Neal Fishman of Petaluma, Board President
Raised on a ranch in Penngrove. BS Conservation, UC Berkeley. Worked 32 years as project manager, legislative coordinator, and Deputy Executive Officer for the Coastal Conservancy. Drafted legislation creating the California Coastal Trail. Instrumental in creating the San Francisco Bay Area Conservancy, and several statewide conservation bond acts. Served as chief consultant to the Senate Committee on Natural Resources. Serves on board of Sonoma Land Trust. Married to Maxene Spellman. They have two children.
Michael Allen of Santa Rosa, Board Chair
A North Bay community leader for over 40 years, Michael has a record of activism and extensive legislative experience that makes him uniquely qualified to tackle the diverse issues facing our neighborhoods and our state. Michael has had an extensive career as a registered nurse, lawyer and then labor leader right here in the North Bay. Elected to the State Assembly in November 2010, Michael was appointed to serve as the Assistant Majority Leader shortly thereafter. Since then, he has worked to improve safety at our state hospitals, help working families, and create local jobs. After serving in the Assembly he was appointed to the California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board by the Assembly Speaker Perez in January 2013. Recently, Michael was appointed by Governor Newsom to continue his service for the people of
Janis Watkins of Healdsburg, Board Secretary
Janis grew up in Sonoma County where her father was a University of California farm advisor. After graduating from SRJC, she went on to higher education and UCLA Law School. She returned home and, after stints at the Sonoma County Public Defender and County Counsel’s offices, she practiced private law (civil appeals) for many decades. Now retired, she finds her passion working on environmental issues and social and environmental justice in Healdsburg and Sonoma County. She volunteers with Sierra Club, Climate Action Healdsburg, as well as forest biomass and habitat protection groups. Janis and her husband Warren enjoy their children, grandchildren, hiking and getting out to their rural property in Mendocino County.
Anne Seeley of Santa Rosa
Anne Seeley has lived in Sonoma County since 1977. In 1986 she was a co-founder of Concerned Citizens for Santa Rosa a community interest organization that has been effective in making Santa Rosa government more transparent and attuned to the public. She works through coalitions such as the Sonoma County Water Coalition to help keep Sonoma County a healthy, beautiful place to live. Working full-time as a medical office nurse, she still attends each Santa Rosa Council meeting.
Blake Hooper
Blake currently works as the Sonoma County Field Representative and Case Worker for Congressman Jared Huffman and is passionate about land use and housing policy. Prior to this, he worked for Sonoma County Conservation Action where he managed both the membership canvass and the organization’s online communications. Blake has worked on several local, state and federal campaigns, and has been an activist in both the local and state Democratic Parties. He is a committed advocate for social, economic, and environmental justice, as well as the reduction of barriers into both the political process and civic engagement.
Blake also likes long walks on the beach, competing in combat robotics competitions, and finding the most shade in any location where exposure to the sun is possible…
Brigette Mansell
Brigette Mansell has lived in Sonoma County for 45 years; she graduated from Sonoma State University with a B.A. in English in 1982 where she then earned her secondary teaching credential. She taught English for 38 years in the Santa Rosa City Schools, at Piner and Carrillo High, and coached speech and parliamentary debate for 36 years. Though retired from teaching in 2020, she chooses to substitute teach elementary school!
Elected to the Healdsburg City Council in 2014, Brigette served four full years ending in 2018 as mayor. She served as a Director on the SCTA-RCPA for three years and as a Director on the NoSoCoAir District. Brigette deeply cares about youth engagement, environmental education, and preserving Sonoma County’s vital and natural resources. Her love of live music, civic participation, and her adult, 32 yr-old boy-girl twins, including a new baby granddaughter, inspire her daily.
Eric Vazquez-Izaguirre
Born and raised in Sonoma County, I received my Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a Minor in Public Policy from U.C. Berkeley. I have continued to use my strengths in civic engagement, policy research, and housing advocacy for the needs of underrepresented communities across California and Hawai'i. With the experience I have acquired, my hope is to continue exploring new and innovative solutions to further uplift families and individuals across the North Bay.
Susan Shaw
Miles Dillingham
Hello, my name is Miles Dillingham, I am the president of the Young Democrats at Sonoma State University, as well as the Bay Area Regional Director for the California College Democrats. I am a proud progressive and see an active need to mobilize young people in the fight for our future. Climate change is an existential threat that can only be addressed by collective action. Now is the last stop before catastrophe— we cannot afford to back down.
“Things do not happen. Things are made to happen” -JFK.
Staff
Executive Director, Una J M Glass
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