Barry
11-08-2012, 08:56 AM
19440Susan Gorin has claimed victory for the open District 1 Sonoma County Board of Supervisors seat and her opponent John Sawyer has conceded! This is huge since the county is governed by the full board.
As mentioned below in an excerpt from the PD Article (https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20121107/articles/121109633?p=all&tc=pgall&tc=ar), this shifts the "center of gravity" in a more environmentally friendly direction!
Notably it does not include our Supe, Efren Carrillo, in those that want tighter control.
Barry
Except from:
https://img194.imageshack.us/img194/8107/201206081330.png
Gorin claims victory in race for 1st District supervisor seat
https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20121107/articles/121109633?p=all&tc=pgall&tc=ar
Gorin was backed by environmental groups, the county's largest public-sector labor union and the Democratic Party. Sawyer, who led the money race throughout, was supported by large agriculture, business and real estate groups, as well as labor unions representing law enforcement.
The stakes were high because many see the outcome as pivotal in determining the political direction of the Board of Supervisors. That includes decisions affecting county services, from roads and parks to labor agreements and aid programs.
While a win by Sawyer would have preserved the status quo, according to Sonoma State University political scientist David McCuan, Gorin's election shakes up the picture.
"Clearly the board's center of gravity has shifted," he said.
On controversial land-use issues, the board may now have a three-member majority, including Gorin and Supervisors Shirlee Zane and Mike McGuire, that favors tighter county oversight.
"I think we now may have a much better chance of some good environmental policies coming out of the board with Susan elected," said Dennis Rosatti, executive director of Sonoma County Conservation Action, which backed Gorin.
Others disputed the election signaled a larger change in board direction.
"I think for the last three decades the board has been liberal," said Eric Koenigshofer, a Sawyer supporter and former Sonoma County supervisor who served in the late 1970s. He cited previous agreement on county planning efforts and open space protection as examples of broadly shared environmental values.
As mentioned below in an excerpt from the PD Article (https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20121107/articles/121109633?p=all&tc=pgall&tc=ar), this shifts the "center of gravity" in a more environmentally friendly direction!
Notably it does not include our Supe, Efren Carrillo, in those that want tighter control.
Barry
Except from:
https://img194.imageshack.us/img194/8107/201206081330.png
Gorin claims victory in race for 1st District supervisor seat
https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20121107/articles/121109633?p=all&tc=pgall&tc=ar
Gorin was backed by environmental groups, the county's largest public-sector labor union and the Democratic Party. Sawyer, who led the money race throughout, was supported by large agriculture, business and real estate groups, as well as labor unions representing law enforcement.
The stakes were high because many see the outcome as pivotal in determining the political direction of the Board of Supervisors. That includes decisions affecting county services, from roads and parks to labor agreements and aid programs.
While a win by Sawyer would have preserved the status quo, according to Sonoma State University political scientist David McCuan, Gorin's election shakes up the picture.
"Clearly the board's center of gravity has shifted," he said.
On controversial land-use issues, the board may now have a three-member majority, including Gorin and Supervisors Shirlee Zane and Mike McGuire, that favors tighter county oversight.
"I think we now may have a much better chance of some good environmental policies coming out of the board with Susan elected," said Dennis Rosatti, executive director of Sonoma County Conservation Action, which backed Gorin.
Others disputed the election signaled a larger change in board direction.
"I think for the last three decades the board has been liberal," said Eric Koenigshofer, a Sawyer supporter and former Sonoma County supervisor who served in the late 1970s. He cited previous agreement on county planning efforts and open space protection as examples of broadly shared environmental values.