Consider Running for Local Public Office!

[Town Hall Coalition]

Dear Friends,

Town Hall Coalition and other progressive groups want to help
our community stay a desirable and livable place for future generations.

An important part of that effort is to help elect progressive candidates to
office. Many of these offices such as Sonoma County Board of Education,
City Council, School Board, Fire Protection, Health Care, Hospital, and Water
Districts are non-partisan races. Decision-makers in these offices oversee
public schools, public utilities, public health and safety, and publicly
owned or operated sewer and water systems.

Many of the people currently serving on these boards are
excellent people. But recently we have seen a
disturbing trend by right-wing conservatives to run candidates for elected
office that want to develop everything in sight, dismantle publicly owned
and operated government systems, censor books, control curriculum, and
privatize public resources. We are particularly concerned about the
direction of City Councils and School Boards throughout Sonoma County. If
you want to defend the common good and protect our communities from
run-away growth and our public resources from being controlled by fanatics,
privatized, and sold to corporations you must assume responsibility and run
for public office.

There are 95 open seats for the November 7, 2006 election. Nominations
opened July 17, 2006. It is time to declare your candidacy, take out papers,
and file to run for office. You must take out papers at the Sonoma County
Registrar of Voters office. The deadline to file papers for the November
election (and submit the necessary petition signatures) is August 11!

If you are committed to promoting an agenda that protects the common good,
workers' rights, supports community based economic decision making,
universal human rights, access to affordable public health care, quality
public education, and a clean, healthy and sustainable environment -- please
consider being a candidate in your community!

If you have any questions, or you know a progressive person who is
considering a run for local office, please contact Lynn Hamiilton-Chair
Candidate Search Democratic Central Committee and Progressive Democrats
Sonoma County-707-874-9363.

For the right candidate(s), we will help you with your campaign.

APPLICATION PROCESS:
1) You must be a registered voter in the appropriate district, 18 years or
older, resident of the district continuously throughout the term of office,
citizen of the United States, and not be disqualified by the Constitution or
laws of the state from holding a civil office. :

2) Go in person to the Sonoma County Registrar of Voters 435 Fiscal Drive
Santa Rosa, CA 95403. Phone: 565-6800 Fax: 565-6843. Toll free: (800)
750-8683. There is no filing fee and no signatures are required.

3) If you want an optional statement printed in the ballot bring the
statement (maximum 200 words) and the printing fee. Some districts will
refund the fee.

Now is the time to assume responsibility and support democracy. Please get
involved in the local decision making process, run for local office, and
participate in your community.

Below is a list of the local offices on November 7, 2006.

CITIES: 4 year terms
Santa Rosa City Council-3 seats
Cloverdale City Council-3 seats
Cloverdale Treasurer-1 seat
Cotati City Council-2 seats
Healdsburg City Council-2 seats
Petaluma Mayor-1 seat
Petaluma City Council-3 seats
Rohnert Park City Council-2 seats
Sebastopol City Council-3 seats
Sonoma City Council-3 seats
Windsor Town Council-3 seats

SCHOOL DISTRICTS: 2 or 4 year terms
Calistoga Unified-3 seats
Cloverdale Unified-2 seats
Cotati-Rohnert Park Unified-3 seats
Geyserville Unified-3 seats
Healdsburg Unified-2 seats
Sonoma Valley Unified El Verano Area-1 seat
Sonoma Calley Unified Flowery Area- 1 seat
Windsor Unified-3 seats
Petaluma Joint Union High-4 seats
City of Santa Rosa High-3 seats
West Sonoma County Union High-4 seats
Alexander Valley Union-3 seats
Bellevue Union-3 seats
Bennette Valley Union-3 seats
Cinnabar-3 seats
Dunham-3 seats
Forestville Union-3 seats
Fort Ross-2 seats
Gravenstein Union-3 seats
Harmony Union-3 seats
horicon-3 seats
Kashia-2 seats
Kenwood-3 seats
Liberty-3 seats
Mark West Union-3 seats
Monte Rio Unioin-2 seats
Montgomery-4 seats
Oak Grove Union-3 seats
Old Adobe union-3 seats
Piner-Olivet Union-3 seats
Rincon Valley union-3 seats
Roseland-3 seats
Sebastopol Union-3 seats
Twin Hills Union-3 seats
Two Rock union-3 seats
Waugh-3 seats
West Side Union-4 seats
Wilmar Union-3 seats
Wright-3 seats

COUNTY BOARDS OF EDUCATION-4 year terms
-Sonoma County Board of Education-1 opening in each area:
Areas 2, 3, 4, 5.
-Sonoma County Junior College -1 opening in each area:
Analy, Petaluma, Santa Rosa, Sonoma.

HEALTH CARE DISTRICTS-4 year term
North Sonoma County Hospital-2 seats
Cloverdale Health Care-3 seats
Palm Drive Health Care-2 seats
Petaluma Health Care-2 seats
Sonoma Valley Health-2 seats

COUNTY WATER DISTRICTS
Sweetwater Springs Water-Three 4 year terms and one 2 year term
Valley of the Moon Water-Two 4 year terms

COAST LIFE SUPPORT DISTRICT
3-4 year terms
1-2 year term

FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICTS-4 year term
Cloverdale-2 seats
Forestville-2 seats
Geyserville-3 seats
Gold Ridge 4 seats
Graton-2 seats
Kenwood-1 seat
Monte Rio-3 seats
Rancho Adobe-3 seats
Rincon Valley-2 seats
Roseland-1 seat
Russian River-3 seats
Timber Cove-2 seats
Valley of the Moon-2 seats
Windsor-2 seats

[Barry]

Lynn, who posted this, is was the Mayor of Sebastopol, and I'm sure she'd be happy to share some tips with you!

[Katy]

I am 17 years old, and have seriously been thinking of running for something like this, in order to fulfill some of the visions that I have for our county and our Earth as a whole. I would urge anyone of the required age who can do this, and has the drive to help protect and re-establish the system of our ecology and environment here to step forward. I am reading a book by L. Martin Griffin, "Saving the Marin-Sonoma Coast." I would suggest everyone, who is a citizen of the area to read it. I has inspired me to create a change and take a more active role in leadership.

Thank you.