This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

Former Mayor Ryan Coonerty Announces Candidacy for Supervisor

Today, former Mayor Ryan Coonerty announced his candidacy for Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors’ 3rd District.

“I was born and raised in this community and care about it deeply,” Coonerty said. “Running for Supervisor provides me with the opportunity to give back to our community and help shape its future. The next generation of Santa Cruzans deserve a community as vibrant and safe as the one I knew growing up here.”

Coonerty’s campaign has the early support of more than 100 community leaders from a variety of sectors.  “I’m humbled by this early and overwhelming show of support.  These leaders come from all walks of life.   They are educators, police officers, firefighters, family business owners, environmental and labor leaders, and social service providers.  They are committed to the future of this community, and I look forward to working with all of them to solve our challenges,” he said.

Find out what's happening in Capitola-Soquelwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Coonerty plans to use his experience in public service and as an entrepreneur to address three key issues. “I will work tirelessly to continue the protection of the North Coast and Monterey Bay, to implement a county-wide economic strategy that leverages our unique talents and brand in order to create jobs, and to enact comprehensive approaches to public safety that focus on proactive solutions.”

Coonerty served two terms on the City Council and two terms as Mayor.  During his time on the Council, he was best known for a focus on job creation, public safety and bringing a new generation into civic life.  He also played a key role in the settlement with UC Santa Cruz over their long-range development plan, passing the Clean Oceans, Rivers and Beaches initiative and increasing police presence downtown and in parks and open space.

Find out what's happening in Capitola-Soquelwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Coonerty is the son of Bookshop Santa Cruz founder and current Supervisor Neal Coonerty and the late Candy Coonerty.  A graduate of the local public schools, he got his BA from University of Oregon, a master's degree from the London School of Economics and a law degree from the University of Virginia.  He is the co-founder of NextSpace Coworking + Innovation, Director of PredPol, and is a lecturer on law and government at UCSC.  Coonerty is the author of Etched in Stone – Enduring Words from Our National Monuments and The Rise of the Naked Economy – How to Benefit from the Changing Workplace.  He was a cofounder of Santa Cruz NEXT and has served on the boards of the Santa Cruz Education Foundation, Dientes Community Dental Care, the Santa Cruz Community Credit Union and numerous other organizations.

He is married to Emily Bernard Coonerty, who manages her family’s long-time business, Dell Williams.  She is the recent past president of the Downtown Association.  They have a young daughter, Daisy JoanCoonerty.

Announcement courtesy of Ryan Coonerty

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?