Gallian first to file for November council race

One in, one out and one unsure – that’s the tally this week of Sonoma’s 2008 City Council race, after Laurie Gallian filed nomination papers Monday to become the contest’s first official candidate.
Gallian, a member of the city Community Services and Environment Commission and manager of city council member Ken Brown’s 2006 re-election campaign, unofficially announced her electoral intentions for the four-year position with an entry in Sonoma’s July 4 parade. In May, Councilmember Stanley Cohen said he wouldn’t seek a second term, leaving fellow first-termer Mayor Joanne Sanders as this year’s only other possible incumbent.
Generally, the council race sees more candidates when an incumbent chooses not to run. But despite rumors that at least three other Sonomans would be vying for a seat on the dais, that hadn’t happened by 5 p.m. Monday, July 14.
“It’s not like there’s a line out my door or anything,” City Clerk Gay Rainsbarger joked.
Neither Gallian nor Sanders had yet returned telephone calls by press time.
Six other races will offer 15 opportunities for Valley voters to cast their Nov. 4 ballots. On the education front, John Musilli is up for re-election to the Area 1 seat on the Sonoma County Board of Education, while Nicole Ducarroz, Helen Marsh and Sandra Lowe will be at the ends of their respective terms as trustees of the Dunbar, Prestwood and Sassarini attendance areas in  the Sonoma Valley Unified School District.
Two fire-district boards are also looking at a handful of potential vacancies: in Kenwood, those of James Kempers and Frederick Sand, and for the Valley of the Moon district, Ray Brunton, Dawn Mittleman and William Norton. Three members of the Valley of the Moon Water District – Mark Bramfitt, Ed Kenny and Ron Prushko – are also up for re-election, as are Bill Boerum, Mike Nugent and Mike Smith on the Sonoma Valley Health Care District board.
All candidates will be running for four-year terms. Races are open to any U.S. citizen at least 18 years of age who’s a registered voter and has not been convicted of a felony. Nomination periods run through 5 p.m., Aug. 8, except for those elections in which at least one incumbent is opting out – such as Sonoma’s – in which case the filing deadline is Aug. 14. No fees are involved unless candidates choose to spend $240 to print their statement in the sample ballot.
To file for Sonoma’s City Council election, call Rainsbarger at 707.933.2216. For filing information about the other Valley races, call the County Clerk’s office at 707.565.6800.