Another Petaluman joins council race

Longtime Petaluma resident Ken Quinto announced Wednesday he will run for a seat on the Petaluma City Council.

Three council spots and the mayor's seat are on the ballot in November. Quinto joins incumbent Chris Albertson and former Councilwoman Pam Torliatt, who have already announced their intentions to run. Councilwoman Teresa Barrett's term is expiring after this year, but she has not said if she will seek re-election.

Mayor David Glass and Councilman Mike Harris have announced they will run for mayor, who is elected separately in Petaluma.

Quinto, 42, has lived in Petaluma for about 11 years and works for State Farm Insurance in claims automation and procedures. He has two sons in Kenilworth Junior High School.

In January, Quinto was appointed to an opening on the city's Youth Commission. He served on the Waugh parent-teacher board, the Kenilworth school site council and has volunteered in a variety of roles with the Petaluma American Little League.

"When you're involved so many different activities in the community, if you have the time, energy and vision, you should try to get involved in these things," he said. "We all can make a difference, not just in our own little worlds."

Quinto was born in New Jersey and moved to Sonoma County as a boy, spending time on his grandfather's ranch in Healdsburg.

After he received a degree in psychology from Sonoma State University, he worked at an adolescent treatment facility in Petaluma helping at-risk teens.

He said Harris and Councilman Gabe Kearney convinced him to run.

"They said, 'You match our vision,'" said Quinto, who considers himself a "progressive voice."

"But I bring something to the table we can all chew on and that we can bring to the whole city, not just one demographic or from one vantage point," he said.

Quinto also brings a unique geographical perspective to the race. He lives in the northeast quadrant of town, which no other council members do.