Monica Martinez Selected as 2026 Chair of Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors
The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors has selected District 5 Supervisor Monica Martinez to serve as Chair of the Board for 2026, marking a historic milestone for the county. Martinez will be the first openly LGBTQ+ and Latina person to hold the position.
Martinez was chosen by her fellow supervisors following her first year in office, during which she focused on protecting essential county services, supporting vulnerable residents, improving wildfire preparedness, and beginning the work of strengthening community engagement across District 5.
“Serving as Chair is an honor, and I’m grateful for the trust of my colleagues,” Martinez said. “My focus will be on preparedness, equity, and making sure the County delivers real, measurable results for residents as we face growing budget pressures and climate impacts.”
Since being sworn into office in January 2025, Martinez has played a key role in several countywide initiatives. Anticipating potential federal budget cuts, she convened nonprofit organizations and service providers to help safeguard essential programs, including health care and food assistance. During funding disruptions related to a federal government shutdown, she helped secure county funding to maintain access to food assistance and other community-based services.
Martinez also brought forward a Board-approved resolution aimed at protecting women and LGBTQ+ individuals in response to federal actions rolling back civil rights protections. In addition, she helped secure funding to support LGBTQ+ services and legal aid for undocumented immigrants.
Regarding wildfire preparedness and recovery, Martinez hosted district town halls centered on evacuation planning and emergency communications, emphasized fuel-reduction efforts through a yard-waste removal program, and began the work to improve planning and permitting support for residents rebuilding after the CZU Lightning Complex Fire. She also invested attention to parks and community spaces, including securing funding for improvements at Ben Lomond County Park.
Despite recent progress, significant challenges remain in the Fifth District. Recovery from the 2020 CZU Lightning Complex Fire continues to be slow for the majority of residents, with many still navigating complex permitting processes, insurance hurdles, and rising construction costs years after losing their homes. Infrastructure limitations, including aging roads and evacuation routes, continue to raise concerns during wildfire season, while housing affordability and access to services remain pressing issues for rural and mountain communities. Addressing these long-standing obstacles is expected to remain a central focus for District 5 residents in the years ahead.
As Chair, Martinez will preside over Board of Supervisors meetings, help set the Board’s agenda, and represent Santa Cruz County in regional and state-level discussions, while continuing to serve residents of District 5. Supervisor Manu Koenig was named Vice Chair for 2026.
Email Supervisor Monica Martinez at Fifth.District@santacruzcountyca.gov.
Featured photo above: 2025 Board Chair Felipe Hernandez passes the gavel to Supervisor Monica Martinez. (Photo contributed by the County of Santa Cruz)
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