Zeno Swijtink
01-16-2010, 07:50 AM
Kelley's departure could tilt board's politics | PressDemocrat.com | The Press Democrat | Santa Rosa, CA (https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20100115/ARTICLES/100119590/0/OPINION)
Kelley's departure could tilt board's politics
By BLEYS W. ROSE
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
Published: Friday, January 15, 2010 at 6:59 p.m.
Last Modified: Friday, January 15, 2010 at 6:59 p.m.
If this year's elections for two open seats on the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors follow trends set by voters in Santa Rosa and Petaluma, the labor and environmental interests that won majorities on those councils are aiming for one big party on election night.
For three decades, the five-member non-partisan board has been largely controlled by centrist Democrats with a liberal west county representative and occasional moderate Republican thrown in for good measure.
But this year, political dynamics are such that the same union and environmental groups that put money and effort behind Shirlee Zane in the 2008 supervisorial elections now have candidates poised to pounce on seats behind vacated by incumbents Paul Kelley and Mike Kerns.
“Anytime you have a long-time board member depart, you have an enhanced interest because the stakes are greater when supervisorial seats get occupied for 12, 16, even 20 years,” said Brian Sobel, political consultant and former Petaluma councilman.
That's why the mood at the meeting Friday afternoon of the board of Conservation Action, the county's leading environmental group, was described as festive and celebratory.
“We think Sonoma County has earned it, deserved it and it is about time,” said David Keller, former Petaluma councilman and Conservation Action board member. “We would be very happy to see a new majority on the board.”
Securing a majority on the county board comes at a time when severe budget cuts due to declining tax revenues are affecting environmental initiatives, social programs and public employee unions. The county board and all city councils continue to face difficult choices that elected officials don't encounter in better economic times.
Lisa Maldonado, executive director of the North Bay Labor Council, acknowledged that labor-backed office holders will face many dilemmas if elected this year. She said labor has disagreed with some of Zane's votes on the board, but she remains a union favorite.
“With Zane, we have seen that she has never run away from supporting working families,” Maldonado said. “But when decisions have to be made, we don't expect that we will agree with all that they say.”
Thursday's announcement by Kelley — perhaps the region's most influential, business-friendly, conservative elected official — that he won't seek re-election has transformed his district into a potential swing seat.
Kelley, the north county's supervisor since 1995, had been the odds-on favorite to emerge from a June primary contest and face a runoff. Windsor councilwoman Debora Fudge and Healdsburg councilman Mike McGuire had been battling for support among the same base of liberals, environmentalists, union groups and community activists. Fudge has been endorsed by Conservation Action, but McGuire has picked up important labor union support.
Kelley's withdrawl from the contest has drawn speculation that it is related to the opening for the county Water Agency general manager's position. Kelley has declined to say whether he has applied for the position. Applications closed on Dec. 21 and an announcement of finalists for the post is not expected until late February.
With Kelley out of the election picture and only eight weeks remaining before the filing deadline, the Fudge and McGuire campaigns can best be described as elated and energized, but puzzled as how to proceed without the benefit of Kelley as their favorite political punching bag.
In the the south county supervisorial district, which Kerns is leaving after 12 years in office, five candidates have filed for the race.
Petaluma Mayor Pamela Torliatt considered the leading contender. Petaluma councilmembers Mike Healy and David Rabbitt, former city councilman Mike O'Brien and Penngrove rancher John King are also in the contest, aiming for enough votes to make it into the November run-off.
Candidates can avoid the run-off by securing more than half the vote in the June election. If the no candidate gets more than half the vote, the two top vote-getters meet again in November.
The filing deadline in both supervisorial contests is extended until March 17 because incumbents have announced they aren't seeking re-election. While advance groundwork counts heavily in most campaigns, the winner of the eight-candidate election for west county supervisor in the 2008 election was Efren Carrillo, a last minute entry.
On Friday, the Conservation Action board endorsed Torliatt. Also on Friday, labor leaders said Friday that she is likely to pick up the backing of most unions.
Maldonado said that although a few unions have already issued endorsements, the labor council will conduct orientation sessions for candidates next week. She said many unions, particularly the Service Employees International Union that represents 2,600 county employees, would again seek pledges from endorsed candidates for support of labor issues.
Similar pledges in past elections have been controversial because critics interpret them as a signatures to side with unions on every issue.
Kelley's departure could tilt board's politics
By BLEYS W. ROSE
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
Published: Friday, January 15, 2010 at 6:59 p.m.
Last Modified: Friday, January 15, 2010 at 6:59 p.m.
If this year's elections for two open seats on the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors follow trends set by voters in Santa Rosa and Petaluma, the labor and environmental interests that won majorities on those councils are aiming for one big party on election night.
For three decades, the five-member non-partisan board has been largely controlled by centrist Democrats with a liberal west county representative and occasional moderate Republican thrown in for good measure.
But this year, political dynamics are such that the same union and environmental groups that put money and effort behind Shirlee Zane in the 2008 supervisorial elections now have candidates poised to pounce on seats behind vacated by incumbents Paul Kelley and Mike Kerns.
“Anytime you have a long-time board member depart, you have an enhanced interest because the stakes are greater when supervisorial seats get occupied for 12, 16, even 20 years,” said Brian Sobel, political consultant and former Petaluma councilman.
That's why the mood at the meeting Friday afternoon of the board of Conservation Action, the county's leading environmental group, was described as festive and celebratory.
“We think Sonoma County has earned it, deserved it and it is about time,” said David Keller, former Petaluma councilman and Conservation Action board member. “We would be very happy to see a new majority on the board.”
Securing a majority on the county board comes at a time when severe budget cuts due to declining tax revenues are affecting environmental initiatives, social programs and public employee unions. The county board and all city councils continue to face difficult choices that elected officials don't encounter in better economic times.
Lisa Maldonado, executive director of the North Bay Labor Council, acknowledged that labor-backed office holders will face many dilemmas if elected this year. She said labor has disagreed with some of Zane's votes on the board, but she remains a union favorite.
“With Zane, we have seen that she has never run away from supporting working families,” Maldonado said. “But when decisions have to be made, we don't expect that we will agree with all that they say.”
Thursday's announcement by Kelley — perhaps the region's most influential, business-friendly, conservative elected official — that he won't seek re-election has transformed his district into a potential swing seat.
Kelley, the north county's supervisor since 1995, had been the odds-on favorite to emerge from a June primary contest and face a runoff. Windsor councilwoman Debora Fudge and Healdsburg councilman Mike McGuire had been battling for support among the same base of liberals, environmentalists, union groups and community activists. Fudge has been endorsed by Conservation Action, but McGuire has picked up important labor union support.
Kelley's withdrawl from the contest has drawn speculation that it is related to the opening for the county Water Agency general manager's position. Kelley has declined to say whether he has applied for the position. Applications closed on Dec. 21 and an announcement of finalists for the post is not expected until late February.
With Kelley out of the election picture and only eight weeks remaining before the filing deadline, the Fudge and McGuire campaigns can best be described as elated and energized, but puzzled as how to proceed without the benefit of Kelley as their favorite political punching bag.
In the the south county supervisorial district, which Kerns is leaving after 12 years in office, five candidates have filed for the race.
Petaluma Mayor Pamela Torliatt considered the leading contender. Petaluma councilmembers Mike Healy and David Rabbitt, former city councilman Mike O'Brien and Penngrove rancher John King are also in the contest, aiming for enough votes to make it into the November run-off.
Candidates can avoid the run-off by securing more than half the vote in the June election. If the no candidate gets more than half the vote, the two top vote-getters meet again in November.
The filing deadline in both supervisorial contests is extended until March 17 because incumbents have announced they aren't seeking re-election. While advance groundwork counts heavily in most campaigns, the winner of the eight-candidate election for west county supervisor in the 2008 election was Efren Carrillo, a last minute entry.
On Friday, the Conservation Action board endorsed Torliatt. Also on Friday, labor leaders said Friday that she is likely to pick up the backing of most unions.
Maldonado said that although a few unions have already issued endorsements, the labor council will conduct orientation sessions for candidates next week. She said many unions, particularly the Service Employees International Union that represents 2,600 county employees, would again seek pledges from endorsed candidates for support of labor issues.
Similar pledges in past elections have been controversial because critics interpret them as a signatures to side with unions on every issue.