Organic farmer Lynda Hopkins
Lynda Hopkins, a writer, farmer and former journalist, issued a press release today announcing her candidacy. “There are many pressing issues that we as a community need to address, including the need for affordable housing and childcare. I don’t want to wait any longer,” said Hopkins in her press release.
Hopkins is a published author and a former journalist for Sonoma West Publishers.
Hopkins proposes seeking a ballot measure to raise hotel bed taxes from 9 to 12 percent, generating an estimated $3 million per year to pay for roads. Hopkins also said she would consider seeking voter approval for a bond to bolster the county’s road repair budget. “It would have to be specifically allocated to roads so it’s not something that can wind up being siphoned for the general fund,”
Supervisor James Gore announced that he had endorsed Lynda Hopkins saying he viewed the 32-year-old organic farmer from Forestville as “part of the next wave of public leadership here in Sonoma County… I endorsed her because I want to work with her, and I have trust in her values, and I have confidence in her work ethic.”
Former State Sen. Noreen Evans.
Evans, 60, is the second candidate to enter the race. In order to qualify to run for Fifth District Supervisor, moved into the district, to Sebastopol — and out of her home in eastern Santa Rosa —
Evans was first elected to the Santa Rosa City Council in 1996, and in 2000 she ran unsuccessfully for county supervisor against then-incumbent Tim Smith. She was elected to the state Assembly in 2004 and served until 2010, when she won election to the state Senate.
Her time in the Legislature also was marked by public comments that suggested she was disenchanted with elected office, and early into her Senate term she applied for an appointment as a judge on the California Court of Appeal.
Evans supports stronger requirements that more new units be set aside for low- and moderate-income residents.
Evans says that taxes from medical marijuana — and potentially those from recreational pot sales, if California voters sanction such sales and use this year — could provide money to help the county fix its roads. “The only big source of revenue we can look at is regulating and taxing cannabis,” said Evans.
Special-education teacher Timothy Sergent
Moved to Sonoma County in 1988 after serving in the U.S. Army Infantry in Panama. He studied at Santa Rosa Junior College, went on to U.C. Berkeley for a degree in Social Science with a focus in social and economic development. Upon graduation, Sergent moved to Washington D.C. to work as a staff assistant on the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee, and as a Congressional Liaison to the House of Representatives for the Secretary of Defense, during the Clinton Administration.
Sergent says he is running to fix the county’s roads, rein in public employee pension costs and increase access to higher education for high school students.
County eligibility worker Marion Chase
Chase said her entry into politics was sparked by her daily interaction with low-income people. At the county, she helps them apply for Medi-Cal and food stamps.
Chase, 50, who advocated for increased attention to mental health services and housing for homeless people.
She also said better broadband Internet service is critical for the small businesses and rural residents in west county.
Rio Nido attorney Lew Brown
I cannot find any information relating to Mr. Brown