Where Cami Stands
This campaign has been about listening. I've spent time talking with residents, local business owners and community members about the issues that matter most to Capitola. I've heard their concerns, asked questions and done the research.
Here is where I stand on some of the issues I'm hearing about most.
Capitola's form of government depends on clear accountability. The City Council sets policy and direction. The City Manager is responsible for carrying out that direction, managing City operations and supervising staff.
I will take seriously the Council's responsibility to set clear expectations, ask questions, follow up and hold the City Manager accountable for carrying out the direction of the Council.
Transparency also means residents should understand how decisions are made, what information those decisions are based on and who is responsible for carrying them out.
I will not micromanage City staff, but I will lead with oversight, encouragement and follow-through to ensure the policies and direction approved by the Council are implemented.
Capitola needs housing, including housing that working people, seniors and local families can realistically afford. But adding units alone is not enough. Major development has to take into account our roads, parking, infrastructure, public services, neighborhood scale and local businesses.
The Capitola Mall will be one of the most significant land-use decisions our city faces in the coming years. State housing laws have limited some of the discretion cities once had, but they have not eliminated Capitola's role.
The City still has important tools, including zoning, objective development and design standards, infrastructure and circulation planning, and the ability to shape how new development fits with surrounding neighborhoods, businesses and public services.
I will not accept the idea that state housing mandates mean Capitola has no say. We do have a role. I will work to understand exactly where state law limits us, and just as importantly, where it does not, and use every lawful tool available to protect Capitola's interests.
My goal is not to stop redevelopment. It is to make sure that whatever is ultimately built works for Capitola as a whole.
Capitola voters adopted Measure L, and I believe the City has a responsibility to respect both the language and the intent of what voters approved.
Transportation projects affecting Capitola, including the rail corridor, bicycle and pedestrian facilities, streets and connections into the Village, should be evaluated carefully and transparently.
I will not support attempts to work around voter-approved requirements through terminology, project design or other means. I will respect the decision Capitola voters made while also supporting safe and practical transportation options for our community.
Capitola is a small city, and every dollar matters. Fiscal responsibility does not mean saying no to everything. It means setting priorities, understanding the long-term cost of decisions and making sure taxpayers receive real value for the money being spent.
I believe Councilmembers have a responsibility to ask basic questions. What are we spending? Why are we spending it? Is it necessary? What are the long-term obligations? Are there better alternatives?
I will carefully review the facts and the long-term financial impact before supporting major spending decisions. I will not treat taxpayer dollars as an unlimited resource.
Local businesses are part of Capitola's identity and are essential to the City's financial health. They provide jobs, services, gathering places and tax revenue, and they help give our neighborhoods and commercial areas their character.
City policies involving development, parking, traffic, permitting and public improvements can have a very real impact on whether businesses succeed.
I will listen to our business community and consider how City decisions affect their ability to thrive. I will support policies that strengthen our local economy while protecting the character that makes Capitola unique.
Capitola residents, visitors and local businesses should feel safe in our community. Public safety means making sure our police department has the staffing, training and resources needed to do the job well, while maintaining strong coordination with fire, emergency services and neighboring agencies.
Public safety decisions should also be based on what is actually happening in our community, including staffing levels, response times, crime trends, traffic and pedestrian safety, emergency preparedness and the demands created by tourism and major events.
I will support the resources necessary to keep Capitola safe. I will also make sure public-safety spending is responsible, effective and focused on the needs of our community.
Have a question about where Cami stands?
Reach out directly — Cami reads every message — or join the campaign as a volunteer.