A Successful First-Ever Student-Led Mayoral Forum
On a Saturday morning, the 3DE Club hosted Next Wave Mayoral Forum, a landmark moment in Santa Cruz civic history: the first-ever mayoral forum led by elementary school students. The event drew strong turnout and a remarkable level of community engagement, signaling just how much residents valued this fresh and youth-centered approach to local democracy.
The forum brought together Mayor Fred Keeley and four mayoral candidates — Ami Chen Mills, Gillian Greensite, Joy Schendledecker, and Ryan Coonerty — for what turned out to be the final candidate forum before the election. Candidate Chris Krohn had been scheduled to participate but was unfortunately unable to attend due to a last-minute family emergency.
What set this event apart from any previous forum in Santa Cruz was its format and its voices. The 3DE Club's young members stepped into the role of questioners, posing thoughtful, substantive questions directly to the candidates about their vision for the city — the very city these students would grow up in and one day help shape. Candidates engaged with the children and their families in a conversation that felt both genuine and meaningful, offering a perspective rarely seen in traditional political forums. Watching elected officials and candidates speak directly and earnestly to young constituents was a refreshing reminder of why local civic engagement matters.
The event's success was the result of broad community partnership and support. Santa Cruz Works, Santa Cruz City Schools, the Santa Cruz Chamber of Commerce, and the Democratic Women's Club of Santa Cruz County all played important roles in making the initiative possible. Special recognition went to Tricia and the County Clerk's Office, who provided civic education materials that helped students deepen their understanding of local government and the democratic process ahead of the forum.
Mayor Fred Keeley deserved particular recognition for his contributions beyond simply participating as a candidate. He worked closely with organizers throughout the planning process and graciously served as the forum's moderator, bringing experience and care to a role that helped anchor the entire event.
The forum stood as a testament to what becomes possible when a community trusts its youngest voices to lead.
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