2024 Election in Healdsburg
Local issues & candidates on the ballot
Issues
Healdsburg
Measure O
Housing growth
Measure R
School bonds
Sonoma County
Measure I
Sales tax for kids’ health & education services
Measure J
“Factory farm” ban
Measure W
Sales tax for library costs
Measure O
Would amend Healdsburg’s local “Growth Management Ordinance” to allow more housing to be built in certain parts of town
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Ballot language: “To encourage creation of middle class and workforce housing on underutilized parcels, should the City of Healdsburg exempt multi-family housing along certain portions of the Healdsburg Avenue corridor from the Growth Management Ordinance?”
● Tons of community debate about this one!
● City’s attempt to address the local housing crisis
● In 2020, Healdsburg voters limited the number of new housing units the city can approve to ~50 per year; this would undo that for low-income housing projects AND, on certain stretches of Healdsburg Ave, multi-family housing for all income brackets
● Dissenters worry that separate city plans to change density limits “could expose downtown core to future construction of up to 404 dwelling units”
● “Yes” group includes: Many city/county leaders, local orgs like Reach for Home & Corazón Healdsburg
● “No” group includes: Healdsburg activists and watchdogs like former mayor Brigette Mansell
Measure O
Dark gray areas =
Where the city could approve more housing projects than are currently allowed, if
Measure O passes
Measure R
Would allow the Healdsburg Unified School District to sell more bonds to fund elementary school infrastructure improvements *** Ballot language: “To improve the quality of Healdsburg elementary schools with no estimated increase to current tax rates… authorizing $49.5M of bonds at legal rates be adopted, raising approximately $3M annually… with audits, citizens’ oversight, no money for salaries, and all money for local schools?”
● Selling bonds is one way to fund public resources without increasing taxes for residents
● Healdsburg elementary schools need funds to pay for leaky roofs, electrical systems, falling-apart classrooms, etc.
● The new bond debt will be paid off via existing property taxes, in place since 2002
● “Yes” group includes: Most local politicians and org leaders
● There are no formal arguments against Measure R on the ballot, but in general the downside of school bonds is that the community goes further into debt, with taxpayers ultimately on the hook
Measure I
Would charge more sales tax to fund children’s education, health care and social services in Sonoma County *** Ballot language: “To improve the health and well-being of Sonoma County children, including… increasing access to child care and early childhood education [and] vital children’s preventive health care and mental health services… shall Sonoma County establish a ¼-cent sales tax, providing $30M annually, until ended by voters…?”
● Sonoma County officials want funds to provide more children’s services — early education, health and mental health care, etc.
● Childcare services have suffered post-COVID
● Every transaction made within the county would be more expensive by ¼ of a cent per dollar (currently 8 ½ plus any city-level sales taxes)
● The money would go into a special fund overseen by the county’s First 5 Commission
● Tax would continue until voters end it
● “Yes” group includes: Local hospital systems and social-service orgs like Los Cien and Community Foundation of Sonoma County, who stand to benefit
● There are no formal arguments against Measure I, but rising sales taxes can burden low-income citizens
● Another super controversial one
Measure J
Would ban large “concentrated animal feeding operations,” sometimes called factory farms, in Sonoma County
Ballot language: “Should the County Code be amended to prohibit… farms and other animal production operations that meet the definition of “Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations” (CAFOs), as defined by federal regulations… and require, among other things… a job retraining program for CAFO workers?”
● Farms in unincorporated areas that squeeze a certain number of animals into a given space, and/or don’t have rigorous methods of disposing waste, would be banned
● County’s 3-year phase-out period would cost millions for enforcement
● Proponents argue there are two dozen-plus factory farms operating in the county (no official count available)
● Dissenters argue this would put the county’s whole economy at risk
● “Yes” group includes: Animal rights activists and environmentalists
● “No” group includes: Most local governments, industry advocates like the Sonoma County Farm Bureau and the larger restaurant/business community
Measure J
List of Sonoma County farms that could be defined as “concentrated animal feeding operations” and potentially banned under Measure J, according to its authors
Measure W
Would renew the existing sales tax that funds the Sonoma County Library (including the Healdsburg branch!) ***
Ballot language: “To maintain and enhance Sonoma County Library services such as: children’s/teen books, summer reading programs, and homework help… shall the Sonoma County Library measure be adopted, renewing the current 1/8¢ sales tax, providing $18M annually, until ended by voters…?”
● Sonoma County library officials want funds to keep up current operations
● In 2016, county voters approved a ⅛ cent sales tax to fund local libraries; the system now depends on these funds for 40% of its budget
● This tax will expire in 2027 if we don’t renew it now
● The renewed tax would remain in place until voters end it
● Dissenters say we have time to draft a new measure that would have an expiration date, more specific $$ allotment and better oversight
● “Yes” group includes: Library officials, along with most of our local and state/national politicians
● “No” group includes: Some library folks from West County that don’t feel local branches are getting their fair share of the money
Candidates
Healdsburg
City Council
School Board
California
State Assembly - District 2
United States
U.S. Representative - District 2
Incumbents
1. Ariel Kelley
City Council
Three out of five seats are open for four-year terms on the Healdsburg City Council, our top local governing body ***
○ Former mayor & nonprofit leader
○ Big political ambitions (ran for State Assembly)
○ Quick to respond to citizens
○ Focus on public infrastructure
David Hagele
○ Current mayor & longtime local politician
○ Lots of experience leading amid wildfires etc.
○ Wants to expand local housing stock
Ron Edwards
○ Newest councilmember & former businessman
○ Famous for knocking on every door in town
○ Vocal against “tourism industry impacts”
New blood
4. Heather Hannan-Kramer
○ Business executive at large companies
○ As a renter, outspoken about housing issues
○ Eager to hear what the community wants
Linda Cade
○ Health coach who ran & lost in last election
○ Alternative views on climate & power; sharp skeptic
School Board
Three out of five seats are open for four-year terms on the Healdsburg
Unified School District’s board of trustees, our local school board ***
Incumbent 1. Rose McAllister
○ Nonprofit & PR work, classroom volunteer
○ Three kids & lots of friends in the system
Former board members
Judy Velasquez
○ Longtime teacher and well-known ed leader
○ Wants to advance student success post-COVID
Donna del Rey
○ Business owner, “Relish” culinary adventures
○ Served on HUSD board for 10 years until 2022
New blood
Skyler Osborn
○ Manufacturing engineer
○ Focus on “practical, informed solutions”
Danielle Rae Kucera
○ Marketing head for SF company, ex-journalist
○ Wants to bring “nonjudgmental curiosity” and “results-driven mindset” to school policy
State Assembly
The 2nd district seat, replacing longtime assemblymember Jim Wood (of Healdsburg!) and representing a large swath of the North Coast
Democrat 1. Chris Rogers
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Santa Rosa councilmember
Sen. Mike McGuire’s right-hand guy
Big issues: climate change, wildfire resilience, working-class support
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Endorsements: Pretty much the whole Democratic state government
Republican 2. Michael Greer
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Rural, small-town politician from CA’s far-north Del Norte County
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Big issues: “education, fundamental rights” and economic opportunities for rural Northern Californians
Endorsements: Conservative local politicians from his area
Democrat (incumbent)
U.S. Representative
The 2nd district seat, representing a large swath of the North Coast
1. Jared Huffman
○ In this seat since 2013
○ Big issues: anti-authoritarianism; climate change, natural resources
○ Endorsements: Pretty much the whole Democratic government
Republican
2. Chris Coulombe
○ Sonoma County native & resident
○ 16-year military veteran, small business owner
○ Big issues: anti “political class”; policy pivots in education, economy, environment
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Endorsements: Republican pols, Sonoma County Farm Bureau
