Welcome, Linda Kelly.
We appreciated all the nice things you said about Sonoma in your comments after your selection as new City Manager was announced. It just so happens – we agree!
Sonoma is a special place, whether one means the whole valley or simply the city itself. Our history is dramatic, our setting beautiful, our people open and friendly, our culture rich, and our talent pool deep.
Despite a smaller footprint than its larger brethren, the Sonoma Valley Unified School District and the Sonoma Valley Health Care District, the influence of the City of Sonoma seems as large. With its own police department, fire-medical emergency response teams, and funding from redevelopment, it’s a true local government and the dominant political force in the valley.
That’s one of the reasons that we’ve encouraged the council to consider expansion “up Valley,” but we know that’s a topic with considerable disagreement. Speaking of which, government-watching at this local level provides good lessons in self-government, lessons that the local SVTV 27 makes available to those residents with Comcast cable service. From the comfort of their own homes, viewers can watch city council meetings live. There, they will see powerful disagreements among council members, handled nevertheless with civility and with genuine respect for the fact that each of them was chosen by the voters.
We look forward, Ms. Kelly, to your long, successful tenure here.
Yes, we know that you’re not retiring for a few months yet, for which we’re appreciative. You helped Mill Valley find a successor several years ago, and your help here in the same capacity is valued.
You brought to us a remarkable energy that reached all corners of the school district. We remember the January 2006 floods that greeted your arrival, and how you threw yourself, almost literally, into the hard work of cleaning up and repairing. And you have been unfailingly positive, both in outlook and demeanor. That tone from the top has had a similar impact on those around you, reflected, of course, by your key appointments in the district office and on the campuses.
We’ve commented before on the importance of competitive elections for board seats, which encourage candidates to develop specific policy positions and to communicate those to voters. Without that, it often falls to the top administrator to develop policy, and you should be proud of the good work you’ve done with this board.
Thanks again, Ms. Young – may the years ahead be for you always fun and full.
