Jimmy Panetta: “today I honor the life and the legacy of Mike Rotkin. Mike was a tireless public servant, a principled activist, and a…”

“today I honor the life and the legacy of Mike Rotkin. Mike was a tireless public servant, a principled activist, and a beloved educator in Santa Cruz. As a professor at UCSC, he inspired generations of students to give back to their communities. As a leader, he served five terms as mayor and nearly 25 years on the city council, more than anyone in the history of Santa Cruz. Yet Mike's impact cannot be measured in titles nor terms. He stood on picket lines, marched for civil rights, fought to save libraries, protected our coastline, and never stopped showing up for our neighbors. He did it all with civility and hard work. He was a competitor, but always compassionate and considerate. If you disagreed with him, he was never confrontational. Instead, he took the high road, worked hard, and always found common ground. I was proud to have not just his political support, but I was also so pleased that I could call Mike a personal friend. Although we in the Santa Cruz community are moved by his loss, I stand here today, just as we stand together in Santa Cruz, inspired to serve by the legacy and the spirit of Mike Rotkin.”