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By PAUL PAYNE
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
The field of candidates for November city council races in three Sonoma County cities became final Friday while the deadline in the remaining six cities was extended until Wednesday.
Santa Rosa City Council chambers at city hall.
All incumbents in Cloverdale, Petaluma and Rohnert Park filed the proper paperwork to qualify for the Nov. 6 election by 5 p.m. Friday, thus closing the filing window for all potential candidates in those cities.
In Rohnert Park, council members Gina Belforte, Joseph Callinan and Jake Mackenzie will run unopposed.
Petaluma council members Mike Healy, Tiffany Renee and Gabe Kearney will seek re-election but they’ll face challengers Kathy Miller, Alicia Kae Herries and Jason Davies.
Cloverdale incumbents Robert Cox and Gus Wolter will vie for re-election to their two seats. Mary Ann Brigham, a past councilwoman, is the lone challenger.
Final candidate lists in the remaining cities will become official at 5 p.m. Wednesday.
In Santa Rosa, 11 people took out papers for four seats but only five so far have returned the necessary paperwork by Friday. They were Mayor Ernesto Olivares, Councilman Gary Wysocky and challengers Caroline Banuelos, Shaan Vandenburg, Mike Cook and Hans Dippel. Councilwoman Marsha Vas Dupre will not seek another term and John Sawyer is running for county supervisor.
Incumbents are barred from entering the race during the deadline extension period.
So far in Cotati, council members Susan Harvey and John Dell’Osso are on the ballot and face challengers George Barich and Wendy Skillman. Incumbent Janet Orchard did not file to run after 12 years on the council.
In Healdsburg, incumbents Tom Chambers and Gary Plass qualified. So far, Vern Simmons and Shaun McCaffrey have filed to run. Incumbent Steve Babb will not seek re-election.
In Sebastopol, councilwoman Kathleen Shaffer is on the ballot. Incumbent Guy Wilson did not file. Challengers so far are Kathy Austin, John Eder and Colleen Fernald.
In Sonoma, incumbent Laurie Gallian so far faces three challengers in the race for two seats: David Cook, Cameron Stuckey and Madolyn Agrimonti. Joanne Sanders didn’t file for re-election.
Finally, in Windsor incumbent Debora Fudge will be on the ballot along with challenger Bruce Okrepkie. Incumbent Cheryl Scholar will not run.
(You can reach Staff Writer Paul Payne at 568-5312 or paul.payne@pressdemocrat.com.)
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@Aristotle, your post is interesting stating that Kearney has no real support. I know many, many people that will be supporting Gabe this November.
Is it really necessary for Davies to get endorsements from Woolsey and Leno? How about endorsements from people who LIVE in the city of Petaluma which is more important than going after big names. I think it’s quite silly who he goes after for an endorsement.
To Snarky (great handle, by the way) and Kim.
As far as the occupation of a candidate goes, the county Clerk has historically puts down whatever the candidate says they are. No checking credentials, no nothing.
A few elections ago, a woman ran for City Council around here and listed her occupation as “Teacher”. In reality, she was an aide at a day care center and held no teaching credentials or qualifying college degree. The County Clerk was informed of the truth and did absolutely nothing about it. Great way to promote an honest election.
Kim:
Not sure of the reason for your wink, either.
My post stated that the PRESS DEMOCRAT publish the information of political appointees in Sonoma County.
You stated that the county government posted the information .. and winked….
Please read posts more carefully :)
Kim:
Thanks for posting that.
One problem.
The applications allow people to list themselves in cryptic, vague terms as to employment.
Correct?
“Consultant” or “Small business owner”… and those types of terms do not reveal the true nature, and lack of, the employment skills of the appointee.
Nor do the applications explain WHY someone who, without naming names, shows training in specific field yet hasn’t worked in that field for years, is currently unemployed, and who is only in the age 50′s bracket.
RE: Correction Needed –
Kearney is doing a wonderful job… as a tool/puppet for big-money developers like Regency and Merlone-Geier.
He is an insult to the people, especially those who used to know and respect him and don’t anymore. I can’t wait to see how bad he tanks in November since he has no real support.
I see the Jason Davies negative posters are back in town, always attacking Gabe Kearney. I will definitely be voting for Gabe. He has done a great job and I agree with the way he has voted on the majority of issues. Thankfully he can think for himself and make his own decisions. Put Davies in there and all you will hear is him talking. He never knows when to stop. Jason has to realize it’s not about him, it’s about us – the city of Petaluma.
And then next to Kearny’s name on the ballot it should read Incompetent rather than Incumbent.
Snarky, actually they do. The city web site publishes (online) all applications for committees, commissions and city council ;-)
It also should publish the employment history of all the county political appointees.
You see, its not your expertise that counts in Sonoma County. You don’t need it as a minimum requirement. All you need is family connections.
Press Democrat needs to be more accurate, the following requires a correction:
“Petaluma council members Mike Healy, Tiffany Renee and Gabe Kearney will seek re-election”
In order to be re-elected, one would need to first be elected – Kearney was appointed by Harris, Healy, Albertson, and Renee.
The article should be corrected accordingly as it is currently very misleading.