DCNSCC Endorses Monica Martinez

Vote Monica Martinez
for County Supervisor, 5th District

About Monica Martinez

​

Monica Martinez is a lifetime public servant, parent, and San Lorenzo Valley resident who is ready to be a fresh voice for the 5th District. Currently serving as the CEO of Santa Cruz County’s largest health and human services nonprofit, Encompass Community Services, Monica is dedicated to providing behavioral health, housing, and early childhood development to children, adults, and families across our community.  

​

A Vote for Martinez is a Vote for Experience

​

Of the candidates running, Martinez appears to be the best prepared to be able to deliver the results we need. In addition the her Masters degree in Public Administration, her work with local government to deliver housing and human services through Encompass and, prior to that, Housing Matters of Santa Cruz County, has led her to be intimately familiar with the ins and outs, and strengths and weaknesses of our public agencies and local personnel. "I already have working relationships with [our current Supervisors]" said Martinez at the DCNSCC endorsement forum. "I work with our local government every day."

Martinez is also no stranger to the hard realities of lacking budgets and fiscal responsibility. Encompass administers several federal, state, and county grants and Monica sat on the Budget & Finance Committee of the San Lorenzo Valley Water District. "I know what it means to have to deal with unfunded mandates", said Martinez to the DCNSCC. Yet, while at Housing Matters, Monica was able to co-found the 180/180 Initiative, a community partnership that housed 180 of the most vulnerable individuals experiencing homelessness in less than 2 years. "I want to use my expertise and experience in the effective use of public funds to ensure the 5th District's needs are prioritized."

​

Increasing Diversity on the Board of Supervisors 

​

Since 2012, all five County Supervisors have been male, and a woman has never been elected in the 5th District. (Pat Liberty served from 1978 through 1980 but was appointed rather than elected). Therefore, if elected, Martinez will be both the first female elected in the district, and the first out LGBTQ supervisor in the history of the County. 

Growing up in conservative Bakersfield, Martinez "just never thought that, as a an out LGBTQ woman who is Latinx that [she] would be electable." But, she said in an interview with the Bay Area Reporter "I think it would send a really strong message, ... and signal support for the values of inclusion and acceptance in our entire county."  

​

Support competence and diversity. Vote for Monica Martinez! 

​

Learn more at martinezforsupervisor.com