Editor’s note: This is the first in a series of interviews with candidates running for the Watsonville City Council.
WATSONVILLE — Three teachers, both current and retired, are facing off in the Watsonville City Council District 7 race in November.
Ari Parker, Lupe Rivas and Steve Trujillo are hoping to fill the seat that has been held by Nancy Bilicich since she was appointed to fill a vacancy in 2009. Bilicich is terming out this year.
District 7 covers the east side of Watsonville, bordered by the Pajaro River to the east and portions of Martinelli Street and surrounding streets to the west. It also includes Pajaro and Bay villages.
•••
Ari Parker
A native of the Pajaro Valley, Ari Parker serves on a number of commissions that aim to improve the lives of residents and benefit Watsonville’s economy.
She currently serves on the Santa Cruz County Women’s Commission, Independence Square Board (a disabled and senior housing complex), and sits as vice chair of the Measure G Revenue Measure Oversight Committee, among other boards.
“This is my place, this is my valley,” said Parker, who has lived in District 7 for more than 30 years. “I love it here. I want to help to continue to make it the best place to live for future families and for us right now.”
This is all in addition to her teaching career that has spanned more than 30 years and counting.
Parker, who earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Santa Clara University and completed her graduate work at UC Santa Cruz, got her start as a teacher at Salsipuedes Elementary School before moving to MacQuiddy Elementary.
She now teaches at Bradley Elementary School, a position she has held for 23 years.
“It’s a wonderful thing to help kids find out who they want to be,” Parker said.
Parker said she got her drive for public service from her mother, Aurora Ardaiz Parker, who was the first person in her family to graduate from college, and taught for 50 years.
If elected to the Watsonville City Council, Parker said she will be “fair and open-minded,” and be accessible to her constituents.
“Local government is the most accessible government there is,” she said. “I intend to be very accessible.”
One of her top priorities, she said, is to continue pushing for the completion of the Pajaro River levee project, which would construct new levees along the river to provide a 100-year level of flood protection for both Watsonville and Pajaro.
“We need someone who will continue to press the Army Corps of Engineers, Congressman Panetta and the county to finalize our 100-year flood plan,” Parker said. “I know I can be that person. I don’t think I can rest until that’s done.”
Establishing an emergency services center in the east side of Watsonville is also crucial, she said.
“It all starts with funding,” Parker said. “That’s what I’m going to work on.”
Parker added that she is “thrilled” with the recent developments of the East Lake Village Shopping Center, located in District 7, such as the opening of Coffeeville, the incoming Fruition Brewing, and the announcement that Staff of Life will be moving into the recently-closed Super Max.
Such new businesses will draw shoppers to Watsonville, giving the city a boost in sales tax revenue, she said.
“It’s a win-win for everyone,” she said. “It benefits us so much.”
Parker praised the current city council for moving forward with projects that benefit the city as a whole.
“I love this town,” she said. “I really like the people and I know we have so much more to look forward to.”
•••
Lupe Rivas
WIth more than 35 years of teaching experience, in addition to her involvement in a number of community organizations, Lupe Rivas said she is the most qualified to represent District 7 on the Watsonville City Council.
“I feel I have the most qualifications, the most time and the most experience to be an asset to the council,” she said.
Over her career with the Pajaro Valley Unified School District, Rivas has served as classroom teacher, a support staff teacher, a bilingual program coordinator, a master teacher, a vice principal, a principal, a central office administrator and a parent educator.
She earned a bachelor’s degree from Fresno State University, a master’s degree in administration from Bakersfield State University and a doctorate in International & Multicultural Education from University of San Francisco.
Now retired, Rivas still serves as a substitute teacher in the school district, teaching anywhere from kindergarten to high school.
After earning her doctorate at age 50, Rivas decided to make the move from Bakersfield to Watsonville 19 years ago, when she was recruited as a bilingual program coordinator for the school district.
“I fell in love with this environment,” she said. “I never thought of Santa Cruz or anywhere else. This is the place I wanted to be. I love the community of Watsonville.”
Rivas is active with her church, Lutheran Community Church, helping to feed the homeless and organizing frequent parking lot sales. She also serves on the board of the Watsonville Senior Center, is president of the Retired Teachers Association, and treasurer for the American Federation of Teachers, among other boards.
She was also elected to the Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees in 2012, but lost her re-election bid in 2016.
If elected to the city council, Rivas said she will be visible and involved in the community, something she said was missing from the district over the past nine years.
“This area has a lot of needs,” she said. “It takes a full time council person to meet those needs. We don’t need a part time person there anymore.”
Among the issues on the top of her priorities is the Pajaro River levee, saying it is in need of beautification and basic amenities such as bathrooms in order to attract more visitors.
Homelessness and mental health issues are major concerns for the city, she said, adding that there are many programs in the community that are helping to address the problem, yet most aren’t working together.
“More coordination of services needs to happen,” Rivas said. “It needs to come from the leadership.”
She also said she wants to continue helping immigrants become citizens, drawing on her experience with the Santa Cruz County Immigration Project, and she praised the council’s declaration of Watsonville as a sanctuary city.
“We need a person who is more progressive and understanding of the racial and economic culture of the city,” Rivas said. “We need to have someone who understands the cultural needs of the community.”
•••
Steve Trujillo
Steve Trujillo wants to spearhead what he calls a “Watsonville renaissance,” where the city promotes its natural resources, its people and its unique characteristics.
A 20-year county resident and retired teacher, Trujillo is running for the District 7 seat on the Watsonville City Council in November.
“What I envision for this city is that we really become the community we were meant to be,” he said. “We need to showcase all that we have that is God-given, nature-given, including the skills and abilities and the artistic talent of the people.”
Watsonville can promote itself by hosting a produce festival, highlighting the many different crops grown in the Pajaro Valley, Trujillo said.
The former Gottschalks building on Main Street in downtown should also be redeveloped into residences for artists, similar to the Tannery Arts Center in Santa Cruz, he said, allowing local artists to promote their works.
“Why not develop this and get people to realize there is artistic talent here?” he said.
Trujillo earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from CSU Dominguez Hills, and a master’s degree in counseling from San Jose State University.
A teacher for 36 years, Trujillo got his start with the Los Angeles City School District in 1977. He eventually left and landed a teaching job at Gustine Middle School in 1980.
His teaching career also took him to the Salinas Union High School District and Rolling Hills Middle School in Watsonville, among other stops.
Over the years, Trujillo has served on the Santa Cruz City Schools Board of Trustees and the Diversity Center of Santa Cruz County. He currently sits on the Watsonville Personnel Commission.
A resident of Bronte Avenue in Pajaro Village, Trujillo has also served on the Pajaro Village Homeowners Association.
“This is truly a great community,” he said. “I have wonderful neighbors. I have met so many people who are unpretentious. They are down to earth, they are so approachable.”
While serving on these various boards, Trujillo said he learned to listen to the people who spoke during meetings, and to address their concerns.
“You not only need to listen to the words of the people, you need to listen to the emotion behind it,” he said. “You don’t dismiss people who take the time to come to these meetings.”
If elected, Trujillo said he will work with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to expedite improvements to the Pajaro River levee system to prevent future flooding.
Helping the East Lake Village Shopping Center become a “flourishing center of commerce again” is another one of his top priorities, Trujillo said.
As a gay man, Trujillo said he will advocate for LGBT issues as a council member. He also pledges to donate 10 percent of his city council income, or $57, every month to a different nonprofit organization and present it during the public meetings.
“This is a community that likes dialogue,” he said. “If you are sincere and you want to talk about issues, they will invite you in. This is a reason why this is such a joy to run.”
