Rouse joins council incumbents; Prop H win

Joining incumbents Steve Barbose and Ken Brown on the Sonoma City Council will be marketing executive Tom Rouse, elected to his first public office by virtue of a third place finish in Tuesday’s election.

With the solid one-two finish, Barbose was elected to his second term and Brown his fourth.

“I am grateful that the voters have re-elected me to serve another term on the city council,” said Barbose, the current mayor. “This is a well run city and I think the election results reflect the voters’ acknowledgement that the current council has done a good job. I look forward to serving the next four years.”

Barbose, Brown and Rouse will be sworn in at the December 1 city council meeting. They will join sitting members Joanne Sanders and Laurie Gallian.

Rouse essentially takes the seat of August Sebastiani, who decided not to run after serving one term. Sebastiani endorsed retired businessman Fred Martin, who finished last among the seven candidates.

The crowded field in the non-partisan election is a stark contrast to the 2008 election, which was canceled because only Sanders had filed to run. Gallian was appointed to the other, open seat.

Several of this year’s candidates said the controversy around that 2008 local election is what motivated them to run this year.

In other key races, Measure H, the school bond issue, passed handily. In the race for Health District board of directors, incumbent David Chambers and Kevin Carruth were elected. And with Measure W county voters turned down the $10 vehicle registration surcharge to fund road repairs and transit projects.