Newsletter - August 2025

 How many voters understand how a government really works?  Oh sure, you have your President, Senators, Congressional Representatives, State Senators and Assembly members, and county supervisors and city council members.  For many people, the knowledge bank ends there.

Who is really making all the decisions that affect our daily lives?  Let’s take a look at boards and commissions.  Who?  Who are they?

There are 75 Boards and Commissions in Sonoma County.  They deal with Agriculture, Assessments, Aviation, Health, Bicycle, Building, Child Care, Human Rights, Women, Community Issues, Economic Development, Fairs, Fire, Flood, Health, Parks, Retirement, Aging and Disability, Fish, Water, Wildlife, Library, Tourism, Transportation and Veterans.

These boards and commissions have a great deal to do with the economic and life decisions in the county.  Members of the board are usually a resident of the county.  Application can be made through the relevant board or commission’s website or by contacting the County.  The application process and requirements can vary.  It is crucial to check the details for each specific board or commission.  The list of boards can be found at here.

 Here is a list of the process of being appointed to a board.

•  Identify the Board or Commission that aligns with your interest and expertise.
• Review Requirements.  Each board has its own specific requirement for membership.
• Apply online or submit an application.  Paper applications can be obtained from the Sonoma County Clerk’s Office.
• Attend meetings.
• Selection Process.  Applications are reviewed by the board or commission.  Some members are appointed by a supervisor while others may be selected by the board.
• If appointed, the person may be required to complete ethics and anti-harassment training, as well as file financial disclosure forms.

Let’s take a look at school boards.  Currently, there are 40 school districts in Sonoma County.  A board member must live in the school district.  Generally, there are two openings every election year.  If someone leaves their position, that number could increase. If you are interested in running for a school board, it is a very good idea to attend school board meetings for at least a year before running. 

Every supervisorial district has fire and water districts within its borders.  The members of these districts are usually elected by the voters within that district.  The decisions made by these boards are directly responsible for the amount of water and fire protection in the district.  Many districts encompass more than one supervisorial district.   Here are the fire and water districts in the five Supervisorial districts.

Fire Districts

District 1:  Gold Ridge Fire Protection District: Kenwood Fire Protection District: Northern Sonoma County Fire Protection District:  Rancho Adobe Fire Protection District:  Schell-Vista Fre Protection District: Sonoma County Fire District:  Sonoma Valley Fire District.

District 2: Gold Ridge Fire Protection District: Rancho Adobe Fire Protection District: Schell-Vista Fire Protection District:  Sonoma County Fire District.

District 3: Rancho Adobe Fire Protection District: Sonoma County Fire District.

District 4: Cloverdale Fire Protection District: North Sonoma Coast Fire Protection District: Northern Sonoma County Fire Protection District: Sonoma County Fire District.

District 5:  Gold Ridge Fire Protection District: Graton Fire Protection District: Monte Rio Fire Protection District: North Sonoma Coast Fire Protection District: Northern Sonoma County Fire Protection District: Sonoma County Fire District: Timber Cove Fire Protection District.

Water Districts

District 1:  North Bay Water District (landowner) Partial:  Sonoma Mountain County Water District: Valley of the Moon Water District.

District 2:  North Bay Water District (landowner) Partial:  North Marin Water District.

District 3:  There are no water districts in the third supervisorial district.

District 4:  Rains Creek/Hiatt Road County Water District.

District 5:  Russian River County Sanitation District: Forestville County Water District: Occidental County Sanitation District, Sea Ranch Sanitation Zone, Fitch Mountain, Freestone, Jenner and Salmon Creek.

Membership on various boards, commissions and water and fire districts gives a person the experience that is so helpful if they choose to run for higher office.  If you check a person’s history or background in their political life in the county you might discover that many people start off as members of some board or commission.  They might have been a school board member.  Many non-elected positions in government give a person experience in government procedure and provide knowledge of how the inner workings of government actually function.  With some governmental experience, a person running for higher office has a better chance of success.  Knowledge of how the political system works is critical for success. 

As more citizens gather the experience that is helpful for success in more competitive offices, government is forced to acknowledge that there are conservative candidates in a race. 

If you are passionate about shaping the future of Sonoma County, starting with a position on boards and commissions is a very good place to start.  Your voice can help shape policies that impact our schools, businesses and neighborhoods.  Whether you are a lifelong resident or a new member of the county, your perspective matters.

Anyone interested in exploring the opportunity to have a stronger voice in how Sonoma County is managed, contact candidates@sonomacountygop.org or call the party phone: 707-542-7066.

Let’s work together to build a stronger Sonoma County.