Santa Cruz's 'Most Beloved' Politician is Getting Ready to Say Goodbye

Civinomics director Robert Singleton introduced Mayor Hilary Bryant Sunday as the one politician no one says anything bad about, and added she was the city's "most beloved politician."

That had Bryant, who had other prepared remarks, changing tracks. She talked about what a hard year it's been and how it was ending better.

She was addressing the weekend long meeting by Civinomics held at Cruzio, in which movers and shakers mixed with regular people to solve problems around Santa Cruz. Here is a link to the results. 

Her year term as mayor ends December 10 at which time Vice Mayor Lynn Robinson takes over. Bryant's year has been rocky, starting in February with the devastating murder of the first two police officers in city history.

Her son said she hasn't looked happy in months. But now, she said, after attending a weekend forum at Civinomics, she's feeling better, she says. The forum has helped her focus on what's important as an official, which is doing things that will help the city.

She continues as a councilmember for another year. The mayoral seat rotates among the council. But she's been one of the most visible mayor's in city history, as a result of the tragedy, the debate over water and the construction and opening of a sports complex. 

One of her inspirations during Saturday's Civinomics discussion, in which people brainstormed about what they can do to help Santa Cruz, was to get Silicon Valley leaders involved in the community by asking them over the hill to come surfing. That way they would see that Santa Cruz is more connected and more inspiring to Silicon Valley than they realize.

Check her remarks in the videos.