Zane, Wright to face off in November election

Shirlee Zane, CEO of the Council on Aging, and Sharon Wright, a former Santa Rosa councilwoman, emerged from an intense four-way election battle in Sonoma County's 3rd Supervisorial District and will face each other in a November showdown.

The district, which covers central Santa Rosa and northern Rohnert Park, pitted labor unions, business interests, environmentalists and Democratic Party activists in an intense fight to control the seat.

The post is being vacated by Tim Smith, who is retiring after 20 years in the pivotal board position.

Final, but unofficial, tallies showed Zane finished with about 34 percent of the vote and Wright had 27 percent. Voter turnout was light, with predictions that only half the 42,500 voters in the central county district would cast ballots.

Zane said she was elated, and more than a bit surprised, that she topped Wright, who is far better known as a City Council veteran of 12 years.

"When I lost my race for sophomore class secretary in high school, I learned that you have to work a bit harder than just putting your name on the ballot," Zane said. "I think being a grass-roots organizer and heading a nonprofit has kept me close to a community that is looking for change."

Rohnert Park Councilman Tim Smith, no relation to the incumbent, ran a close third, with 23 percent, while Santa Rosa Councilwoman Veronica Jacobi was a distant fourth with 16 percent.

Since no candidate was able to secure half the votes cast Tuesday, Zane and Wright will meet again on Nov. 4.

In many respects, the contest turned into an anti-Wright slugfest as her opponents attacked her pro-business relationships while trumpeting their credentials with environmental and liberal groups.

The combative atmosphere of the campaign increased in the final weeks when independent expenditure committees weighed in with more than $75,000 worth of mailers.

One committee affiliated with unions and environmental groups issued two mailers that criticized Wright's record while a councilwoman.

Another union-affiliated committee put out mailers promoting Zane's health care and environmental positions.

Two independent groups took out large newspaper ads praising Wright's record on law enforcement.

Wright was backed by business groups, real estate interests and contractors; Zane attracted support from unions and environmental groups such as Conservation Action. The Progressive Democrats group split their support between Zane and Jacobi.

Smith said he was counting on support in his home territory of Rohnert Park to get him into the runoff election.

The candidates raised more than $500,000 to wage their fight for the district, with Wright collecting a long list of $1,000 contributions from individuals and business groups, and Zane chipping in $75,000 of her own family's money.

You can reach Staff Writer Bleys W. Rose at 521-5431 or bleys.rose@pressdemocrat.com.