Who is Felipe Hernandez?

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I am a lifelong Watsonville resident, the son of a farmworker and union family, and a proud product of the labor movement. I attended our local schools and graduated from Watsonville High School.

I grew up in a union household where the value of hard work and standing up for your community was part of everyday life. My mother worked at the Richard Shaw Cannery and was a Teamsters member who participated in the historic Watsonville cannery strikes. Watching her and her coworkers fight for dignity, fair wages, and respect shaped my values early on and taught me that when workers stand together, families and communities are stronger.

My parents worked hard to build a better future for our family. My mother’s job at the cannery and my father’s work picking apples for Pecchenino Farms allowed them to buy the home where my siblings and I were raised. They taught us the value of education, hard work, and giving back to the community that raised us.

After graduating from Watsonville High School, I enlisted in the U.S. Army and served our country during Desert Storm. After returning home, I continued my education at UC Santa Cruz, where I earned a Bachelor’s degree in Community Studies.

My commitment to working families led me to become a labor organizer. I worked with the United Farm Workers and later with SEIU International, advocating for workers facing unsafe conditions, economic uncertainty, and rising costs. Those experiences gave me firsthand insight into the challenges working families face and strengthened my belief that strong communities require strong leadership and opportunity for everyone.

That commitment to service led me into public office. I served on community boards and commissions before being elected to the Watsonville City Council. I later had the honor of serving as Mayor of Watsonville and as a Trustee for the Cabrillo College Board.

Today, I am honored to serve as the Santa Cruz County Supervisor for District 4, representing Watsonville and the Pajaro Valley. In this role, I remain focused on delivering real results for South County—improving infrastructure, expanding access to essential services, supporting working families, and ensuring our community receives the investment it deserves.

From serving our country, to organizing with workers, to serving our community in public office, my life has always been about fighting for the people of Watsonville and the Pajaro Valley—the community that raised me.