Watsonville City Councilman Jimmy Dutra has fended off a challenge from Trina Coffman-Gomez to hold onto his Sixth District seat, garnering a weighty 54% of the 2,321 votes in the race, results released Friday showed.
“I’m really excited,” he says. “The people have spoken, and they spoke really loud.”
Dutra says his victory came thanks to his advocacy for the Sixth District while on the board, which was evidenced by discussions he had while on the campaign trail.
“I went out there and I knocked on doors,” he says. “We talked about the issues; that’s what people want to talk about. They’re concerned how their lives are being affected in their neighborhoods.”
The Sixth District runs from Green Valley Road and is bordered by Freedom Boulevard, Arthur Road and Marin and Madison streets in the west.
Dutra says his constituents are made up of varying demographics with a wide array of concerns.
“My district is huge, and all their issues are different,” he says. “And the fact that I know what the issues are that are facing each section of my district—and I work with them all—people really appreciate that.”
During his time on the board Dutra says he dealt with problems of illegal camping in the parking lot of the former Kmart on Freedom Boulevard, until that property was purchased by the company that owns Vallarta Supermarkets.
“I cleaned that up,” he says. “I worked with the city and the owners, we barricaded the parking lot so people couldn’t be racing in it. We moved out all the people who were living behind the building. And I worked with the city to get somebody good in there.”
Dutra also says he hopes to get a handle on the development in the area of Blanca and Atkinson lanes.
“People feel that they are getting pushed out of Watsonville,” he said. “That is a big concern.”
“They see me fighting for them and they like that.”
In addition, Dutra says he worked with city officials to address a string of vehicle burglaries around Brewington Road and Martinelli Street, and helped bring safety features to roads in his district.
“I have been hands-on in every part of my district, and people see that,” he says.
Dutra’s win comes in spite of a recent civil court case in which a jury found him liable for damages caused by alleged sexual abuse for an incident in 2005 and ordered him to pay more than $1 million. The verdict was not a criminal conviction. Dutra has denied the allegations, and says he plans to appeal.
As he looks forward to his new four-year term, Dutra says he is looking to implement a $1.9 million plan to revamp the city’s streetlights, based on a recently completed lighting study.
“A lot of these streets are really dim, and the lighting is aged,” he says. “We have some dark streets, and people want to feel safe.”
He also says he wants to strengthen the city’s Economic Development Department and fix the roads in the Sixth District.
In addition, Ramsay Park is getting a massive facelift, which will be followed by the City Plaza and Callahan Park.
“I never see myself as council member Dutra,” he says. “I’m just Jimmy, and that’s how I portray myself, because I don’t see myself differently than one of my neighbors. I just happen to be the voice for us.”
This entire article is farcical.
First, if Dutra knocked on any doors then he did so disguised as his mother. She was the only door-to-door campaigner I ever saw. Why not elect her?
Second, if 54 percent of the voters “spoke really loud ” (sic) then the fact that 91.66667% percent of the jurors in his trial declared Dutra liable for sexually molesting a 12 year old boy (while Dutra was in his mid-thirties) is ear-shattering!
Third, Dutra openly admits to being “hands-on” in every part of his district. The schools in his district should be afraid, very afraid.
Oh come on Elsie (maybe). Unfortunately you don’t know what you are talking about. You should, on the other hand, check with Lawyer Scrubs (Lawyer for the other side) because he didn’t have a shred of evidence to present. Not one shred! In the mean time Jimmy has been one of the best Councilmen Watsonville has ever had. He has done a lot to clean up messes around town, that had been neglected! He keeps all of his constituent updated as to what is going on, not only in his district, but City wide Events and future plans. You should put your angry attitude into helping out in the community in which you live. I think most people that live here are sick and tired of All the negative comments and attitudes. I sure am. I have lived here all of my life and Real Watsonvillians don’t need your negativity.
And to you Jose (comment above) … take your stupid comment down. I find it very offensive..and you Pal are disgusting. Grow up.
He’s a pedophile
Dear Ms. Sour:
After reading your nonsensical and angry statement above, I will offer you the following reassurance: “I remember my first beer too. You should hopefully sober up by tomorrow.”
Thank you for the suggestion but I don’t need to check in with “Lawyer Scrubs” (who went beyond wiping the floor with Lawyer Pancetta and actually SCRUBBED the floor with Lawyer Pancetta).
Not one shred of evidence? You must have this real life drama confused with a Matlock rerun. Remove your beer goggles. The evidence presented by “Lawyer Scrubs” at a comprehensive jury trial presided over by an experienced judge resulted in a seven-figure verdict in favor of the victim and against Defendant Dutra. That verdict is backed by ample evidence. Yet, in a pathetic attempt to escape that reality, Defendant Dutra, through Lawyer Pancetta, was just this week shot down on his absurd motions for a NEW TRIAL and for a judgment NOTWITHSTANDING THE VERDICT. Motions DENIED! DENIED!! DENIED!!! And now Defendant (and JUDGMENT DEBTOR) Dutra announces that he will traipse into the appellate court to seek a reversal of the jury verdict. Dream on, Defendant (and Judgment Debtor) Dutra. Dream on, Ms. Sour.
Finally, regarding Jose’s comment, it is odd that you are offended by the word “PEDOPHILE.” A decent and thinking person would be offended by the associated CONDUCT before she would be object to the MERE WORD. Any normal person would tolerate the negative commentary, which after all is a perfectly natural reaction to a finding that Defendant (and Judgment Debtor) Dutra was found LIABLE by a jury of his peers for molesting a 12 year old boy in 2005.
You claim to have lived here “all of your life.” I wonder if you have also lived in an alternate universe all of your life.
I will see Defendant (and Judgment Debtor) Dutra in court. Yet, this time my recommendation to Defendant (and Judgment Debtor) Dutra is to skip the appellate court and to try a pickleball court instead.
Happy Holidays.
So what if Jose posted Jimmy’s license plate number above. Connie’s thing about people should just “grow up” is not what Jimmy wants. Jimmy likes them young and immature. Jimmy should tell Connie to mind her own business.
It’s very sad Watsonville let’s GAY PEDOPHILES around children. Watsonville is becoming more and more like modern day Sodom & Gomorrah. Good thing my kids are no longer in this school system. We love our new schools where they love God, Country and Trump.
“I’m just Jimmy, and that’s how I portray myself, because I don’t see myself differently than one of my neighbors. I just happen to be the voice for us.”
This fool is a Christmas fruitcake 365 days a year. You don’t see yourself differently than your neighbors. Okay, then tell us, how many sex offenders live in your neighborhood?