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The candidates are coming

First, an update of last month’s column about the candidates running in the June election to represent the Springs in the State Assembly: Napa County Planning Commissioner Matt Pope dropped out of the race last week. No surprise, as his fundraising was poor. That leaves three candidates: Napa County Supervisor Bill Dodd, Davis Mayor Joe Krovoza and Davis Vice Mayor Dan Wolk.

You’ll have the chance to see them and ask questions at a candidates’ forum Monday, March 24, 6:30 p.m. at Altimira Middle School. The Sonoma Valley Democrats Club is sponsoring the forum, but because of the new open-primary system, all voters are encouraged to attend. This assembly district includes Glen Ellen and Kenwood. The City of Sonoma and the south Valley are in a different assembly district.

News from the County Sheriff

A wide range of issues was discussed at the community meeting last week with Sonoma County Sheriff Steve Freitas. Sonoma Police Chief Bret Sackett joined the sheriff to fill-in local details.

About 80 people attended, asking questions about drug dealing, gangs, DUIs, animal cruelty, medical marijuana, speeding, immigration holds, citizen review boards, enforcement of smoking laws, and, of course, the shooting death of 13-year-old Andy Lopez by a sheriff’s deputy outside Santa Rosa.

Sheriff Freitas shared good news about gang crime, saying gang related incidents in the unincorporated area of Sonoma Valley had gone down from 85 in 2012 to 81 in 2013. I think it’s too soon to call this a trend, but the sheriff indicated it could be.

Another positive sign the sheriff pointed out is that the majority of gang related crime in Sonoma Valley is not directed at the general population. He said it’s gang on gang crime, with the number one gang crime being drug-related incidents. He also said that the percentage of all crime in unincorporated Sonoma Valley that is gang related is less than six percent. That’s less than the countywide unincorporated area gang crime rate of 8.5 perecent.

Our local “King” of Miss Sonoma County

For ten years, El Verano resident Edy King has been the Miss Sonoma County scholarship pageant’s volunteer executive director. She has been on the pageant’s organizing committee for 20 years.

I met Edy last year when I was asked to be one of the practice judges taking the contestants through a mock interview. The interview is the most significant part of the pageant. I was later asked to be an official judge for this year’s pageant, which is Saturday, March 1, 7:30 p.m. at the Spreckels Performing Arts Center in Rohnert Park. Edy’s enthusiasm is contagious, so there was no way I could say no.

I recently asked Edy what about the Miss Sonoma County pageant motivates her?  She said, “The young women in our County that try out and their life stories keep me wanting to help them with their educational endeavors. They are remarkable young women and have so much to offer.”

The Miss Sonoma County winner is awarded a scholarship. Last year’s winner received $1,500.

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