Santa Cruz City Council Candidate David Terrazas Hopes to be a Voice for Young Families
SANTA CRUZ — As the only parent of small children running for, or sitting on, the City Council, David Terrazas said he would bring a unique perspective to Santa Cruz leadership.
Terrazas and his wife, Monica, bought a fixer-upper home on the Westside in 2000, spent years repairing it and are now raising their two daughters there. He put himself through night school to earn his MBA and law degree.
As a result, Terrazas said he can relate to the struggles that young city residents endure to afford their homes and raise their families. As the grandson of Mexican and Italian immigrants, and whose wife immigrated to the U.S. from El Salvador as a child, Terrazas said he can also relate to the increasing diversity in the city.
“I think it’s important that we have new perspective on the council that reflects our community and reflects the needs of families and working professionals,” Terrazas said. “I want to be a voice for the people of the community that are working hard to live here.”
Now, Terrazas is eyeing a City Council seat and hopes to attract businesses to Santa Cruz that fit in with the city’s environmental and social values, but can provide well-paying jobs that keep other parents employed in the city where they live.
Terrazas said he envisions green industry to “help to create both meaningful economic development and new sources of revenue in our community.”
A member of the city’s Transportation Commission, Terrazas said he also would work to build safe bicycle and pedestrian routes around town, and encourage residents to get out of their cars.While a newcomer on the political scene, Terrazas’ positions have earned him the endorsements some of the county’s biggest political players: four sitting City Council members, county Supervisor Neal Coonerty, former Supervisor Mardi Wormhoudt, and county Treasurer-Tax Collector Fred Keeley.
Contact G. Bookwalter at 706-3286 or gbookwalter@santacruzsentinel.com.
October 13th, 2008 at 7:27 pm
I want to mail a check to David’s campaign. Please provide address. Thanks. Mari Tustin
November 5th, 2008 at 6:30 pm
David,
I was sooo disappointed when Hillary told me today you missed out by 9 votes, especially when I thought you won. I am really frustrated with Santa Cruz voters and composed a letter I would like to submit to the Sentinel op ed. Can you check it and make sure you approve? Celeste
It’s a shame that Santa Cruz voters cannot apply the same arguments and impassioned views to local politics that they do to the national scene. Santa Cruz voters overwhelmingly supported Barack Obama (who is half black) because he represented a change in regime, is a relatively fresh face on the political front and is not afraid to reject corrupt special interests. Not to mention he has a beautiful young family. Here in Santa Cruz, David Terrazas (who is half Hispanic) also espoused change in the form of encouraging more smart growth to keep commuters from the daily 17 grind. He is a fresh face on the Santa Cruz political scene and makes his decisions based on careful thought to what would benefit the community most, not unions. Not to mention he has a beautiful young family. Sound familiar? It’s too bad voters here were not more consistent in their choices for leadership on election day.