Sonoma County's Scottish expats on sidelines of independence vote (w/video)

On the eve of Scotland’s historic independence vote, members of Sonoma County’s small Scottish community closely watched to see whether their homeland would end its 307-year union with the United Kingdom. Opinion in Scotland was split with about 50 percent of Scots favoring independence as 4 million voters headed to the polls Thursday.

The vote is open to all Scottish residents. The roughly 1 million Scots living outside the country, including more than 200 in Sonoma County, are not eligible to vote on the referendum that could reclassify their citizenship. That hasn’t stopped many from campaigning.

Jake Mackenzie, a Rohnert Park city councilman from Scotland, has a Scottish flag and a “Yes” sign in support of independence on his lawn. He wore an “Aye” button and carried a copy of “Scotland’s Referendum: A Guide for Voters” on Wednesday.

He said he favored splitting from the rest of the U.K., although some of his family back in Scotland have been campaigning for the “No” camp.

“I’m a student of history,” he said. “If you look back, the union of parliaments was forced on Scotland at the time. Devolution has worked for Scotland. The logical conclusion of that is full independence.”

Polls show that young Scots are leading the independence movement. But June DeSilva, 78, a Healdsburg resident by way of Scotland, said she would also be voting for the split if she could cast a ballot. Her family in Scotland, where she visits regularly, is politically active, and her niece’s husband is a member of the Scottish Parliament.

“Why do Americans celebrate Fourth of July? Because they didn’t want the British telling them what to do,” she said. “We want to be able to decide for ourselves what we do.”

Scots living abroad have been following the campaign closely and know the stakes - Scottish self-determination would mean that Edinburgh, not London, would have control over a host of issues like what to do with profits from oil reserves, health care, even decisions on nuclear weapons in its territory. But a split with the U.K. would also open up many new questions for Scotland on issues including its defense, economy and international relations.

“I think at the heart of the matter is an international issue that has to do with social justice and the effect of global economics on individual lives,” said Frances Slimmer, a Sebastopol resident from Scotland. “I’m really proud of my country for being able to bring the question to the table and engage the issue of what’s important in people’s lives.”

Kate Flanagan, an interior designer from Healdsburg whose family in Scotland are big “yes” supporters, said the referendum is impacting her life in the U.S. since she constantly hears about it from friends and relatives on social media.

“Being Scottish, there is such a national pride,” she said. “Scotland is finally standing up and having a voice.”

For Kenny Rochford, Scotland won’t be the same the next time he visits his country, no matter which side wins. The U.K. parliament has promised more autonomy for Scotland if it votes to stay in the union.

Rochford, the general manager of a winery in Sebastopol, said he would probably vote to stay with the U.K.

“When it comes down to it, I’m proud of being Scottish, but I’m also proud of being British,” he said. “Part of our national identity is complaining about the English. It would be a shame if we didn’t have that.”

Some Scots plan to gather to watch the election results in tartan kilts. Rochford said he would spend Thursday evening at home with a bottle of whiskey and the BBC News.

You can reach Staff Writer Matt Brown at 521-5206 or matt.brown@pressdemocrat.com.