State senate debates skip Sonoma County

Sonoma County voters have the smallest voice in the 3rd state Senate district, which stretches from San Francisco through Marin County to Rohnert Park and the west edge of Santa Rosa.

And when it comes to hosting a debate featuring the three candidates seeking the Democratic nomination in the June 3 primary, Sonoma County voters might have reason to feel even further marginalized.

The candidates have appeared at numerous public forums in Marin County and San Francisco, but no such meetings are planned in Sonoma County.

With the election six weeks away, it doesn't look like that will change.

"So far, it's leaning that way," said Lisa Christensen, campaign manager for former Assemblyman Joe Nation of San Rafael, who is running against incumbent state Sen. Carole Migden and Assemblyman Mark Leno, both of San Francisco.

Organizers said a debate in which the candidates will ask each other questions -- a rarity in local forums -- was moved from Sonoma State University in Rohnert Park to the College of Marin in Kentfield because of scheduling conflicts.

No other Sonoma County venue emerged, said Elizabeth Woo, chairwoman of the 6th Assembly Democratic Club, which is hosting the Kentfield debate on April 24.

"We could not find a location in Sonoma County, which is too bad," Woo said. "We couldn't coordinate the dates with SSU and the candidates."

The League of Women Voters of Sonoma County, which holds forums for some state and local races, isn't planning anything with the Senate candidates.

The league passed partly because a majority of the voters are in Marin and San Francisco, said Nancy Richards, the chapter president.

"We try to do the ones that are most local and would attract an audience," she said.

A forum in Novato in February sponsored by the Petaluma, San Rafael and Novato chambers of commerce was the closest to date. The candidates appear together today in Mill Valley at 7:30 p.m. at the Redwoods Retirement Community.

Voter registration in the district represented by Migden since 2004 is overwhelmingly Democratic, so the candidate nominated in June is almost assured victory in November.

Of the district's Democrats, about 134,000 live in San Francisco, 76,000 live in Marin and 43,000 live in Sonoma County.

You can reach Staff Writer Paul Payne at 762-7297 or paul.payne@pressdemocrat.com.