Sanders won’t run in November

Sonoma Mayor Joanne Sanders will not seek a third term on the city council, she announced Monday, instead choosing to spend more time with her family and on her business.

“I’ve had a lot of time to think about it,” she told The Sun. “I prayed, and reflected on it. It’s a good decision.”

When first elected to the council in 2004, Sanders said she was nursing a baby. Now she is raising teenagers. “It’s time to enjoy family.”

Sanders said the city council is a 20 to 30 hour a week job, and comes with great responsibility. “The demands are overwhelming,” she said. Still, “I’m going to miss it. It’s a great, wonderful life experience.”

In addition to more time with her husband and two children, Sanders said she would concentrate on growing her business, Bolt Staffing. “It’s been a rough five years, but we’ve made it through. I want to insure our continued success.”

The realities of running a small business always informed her council decisions. “I’d like to see someone who is a small business person in that seat,” she said, a background and viewpoint that is “inadequately represented” on both the City Council and County Board of Supervisors.

Sanders said she will continue to be an advocate for small business, and plans to be active in policy making.

Monday’s announcement was timed to open the field to new candidates, “to give people time to decide to run. It’s not easy running against an incumbent. It’s better with an open seat, just like when I first ran.”

It’s a great, if demanding, job. “I highly recommend it. Don’t think you can’t make a difference,” Sanders said. You can make a huge difference in the community.”