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By KEVIN McCALLUM
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
The final tally for the race for the first district county supervisor seat has resulted in the top two
Susan Gorin (PD FILE, 2012)
finishers flipping positions, with Susan Gorin edging out rival Santa Rosa city council member John Sawyer by 186 votes.
Both still are headed to a run-off in the November election. But the result does change who has bragging rights to being to the top-vote getter in the six-way primary race.
On election night, Sawyer had 130 more votes than Gorin. When the counting of last-minute absentee ballots was completed on Wednesday, orin had pulled ahead.
“I was surprised that it flip-flopped because things don’t, usually,” said Janice Atkinson, Sonoma County’s clerk, recorder, assessor and registrar of voters.
Gorin received 6,625 votes, or 23.8 percent, to Sawyer’s 6,439, or 23.2 percent.
The final tally involved hand-counting of the mail-in ballots that people had dropped off at the polls, Atkinson said.
“These are the ones who held onto their ballots until the very last minute,” Atkinson said.
Gorin said she was “very gratified” by the result but wasn’t taking anything for granted and would be “out there talking to as many voters as possible.”
Sawyer took the reversal in stride. “It was nice to be ahead on election night, but I always knew there was a possibility for a change in those numbers.”
The change likely was the result of negative mailers that hit late in the campaign, which may have affected last-minute voters, Sawyer said.
Three mailers funded by the independent expenditure committee Coalition for a Better Sonoma County arrived in the final two weeks of the campaign and were all negative. One carried an image of Pinocchio and questioned Sawyer’s honesty. Another, which hit the Friday before the vote, asked “Who controls John Sawyer” and listed some of his donors, which the mailer characterized as “big moneyed special interests.”
Sawyer said his campaign “took the high road” until those negative ads hit, and then he was forced to respond with robo-calls addressing the charges.
“There are few options to candidate that are hit by late-arriving negative campaign ads,” Sawyer said. “I think the countering helped, but there’s no way of knowing.”
Gorin said she doubted Sawyer’s explanation that the negative ads were responsible for the change, noting that the robo-calls supporting him went negative against her, as well.
“I think there were negative messages attacking each of us,” Gorin said.
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“Gorin represents public interest/
Sawyer represents special interests”
Susan Gorin represents a real alternative to John Sawyer. Sawyer is the tool of the same Chamber, corporate and developer special interests who believe that the purpose of government is to promote their money-making schemes, rather than the public interest. They have a legitimate place in the arena of public concerns, but they seem to prefer the set-up where their interests are advantaged above every one else’s. Gorin cares about job quality and environmental sustainability, not just ROI for a small set of rich guys.
You could even see the contrast in style in the Sonoma 4th of July parade. Susan marched with a small group of supporters pulling a Radio Flyer wagon with her big campaign signs. John rolled by in an open-top shiny black Corvette. The graphic contrast was instructive.
As far as “Vallejo” goes John Sawyer is the candidate who gave special backroom deals on pension and raises to public safety workers. That’s why they are his biggest supporters for supervisor. They want the same special treatment they’ve been getting from Sawyer.Take a look at his endorsement list. Gorin for Supervisor.
@Richard:
My statement about Sawyer supporting policies that bring jobs to the area has little to do with the parking garage incident that you brought up. Allow me to clarify.
It is good to encourage businesses to hire employees. It is unreasonable for a local government to eschew modern technology in an effort to artificially employ at public expense people whose works is superfluous. When the city is already struggling to pay its bills, this is even more unreasonable.
Pro-business is very often pro-jobs because businesses are the ones who hire people. In Sonoma County, the majority of workers are employed by businesses, not by government. In 2009, Santa Rosa’s four largest private employers combined employed more people than the County of Sonoma, the City of Santa Rosa, and Santa Rosa City Schools combined.
Policies that Mr. Sawyer has supported such as encouraging businesses to locate in the area by not putting unnecessary impediments in their way are the types of policies that will benefit workers in Sonoma County. When government supports policies that encourage business, business bring more jobs to the area.
By the way, the public money that was saved by not employing parking garage attendants can now be spent on something that contributes to the public good rather than being wasted on something that can be done more efficiently using modern technology.
Making Santa Rosa more like Vallejo one vote at a time. This area is and will become another Bay Area pit thanks to politicians like Gorin.
If Missy and the Anti-ICLEI crowd are for Sawyer I KNOW I am voting against him. His cozy backroom deals with the police and firefighters were the first tip off that he doesn’t care about our county and his support of an asphalt plant in the middle of town almost convinced me. But knowing that the crazy ICLEI Agenda 21 people support him makes me sure that a vote for Susan Gorin is the best decision I can make. Thanks guys!
John could win this if you look at Gina & Joanne’s votes here
http://vote.sonoma-county.org/content.aspx?sid=1009&id=2456
I think those who supported Joanne Sanders and Gina Cuclis will most likely vote for John Sawyer as both of them were more middle of the road types than Gorin.
RE:” If you want to bring jobs to the county, vote for Sawyer… ”
Mr Sawyer was instrumental is firing the parking garage attendants and replacing them with machines.
Pro-business is not, repeat not, pro-jobs nor pro-worker.
The only workers Mr Sawyer supports are police and fire, both of which are heavily involved in politics. They are involved and it shows.
Santa Rosa has some of the BEST politicians money can buy.
While there are always too many mailers to count in the run up to elections, I was particularly disgusted with the number of mailers from John Sawyer – too many. This told me is that he had a LOT of money to spend on the election. Having watched Sawyers actions at city council meetings convinced me that he does not have our community’s best interests at heart, so I will be supporting Susan Gorin in November.
Vote for Sawyer. Even if you don’t agree with him on everything (and I certainly don’t), he’s a reasonable politician who will promote policies that will benefit Sonoma County’s economy. And he’s worlds better than Gorin. If you want to bring jobs to the county, vote for Sawyer. Otherwise, vote for Gorin.
Guy from Kenwood, while you’re making sure you adhere to that narrow belief set.
I’ll keep working on on maintaining our (your) Freedoms, fighting OneBayArea, sticking up for our right to live where and how we wish.
If your American Dream is living country, rural life say…Kenwood,
well you won’t be.
Where do you think a complete shift in planning came from?
Crack a book, use your computer for something constructive, do your homework.
The RNC and the State of Alabama did this year. Tennessee is probably next.
They recognized this globalist NGO for what it represents and put it in writing, like you capped on me for doing.
ICLEI should be your foe, not some awake activist guy speaking truth on a political blog.
Button up, your ignorance is showing.
RE: The BEST program.
BEST is worst. A frees gift of unrestricted public funds for the Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce [SRCC] to spend any which way it wants.
SRCC does not uphold our community values. It tried to defeat Prop 2 which prohibits small, restrictive cages. Prop 2 was overwhelmingly supported and passed by the people.
SRCC was involved in a kick back scheme with two Santa Rosa mayors. More than $ 700,000 of out tax dollars was lost to this scheme.
SRCC’s BEST is not good enough.
Susan Gorin cares about people and neighborhoods. John Sawyer cares about wineries and developers. It’s a pretty easy choice. Do you want to live in a community or do you want to have the real estate developers and businessman who have screwed up so much of our county in charge of it all again?
RE:” Sawyer.. a failed businessman..”
In my opinion:
This is an unfair charge against Mr Sawyer, he like so many small business people was overwhelmed by larger corporate interests. He is a victim of the American system.
I disagree with his political positions and have been critical of his actions on the council, just so ya know.
It’s at a time like this when one wishes California included a ballot option of “none of the above.”
I like how everyone seems to personally know the canidates. Best to look at voting records… Lowes? Target? Bike rights? How would the canidates vote on Durta? Chick-filet? Vineyard expansion? Smart train?
Susan Gorin is in my district and as fall as I’m concerned there is no other candidate running. She worked for a fair compensation resolution for ALL city workers while Sawyer sucked up to the safety employees and gave them the store while other employees are paying for it.
If you live in the first district and even if you don’t those of you who care who’s on the board and will be BALANCED for both business and workers then please consider working for Gorin making phone calls and walking the district. Those of you who voted for Cuclis, Susan has the same vision for Sonoma County, Sawyer DOES NOT.
Sawyer spent twice the money and STILL got less votes. I guess the 1st district doesn’t want a failed businessman representing them.
Wow this is like choosing between cutting off your right leg or left leg.
Gorin’s record just stinks, she has shown no leadership skill what so ever, and the carpet bagging is sickening.
While you might not agree with him at least Sawyer has cognizant thoughts and clear intent.
Santa Rosa City Council award a Recreation and Parks contract to the higher bidder, not the lowest bidder.
An objection to spending $10,000 more than necessary was raised by a member of the public, who reminded the council that public contracts ought be awarded to the lowest bidder.
Mr Sawyer advocated for the higher bidder; he said requiring a rebid would expose the bidder’s strategy. Why would he put the interest of the higher bidder above the interest of the taxpayers?
This was a pilfering of the public purse and Mr Sawyer led the way. He can not be trusted to protect the public purse.
Two Santa Rosa City Council flunkees looking for a paycheck and the over the top Board of Sups benefit package.
So much for the new election process giving us a real choice.
After attending a city council meeting and actually seeing how these people interact with one another and respond to the public, the only ones I was timpressed with were Gorin, Vas Dupre asn Wysocky. I was really shocked by the cavalier attitude and old boys network feeling that the mayor and vice mayor gave off. They seemed to completely blow off the public and didn’t look at all interested in the proceedings.
See related article about BEST, a County money-pit to encourage business. Gorin is against it, as she is against anything it seems. Or with hoops and conditions that PREVENT investors from expanding businesses in our area.
The ‘progressives’ won’t need to sue to stop any job creating business, as Gorin will vote it down, wasting millions in investments and contributions to our County.
No gravel ? Call Yolo County because we won’t allow that. Want some lumber ? Better to go to Home Depot, as NO local lumber is allowed, as the trees grow…
Gorin seems to be a wanna-be ‘lord’ over the County, like Val Brown is.
By the way, at the Rio Plus 20 that Valerie Brown and others attended, the word was to use MORE natural gas. Cleaner and cheaper, WHERE are they now about CNG ?
She is one of the worst anti-business people that are living in our county. Jobs? Absolutely NOT on her agenda. Welfare, illegals, non-profits, hating the working people of the county? YES she’s your person.
Support Sawyer. Please. What I don’t get is that Sawyer spent TONS on the spot for the top 2, he has not spent anything now, he needs to start saturating again. John, are you listening?
Wow, let’s take a deep breath here. Both Gorin and Sawyer have a chance to tell Sonoma Valley what kind of supervisor they will be for the unincorporated areas of Sonoma County. After all, this is what it is all about. Being a SoCo supervisor is a lot different than being on the SR City Council. Which candidate will figure that out first? Is Sawyer a craven suck to the Sonoma County Alliance and the chambers of commerce? Is Gorin a puppet for SEIU? Have they read the county’s General Plan? Will they address the pension issues? Will they have the guts to protect the beauty of Sonoma County in the face of outside corporate winery interests who want to pave the county over and suck up the aquifer for a $10 bottle of wine? In general, making decisions on a county level is much more difficult than in Santa Rosa.
And, hey, ICLEI guy, have you figured out yet that no one is listening to you? There are actual real problems to solve, so please get out of the way.
as usual the PD deleted my previous comment where I suggest it is a mistake to vote for career politicians.
better to bring in new blood. experience in politics means getting cozy with special interest groups then we all lose.
Gorin is a very left leaning green politican who will step into the little green shoes of Valerie Brown.
She is the queen of the garbled message and carries to water for the leftist causes in Santa Rosa.
Sawyer is not much different, but at least he is pro-business, but he too has consumed too much green cool-aid.
Given the choice of these two, hold your nose and cast your vote for Sawyer.
Susan Gorin, despite the fact that she carpetbagged her way into this election, MUST be the winner in November. John Sawyer embraces our poorly-supervised law enforcement agencies way too much to be a good choice for supervisor – if you are particularly fond of Mayor Ernie Olivares and the Downtown Enforcement Team, Sawyer is your candidate. If, on the other hand, you believe in civil rights, the environment and the “good life” we are trying to enjoy here in the County, then WE ALL MUST VOTE TO ELECT SUSAN GORIN.
If you want more progressive, anti-American ideology; vote for Gorin.
Most likely our Council’s liason to ICLEI.
Member of the ABAG Executive Committee (OneBayArea proponent).
She is a Valerie Brown in training.
John Sawyer is sipping the green Kool-Aid for his career rihgt now, Susan gulps it.
Sawyer’s ego takes another hit.I believe that and his smug business pals who think they can buy a seat on the board of supervisors have a rude awakening coming. Many of us in the first district want someone who cares about people -not wineries and asphalt plants like Sawyer. My money and my vote is going to Susan Gorin.