Capitola City Council · Nov 3, 2026
Joe
Clarke
Joe Clarke, the incumbent, is running for Capitola City Council in the Nov 3, 2026 election; 5 candidates are running for 3 seats.
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The race · City Council
- 01Joe ClarkeYou’re reading
- 02Cami Corvin
- 03Tory Del Favero
- 04Troy "TJ" Welch Jr
- 05Peter Wilk
Background
- About
- Retired Santa Cruz County Sheriff's sergeant who has served Capitola as council member, vice mayor and mayor. He served as mayor in 2025.
- Occupation (from candidate statement)
- Incumbent
- Party
- Nonpartisan race. California Constitution, Article II, Section 6
- Endorsed by
- County Supervisors Manu Koenig and Kim DeSerpa; Capitola Mayor Margaux Morgan; Capitola Vice Mayor Gerry Jensen; former Capitola Mayor Mike Termini; Santa Cruz County Deputy Sheriffs Association; Peace Officers Research Association (PORAC); and others. Joe Clarke for Capitola City Council
- Campaign website
- electjoeclarke.com
Joe Clarke is the only incumbent among the five candidates; incumbents Margaux Morgan and Susan Westman are not on the candidate list. Santa Cruz County Elections
On the record: Joe Clarke
13 sourced01Housing2 sourced positions
Said Capitola should be careful with state housing mandates because the city has little unused land.
I think that we need to be careful because the state has made outrageous goals for us to build in Capitola, and we don’t have any land that’s not already being used.”
Own statementSanta Cruz LocalLink
Voted no on adopting a General Plan amendment and introducing multifamily and accessory dwelling unit zoning changes (passed 3-2, Sept. 2025).
Council voteCapitola City Council minutes, September 11, 2025 · Sep 11, 2025LinkHow the council voted
02Rail trail3 sourced positions
Said the pedestrian and bicycle trail should move forward and hopes it will use the trestle.
I think we’re getting to a point where we’re all going to come together and hopefully use the trestle and have that beautiful trail all the way to Aptos, and then hopefully eventually to Watsonville.”
Own statementSanta Cruz LocalLink
Voted yes on asking the RTC to reprogram up to $200,000 in RTIP funds for preliminary planning work on the Capitola Trestle (passed 4-1, May 2026).
Council voteCapitola City Council special meeting minutes, May 21, 2026 · May 21, 2026LinkHow the council voted
Made the motion and voted yes on a cooperative agreement with the RTC for the Capitola Trestle Assessment (passed 4-1, Aug. 2026).
Council voteCapitola City Council minutes, August 27, 2026 · Aug 27, 2026LinkHow the council voted
03Capitola Mall2 sourced positions
Hopes the mall redevelopment includes housing, a hotel, restaurants and commercial space for the tax base.
My hopes would be that it would be some housing, a hotel, restaurant, and commercial, because Capitola highly needs the tax base that comes in on 41st Avenue.”
Own statementSanta Cruz LocalLink
Voted yes on adopting Ordinance No. 1075, the Capitola Mall and objective standards zoning amendments (unanimous, March 2026).
Council voteCapitola City Council minutes, March 26, 2026 · Mar 26, 2026LinkHow the council voted
04Budget1 sourced position
Said a path forward for the Capitola Mall is important because the 41st Avenue area generates much of the city's budget.
The 41st Avenue area generates roughly three-quarters of the City’s annual budget, which brings me back to the importance of finding a path forward for the Capitola Mall.”
Own statementTPG Online Daily · Oct 3, 2026Link
05Stockton Avenue Bridge1 sourced position
Seconded and voted for a motion directing staff to bid a polyester concrete overlay and plan to rebuild and preserve the Stockton Avenue Bridge (unanimous, Aug. 2026).
Council voteCapitola City Council minutes, August 27, 2026 · Aug 27, 2026LinkHow the council voted
06Cliff Drive1 sourced position
as reported by Santa Cruz Local; not a direct quote
Said the Cliff Drive Resiliency Project, designed to stabilize bluff erosion along Cliff Drive, needs to move forward.
Forum answerSanta Cruz LocalLink
07Public safety1 sourced position
Wants to bring Capitola police salaries more in line with neighboring agencies to recruit and retain officers.
Capitola police officers are among the lowest-paid in the area, and I want to work toward bringing their salaries more in line with those of neighboring agencies so that we can recruit and retain quality officers.”
Own statementTPG Online Daily · Oct 3, 2026Link
08Affordable housing1 sourced position
Voted yes on denying a request for a city letter of support for a grant application for 3720 Capitola Road (passed 4-1, Nov. 2025).
Council voteCapitola City Council minutes, November 13, 2025 · Nov 13, 2025LinkHow the council voted
09Utility undergrounding1 sourced position
Voted yes on notifying PG&E that the city will not pursue an undergrounding project with its Rule 20A funding (passed 3-2, Sept. 2026).
Council voteCapitola City Council minutes, September 10, 2026 · Sep 10, 2026LinkHow the council voted
Every claim links to its source and was checked against it before publishing. How this guide works
Joe Clarke: their words and their votes on the same issue
New housing pace
In their words
Said Capitola should be careful with state housing mandates because the city has little unused land.
On the record
Voted no on adopting a General Plan amendment and introducing multifamily and accessory dwelling unit zoning changes (passed 3-2, Sept. 2025).
Sep 11, 2025 ·Capitola City Council minutes, September 11, 2025 · Sep 11, 2025
Trestle trail
In their words
Said the pedestrian and bicycle trail should move forward and hopes it will use the trestle.
On the record
Voted yes on asking the RTC to reprogram up to $200,000 in RTIP funds for preliminary planning work on the Capitola Trestle (passed 4-1, May 2026).
May 21, 2026 ·Capitola City Council special meeting minutes, May 21, 2026 · May 21, 2026
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