Watsonville, CAVoter Guide 2026 · not a ballot

Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Watsonville City Council Election 2026

2 of 7

council seats up

2 contests

4 candidates

Updated Oct 4, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check →

The candidates

Listed alphabetically by last name. Every position links to its source.

City Council District 5 · 1 seat

City Council District 7 · 1 seat

Watsonville elects its seven council members by district. Voters in District 5 and District 7 each choose one candidate for their own district's seat.

2 notes on these statements

The City of Watsonville's candidate list for November 3, 2026 shows Maria Orozco (District 3) and Kristal Salcido (District 4) as incumbent candidates. City of Watsonville

Ari Parker, the District 7 incumbent, is being termed out. Santa Cruz Sentinel · Aug 23, 2026

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Jimmy DutraCouncilmember, District 6; term ends December 20285sourcedEduardo MontesinoCouncilmember, District 1; term ends December 20285sourcedMaria OrozcoCouncilmember, District 3; current term ends December 20265sourcedVanessa Quiroz-CarterCouncilmember, District 2; term ends December 20285sourcedKristal SalcidoMayor and Councilmember, District 4; current term ends December 20265sourced

Officeholders' pages compare what they've said with how they've voted, with sources.

Start here

Match quiz6 questions · answers stay on your phoneSeat the CouncilPick winners, see the councilWhat council decidesFlock license plate cameras, Camping and oversized vehicle rules, Housing and growthKey datesDeadlines and vote centers

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Next date

Vote-by-mail ballots begin mailing; in-person voting opens at two locations

Mon, Oct 5, 2026

TodayAll key dates

What the next council decides

Flock license plate cameras

Where it standsIn September 2026 the council voted to direct staff to return with fewer cameras and shorter data retention; the current contract runs to September 2027.

What's on the tableWhether to keep, change or end the Flock contract, and what limits apply before it expires.

Camping and oversized vehicle rules

Where it standsThe council introduced a revised camping ordinance in June 2026 and an oversized vehicle parking ordinance in January 2026.

What's on the tableHow the city enforces its camping and street-parking rules and whether to change them.

Housing and growth

Where it standsThe city has released its draft General Plan 2050, which sets how much housing and what kinds Watsonville plans for through 2050.

What's on the tableHow much housing gets built and where, including whether the city seeks to expand its limits.

Downtown and Main Street

Where it standsA Main Street lane reduction was included in the Downtown Watsonville Specific Plan that the council approved in 2023.

What's on the tableWhether and how Main Street's travel lanes change as downtown revitalization continues.

City budget

Where it standsThe council adopted the fiscal year 2026-27 budget in June 2026.

What's on the tableHow the city pays for services and capital projects in the next budget cycle.

Who matches you?

Answer any of these questions. We compare your answers with each person's sourced record, and nothing is stored. Questions where no one has a sourced record yet are left out. Tap a selected answer again to skip it.

  1. 1. Watsonville uses Flock license plate cameras. Which comes closest to your view?

  2. 2. Should Watsonville adopt a local rent control ordinance?

  3. 3. Watsonville has tightened its camping rules, including no-encampment zones. Which comes closest to your view?

  4. 4. Watsonville is banning oversized vehicles from parking on city streets. Which comes closest to your view?

  5. 5. Should downtown Main Street have fewer travel lanes?

  6. 6. Where should Watsonville's new housing go?

Seat the Council →

Pick a winner for each open seat and see where the resulting council stands on each issue.

Key dates

The seat math

5 stay (not up this year): Jimmy Dutra, Eduardo Montesino, Maria Orozco, Vanessa Quiroz-Carter, Kristal Salcido2 on this ballot

7 council seats. The council decides by a 4-vote majority.

Every claim here links to its source and was checked against it before publishing. How this guide works →

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