Supervisor Valerie Brown said she made her announcement on Tuesday not to seek re-election in order to allow ample time for others considering a run for the First District seat.
"If you live in this district and you have a love of the county, this might be the thing for you," Brown said.
Two candidates already had decided they fit that bill. They are Gina Cuclis, a former City of Sonoma Planning Commissioner and communications consultant and Mark Bramfitt, an energy consultant and board member of the Valley of the Moon Water District and Sonoma Valley Citizens Advisory Commission.
With the incumbent bowing out, the race is wide open and bound to get even more competitive, political observers said Tuesday.
The contest could pit candidates from the district's two main geographic areas — Sonoma and Sonoma Valley on the one end versus east Santa Rosa and its outskirts on the other. It also may feature rivals backed by the county's two traditional political camps, centrist Democrats who cast themselves as business friendly versus more left-leaning politicians who campaign on pro-environment credentials.
"What this shapes up to be is a potentially very divisive race," said Dave McCuan, a Sonoma State University political scientist .
Other interested candidates include Santa Rosa councilman John Sawyer and Sonoma ecologist Will Pier. A number of city and school board officials also are rumored to be eyeing the seat.
Both Cuclis and Bramfitt said they expect to pick up support from those who were waiting to see what Brown would do.
On Tuesday, Bramfitt said he got the endorsement of three Brown allies, Sonoma councilman Ken Brown — no relation to the supervisor — Dick Fogg, a county planning commissioner and Steven Sharpe, a Bennett Valley Union school board member.
"I used to say that the campaign season kicks off around Labor Day," Bramfitt said. "That turns out to be about right."
Cuclis said she expects a bump in her endorsements and donations in the aftermath of Brown's announcement. A longtime Democratic party activist, Cuclis is seen by some as the progressive among current candidates. But she rejected the idea that ideological camps would control the race.
"I don't think it's as clear as that," she said of speculation about the county's traditional election-year battle lines.
Bramfitt, Cuclis and Sawyer rejected the idea that the race could hinge on the geographical tilt of the district.
Changes recently endorsed by supervisors could shift the district's lines further into east Santa Rosa, possibly weakening what has been the historic base of voter support in Sonoma and Sonoma Valley.
Sawyer said those changes could play to his favor. The two-term Santa Rosa councilman was waiting to see what Brown would do. He is now seen by some observers as the favorite among pro-business backers.
Sawyer said he is evaluating his options.
"I think my chances are good," he said of a possible run. "If I didn't feel I had good support from the electorate I wouldn't consider it."
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