Editor’s note: This is the second of two stories on the race for Watsonville City Council seats in the Nov. 3 election. Kristal Salcido and Maria Orozco, who represent districts 4 and 3 respectively, are running uncontested and will be appointed in lieu of election.
Voters in District 7 will choose between two candidates with experience in local government in the Nov. 3 election, with former councilwoman Nancy Bilicich seeking a return to the dais and Santa Cruz County Board of Education Trustee Ed Acosta looking to make the move to city government.
Acosta, a Watsonville native who works as an operations manager in agriculture, says his campaign is rooted in a desire to give back to the community where he grew up.
Bilicich, meanwhile, is seeking to return to a council where she previously served nine years, including one year as mayor. She says her previous experience would allow her to step into the position with an understanding of city government and the issues facing Watsonville.
Pajaronian file)
Both candidates say housing, public safety and Watsonville’s growth will be among the important issues facing the next council.
For Acosta, economic development and job creation are at the top of the list.
He pointed to the new stretch of eateries near Watsonville Municipal Airport as an example of the type of economic activity he would like to see replicated elsewhere, particularly along the Main Street corridor.
“We need to do that in downtown,” he said.
Acosta said he wants to be involved as the city continues its downtown revitalization efforts and determines what the area will look like in the coming years. He said Watsonville is moving in the right direction and has opportunities ahead.
Bilicich said one of her priorities would be improving emergency services on Watsonville’s east side, particularly as that part of the city has grown.
She said Watsonville has largely relied on the same fire station infrastructure it had when the city was much smaller and said she would like to explore adding a fire station, emergency medical facility or other emergency response presence on the east side.
“We need some help on the east side, in my opinion,” she said.
Bilicich also identified the Pajaro River levee reconstruction project as one of her longtime priorities.
She said she worked on the project in various capacities and credited local, state and federal officials, farmers and flood-control officials for advancing a project that for years seemed unlikely to receive federal approval and funding.
“I’m so happy and so proud of the progress we are making,” she said.
Construction is underway on Reach 6 of the project, and Bilicich said she wants to see the work continue through subsequent phases.
Housing is another issue where the candidates see challenges ahead.
Acosta said the city needs housing for families, seniors and veterans, while Bilicich said Watsonville should pursue a mix of affordable and market-rate housing.
Bilicich said a mix would provide housing for residents at different income levels while strengthening the city’s tax base. She also questioned how the region will provide sufficient water as state requirements push cities to accommodate additional housing.
“If you build, we need to have water,” she said.
Acosta brings several years of public service to the race.
He has served on the Watsonville Planning Commission and is vice president of the board of Independence Square, a housing development for seniors and people with disabilities. He was elected to the Santa Cruz County Board of Education in 2020 and is serving his second term.
Acosta said serving on the Watsonville City Council would eliminate the commute to Santa Cruz and said he would be committed to attending council meetings.
He said the rush-hour commute often made it hard for him to make the cross-county commute, leading to several absences on the SCCOE board.
But Acosta pointed to his previous service on the Watsonville Planning Commission, where he said he was engaged in the work and regularly attended meetings.
“I’m no longer traveling,” he said. “My home base is here.”
Bilicich served two elected terms on the City Council after initially being appointed to replace a council member who died. During her nine years on the council, she served a year as mayor and was the first to do so under Watsonville’s system of rotating the mayoral position among council members.
She said sitting council members encouraged her to run again after District 7 Councilman Ari Parker termed out.
“I’d be happy to get back on the City Council if that’s what people want,” she said. “The people will decide who the best candidate is, and I feel that I’m a strong candidate.”
Bilicich said her experience is one of the strongest arguments for returning her to office.
She also said she continues to follow local government closely, attending meetings and regularly speaking with council members and city officials.
Bilicich said she believes council members should pay attention not only to major policy questions but also to everyday quality-of-life issues in their districts.
“I like to listen to see what the concerns of the people are and then see if we can find a solution to fix it,” she said.
Acosta similarly emphasized his Watsonville roots.
He graduated from Watsonville High School in 1987, attended Cabrillo College and has spent his career in agriculture, including work in food safety and quality assurance before moving into operations management.
He said his parents instilled in him the importance of community service and that serving on boards and commissions has been his way of carrying that forward.
Acosta said walking neighborhoods during the campaign has reinforced his belief that Watsonville retains a strong sense of community despite its growth.
“We live in a great city,” he said.
He said the city’s location, agricultural heritage and residents give Watsonville a character he wants to preserve while helping guide its future development.
Bilicich said she, too, sees the council as a place where collaboration is essential. While an individual council member has limited power, she said members can work together with residents and city staff to address problems.
“I realize I have one vote,” she said. “But still, I think we can work together as a team.”
Acosta expressed a similar view, saying disagreements are inevitable on elected bodies but officials ultimately have to find common ground.
“We’ll have to come to terms to make sure that we do the best for our community,” he said.
