Santa Cruz County
Parks & Recreation Commission

Katherine Lee, District 1

Katherine Lee grew up in a rural town in northern California and moved to Santa Cruz 8 years ago. She deeply respects what nature provides to the human heart, mind and spirit and how open spaces are crucial for all beings. She was with State Parks in trail restoration and assisted in propagation work with native plant nurseries, including local Central Coast Wilds Nursery. Recently she trained with the Savory Institute’s Ecological Outcome Verification Monitoring program. That time gave her much knowledge of ecosystem processes and how forests with diverse flora/fauna can improve areas even in its outermost surroundings. She strongly believes parks can do the same for neighborhoods and advocates in their favor. As the First District Parks Commissioner, Katherine is dedicated to listening to what people wish to see in their local parks and to give each voice a chance to express its ideas, visions, and solutions. She believes parks and open spaces are the great balance to urban life and people need access to its beneficial presence now more than ever.

Tricia Wiltshire-Potts, District 2

Tricia Wiltshire is the newly elected Commissioner for District 2. Her interest in county parks began in 2013 when she had a vision for creating a park space for children of all abilities.  This idea led to her developing a successful public-private initiative between county government, the parks department, and community organizations to design, fundraise, and build LEO’s Haven at Chanticleer Park.  This fully inclusive playground opened in the Live Oak neighborhood in 2020.  LEO is an acronym for her children: Lauren, Evelyn, and Oliver. Tricia is a project manager with experience in long-range visioning, adaptive problem solving, improving organizational efficiency and effectiveness, and innovation with application. She lives in the Aptos Hills with her family, two livestock guardian dogs, and a ridiculous amount of chickens

Jeremy Sanford, District 3

Jeremy Sanford is a Professor of Molecular Biology at UC Santa Cruz and a Bonny Doon resident. Jeremy is committed to ensuring safe and equitable access to county parks for District 3 residents. Jeremy is also the head coach of the UC Santa Cruz rugby team and is a passionate advocate for the role of sports and recreation in our community. He is committed to creating and improving spaces for both young people and adults to pursue their sporting interests.

Martha Victoria Vega, District 4

Martha Victoria Vega is a lifelong resident of Santa Cruz County. She was raised in Watsonville and attended all the local schools to include Cabrillo College. Martha has worked in the law enforcement community and education for over 27 years. Martha has a passion for helping her community and making positive changes that would benefit our current and future generations in the area she lives, works, and plays in. Martha has fond memories of family and community gatherings since her childhood to adulthood in the county parks and would be honored to serve in the Parks and Recreation Committee for District 4. 

Monica Martinez, District 5

Monica Martinez, MPA, is the Chief Executive Officer of Encompass Community Services, Santa Cruz County’s largest health and human services nonprofit, where she leads cross-cutting system change to improve health and wellness for all, especially those who have been historically left behind. Monica is a community champion and advocate for health equity, with a reputation of using evidence-based, outcome-driven strategies to achieve results.

As a dedicated public servant, Monica deeply understands the intersection between public policy and the vibrancy of a healthy community. Her local leadership and reputation as a bridge-builder has led to advancements across many sectors, including affordable housing, behavioral healthcare, early childhood education, economic development and criminal justice. Monica has a Masters in Public Administration from University of Southern California and a B.A. in Political Science from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. 

Monica is a Felton resident, outdoor enthusiast, and the parent of two school-aged children.