Sonoma County Conservation Action Newsletter

Exert from Winter 2008 Newsletter

Sharon Wrong for the Environment

By Craig Litwin, Political Director

   Although it is yet unclear who the most viable environmentally qualified candidate is for the third district Supervisor seat being vacated by Retiring Supervisor Tim Smith, one thing is perfectly clear: a vote for Sharon Wright is a clear vote against the local environment.

   When gauging if a candidate will stand up for environmental issues it is important to assess three questions.  One, what has the candidate advocated for as a member of the public or as an elected or appointed official?  Two, where do the candidate’s campaign contributions come from?  Three, who is supporting the candidate’s bid for elected office and who has the candidate supported in turn for elected office?

   Regarding the first assessment, as a councilmember in Santa Rosa Sharon voted the wrong way on just about every environmental issue before her.  She fought to weaken the voter approved Urban Growth Boundary passed by voters in 1996, she approved ridge-top development contrary to a city policy calling for the ridge tops to be left open, and she kept voting for continued city contracts for groups that she simultaneously held employment with (specifically she was fined $14,500 in 1998 by the Fair Political Practices Commission for ten counts of violations of Conflict of Interest Law).

   The second assessment, even for a political novice, shows us that most of her campaign contributions come from development interests.  Smart growth is a good thing in city centers, but a candidate that is so heavily supported by development interests time and time again tends to sacrifice the environment, affordable housing, and a strong local economy, and is not to be trusted with our precious natural resources.  This is true of Sharon today and in her past, and is one of the reasons that she consistently got F’s on SCCA’s annual report card.

   The third assessment, or the ‘rubbing elbows’ assessment, often gives the clearest picture of who a candidate is, or where their true alliances lie.  Sharon has consistently been endorsed by Supervisor Paul Kelley, (who also has consistently received F’s on SCCA’s report card) who is has one of the worst environmental voting records in Sonoma County.  She has always fought against people like Marsha Vas Dupre, Steve Rabinowitsh and Noreen Evans, and even came out against Lynn Woolsey, whose environmental record is exemplary.

   Due to her status as a true wolf in sheep’s clothing, Sharon Wright has earned the name “Sharon Wrong” for the environment!

   Her development interest backed campaign will be a difficult assault to overcome. There is much work to do to ensure she does not get 50%+1 to cinch the election in June. The top two candidates in the primary, barring anyone getting 50%+1, will have a run-off election this November.

   This is arguably the most critical race for SCCA’s membership to get involved with. SCCA will continue watching this race with the greatest of care to report who the best environmental candidate will be. 

   Candidates that have announced for the 3rd District Supervisor seat so far include at least two prior endorsed SCCA elected City Councilmembers:

Veronica Jacobi, Santa Rosa*

Tim Smith, Rohnert Park*

Shirlee Zane, Council on Aging

*Prior Endorsed by SCCA   

   This race will be quickly unfolding over the next several months. One thing is certain– together we can save the county from this newest assault on the local environment by working against Sharon Wright, or “Sharon Wrong”, as she deserves.      ◊

Excerpt from Summer/Fall 2007 Newsletter

Fall 08 Santa Rosa Council

Environmental Candidates

By Dennis Rosatti, Executive Director

I feel like we’re standing on the brink of a major tipping point in Sonoma County politics. Perhaps I am feeling this way due to the inspiration Al Gore’s movie has left us with, a  reawakening of sorts of the nation’s awareness and dedication to the environment. The plight of our world’s climate and energy usage is in the forefront of nearly every newspaper and journal in the world. Or, it could be partly due to the two long sitting County Supervisors who thanks to retirement have seats up in 08’, offering a real opportunity for an emergence of environmental leadership on the Board of Supervisors.

Overshadowing all of this, is the fact that we have a majority within our grasp on the Santa Rosa City Council. This Council not only makes decisions for the City itself, but they make appointments to many boards and commissions that dictate the way many cross-city and county programs are run. For example, each councilmember gets an appointment to the powerful Board of Public Utilities, which oversees water and wastewater for not only Santa Rosa, but the 4 City joint wastewater treatment plant on Llano Road.

In Fall of 2006, voters elected two environmental, progressive candidates to the Council: Veronica Jacobi and Susan Gorin. These freshmen (or freshwomen, to be politically correct) are working hard to fulfill the public’s desire for a cleaner, greener Sonoma County. Advances have been made in green building, smart growth planning, and sustainable development as a direct result of their participation in council dialogue and decision making. But they need 2 more solid votes to pass progressive ordinances and legislation.

Sensing this need, weighing the qualifications of the announced candidates, and sensing the opportunity to turn things around, SCCA has decided to endorse early in the Santa Rosa City Council race. We have endorsed 3 seats, and there are 4 seats that will be up. We may add an endorsement closer to the election, depending on whether additional qualified environmental candidates enter the race.

Marsha vas Dupre has an outstanding record of public service in Santa Rosa. She currently sits on the SRJC Board of Directors, and served on the city council from 1998-2002, when she was narrowly defeated by a smear campaign run by the development community.

Michael Allen worked closely with SCCA in the SMART Rail and Trail ballot measure last fall as the Treasurer of the campaign, and currently serves as State Senator Pat Wiggin’s Field Director. Michael is a well respected labor attorney who worked as ED of SEIU local for many years, and started his carreer as an attorney for the Sierra Club.

Gary Wysocky is the president of the Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition and currently serves as the president of the Junior College Neighborhood Association. Besides being an active cycling enthusiast, Gary is a certified

public accountant and teaches at Sonoma State University.

Joining SCCA in endorsing these candidates, in a sign of progressive solidarity, are the Housing Advocacy Group (HAG), and the Coalition for a Better Sonoma County (CBSC). This is perhaps the first time in history that these 3 organizations have not only endorsed candidates in a race this early, but they also have agreed that the 3 endorsed candidates are the best for all areas of progressive idealism.

“All three of these candidates will work toward a more sustainable economy, environment and a healthier community” added Rick Meechan, Co-Chair of the Coalition for a Better Sonoma County and Board Member of Concerned Citizens of Santa Rosa.  “We are very fortunate to have such quality candidates already in the field.”

Affordable housing continues to be a focal point of political will in Santa Rosa. Said HAG attorney David Grabill, “These 3 candidates are the ones who we want making decisions on affordable housing in Santa Rosa. They understand that housing for all is a mandate from the public.”

I personally have sat through many decisions where environmental interests were on the losing end of votes on issues from campaign finance reform to affordable housing and green building. It’s time to for change!

I ask that you support these candidates with your time, your money and your influence. We all want a Santa Rosa City Council that is pro environment, pro affordable housing, pro working people, and progressive. Let’s join together to make that vision a reality.