SANTA CRUZ >> Leaders from across the county gathered in Santa Cruz Monday to extend a warm welcome to the two newest supervisors before they officially clock in for the first time early next month.

With the holiday season in full swing, feelings were festive inside the county board chambers, especially for Monica Martinez and Kim De Serpa who, having emerged victorious from the November election, took their oaths of office in front of a packed crowd of friends, family and soon-to-be colleagues.

Martinez and De Serpa will represent the 5th and 2nd districts, respectively, and their victories last month marked a few significant milestones for the county and its voters. Martinez said that when she takes a seat behind the dais at the start of the coming term, she will be the first openly LGBTQ person elected to the board in its 172-year history and the first woman chosen by voters to represent the 5th District, which includes Scotts Valley, the San Lorenzo Valley and a slice of Santa Cruz.

Moreover, the board is also set for a meaningful shift in demographics, as a woman has not served on the five-member legislative body since former 2nd District Supervisor Ellen Pirie retired in 2012.

“This really is a wonderful place to serve because you can truly make a difference,” said Santa Cruz County Superior Court Judge Denine Guy, who administered the oath of office to De Serpa, “and these leaders have come forward to do just that.”

Martinez, a Felton resident, arrived as a supervisor by way of the nonprofit sector. She came to Santa Cruz in 2010 to serve as executive director at Housing Matters and stayed there until 2014 when she transitioned to CEO of Encompass Community Services, another major local nonprofit specializing in behavioral health services.

“I’ll never forget this moment,” said Martinez, moments after swearing her oath as administered by state Assemblymember Gail Pellerin, a former Santa Cruz County Clerk. “This is a moment I imagined would never be possible for me or somebody like me.”

Martinez, who defeated community leader and CZU Lightning Complex Fire recovery advocate Christopher Bradford, will replace Bruce McPherson, among the county’s most experienced politicians, in the 5th District role. McPherson announced last year that he would retire at the end of his third term in office and went on to endorse Martinez as his successor once the slate of candidates competing for his seat was finalized.

“I’m truly humbled for the incredible opportunity and privilege to be able to serve the 5th District in the county of Santa Cruz,” added Martinez.

De Serpa is also an experienced health care industry professional who is well-versed in local politics. She spent most of her career as a social worker with five years as a care manager with Dignity Health Medical Foundation and, most recently, almost another five years with Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System in roles that included lead clinical social worker and social services manager.

De Serpa, an Aptos resident and Salinas native, was elected to the Pajaro Valley School District Board of Trustees in 2010 and held her seat for 14 years before stepping down recently because the office is incompatible with her new duties as supervisor.

“I’ve spent my career working for vulnerable people. But in this role I expect to really help vulnerable people, but to (also) help everyday people get things done and solve real problems in our community,” said De Serpa. “I just can’t wait to get started.”

De Serpa defeated former Capitola Mayor Kristen Brown on her way to countywide office and will replace outgoing Supervisor Zach Friend who represented the 2nd District for 12 years but declined to seek a fourth term in office to spend more time with his family in San Diego. De Serpa thanked Brown for running a quality campaign and for making her a better candidate by doing so.

“I know there are a lot of people that voted for my opponent and I hope we can put all the campaigning behind us and work together in the best interest of the county of Santa Cruz,” added De Serpa.

The 2nd District, home to about 54,740 residents, includes the county’s coastline from Capitola to Pajaro, inland communities around Corralitos, Freedom and the Pajaro River basin along with a section within the city of Watsonville.

“Think how long it has been also since there was a women sitting on the Board of Supervisors,” said Guy. “There has been some delay in having women equally represented. So I think this is also very special in that way for these two leaders as well and for the rest of the female leaders in our community.”

The ceremonial swearing in event was held exactly two weeks before Martinez and De Serpa are set to officially assume their responsibilities as new supervisors. Their four-year terms will begin at noon on Jan. 6 and the jobs come under some daunting circumstances. The county, rocked in recent years by eight federally-declared disasters, has struggled to balance its budget as it awaits reimbursements from federal recovery agencies.

In light of President-elect Donald Trump’s November victory, many officials across the county have been sounding the alarm about the impacts that potential policies from the new administration could bring, including massive deportation efforts and cuts to social safety net programs and associated grants that the county relies on to provide local services.

Santa Cruz and the surrounding region was also reeling Monday after a large section toward the end of the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf broke off into the raging ocean swell. According to a release from the city of Santa Cruz, three construction workers were pulled into the water when the section collapsed, but all three were rescued and no significant injuries had been reported as of Monday afternoon.