’s exactly what we’ve been doing this election season.

For five years, Lookout has hosted local election forums to help residents hear directly from candidates and make informed decisions. This year felt especially meaningful. For the first time, we had so many community organizations reach out to partner with us on forums. To me, that says something important: Lookout has become a valued part of this community, and organizations recognize the role we can play in bringing people together around the issues that matter.

Those partnerships also gave us the capacity to do more. Working alongside local organizations and engaged residents, we were able to host four forums across Santa Cruz County in just over a month – from a packed mayoral forum in Santa Cruz to a conversation about the future of the Felton Fire Protection District.

And I love seeing our community show up.

Residents came ready with thoughtful questions, candidates shared their perspectives, and community organizations and volunteers helped make each event possible. These conversations are an important reminder that local elections aren’t just about campaign signs or headlines. They’re about the decisions that shape our neighborhoods, schools, public safety and everyday lives.

Thank you to every candidate who participated, everyone who attended or tuned in online, and all the community partners who helped bring these events to life.

Here’s a look back at our four forums, along with photos, recordings and more coverage to help you stay informed ahead of Election Day.

Santa Cruz mayoral race | Sept. 23 | The 418 Project

Watsonville City Council meeting – Flock cameras

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WATCH THE FORUM RECORDING

We kicked off the series in downtown Santa Cruz, where mayoral candidates Ryan Coonerty and Ami Chen Mills joined us for a conversation about the city’s future. About 130 people filled The 418 Project, while another 100 watched online, and it was clear that residents wanted to hear from the candidates and learn more about this important race.

Lookout Community Voices Editor Jody K. Biehl moderated the discussion, which covered everything from serious policy questions to some lighter topics. The format gave both candidates an opportunity to share their experience, priorities and vision for Santa Cruz.

For me, that’s what these events are all about: giving voters the chance to hear directly from candidates, compare their perspectives and decide which priorities matter most to them.

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Lookout Santa Cruz

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