Windsor Councilman Dominic Foppoli singled out as sexy on 'Steve Harvey' show

Windsor Town Councilman Dominic Foppoli is getting some national exposure in a way that might surprise some of his constituents.

Foppoli on Wednesday was featured on TV as one of California’s sexiest single men, competing with a half-dozen other guys on the “Steve Harvey” show for the title of Mr. California.

Introduced only as Dominic, no last name given, he described himself as the owner of four wineries and a craft brewery, as well as a city council member “in the beautiful town of Windsor.” He also brought some cabernet franc from his Christopher Creek Winery for a couple of the guests to sample.

It was up to the female audience members to vote for a winner among the contestants, including a firefighter; an artist/health coach; a production designer/art director; a personal trainer/private chef/massage therapist; a risk management director; and an emergency room doctor.

The competition featured “time to see some skin,” in the words of host Steve Harvey, as the contestants re-emerged shirtless - except for Foppoli.

He was the only one to keep his torso covered, with a tank top, while the other men displayed rippling abs and bulging biceps to the delight of the audience.

The talk show host also mispronounced Foppoli’s name, calling him “Dominique.”

In the end, the audience chose 26-year-old “Garrett” from Laguna Beach, who said he could satisfy a lot of requisites with his talents as a personal trainer, chef and masseur.

“I didn’t have any pre-time to go to the gym, or get into my summer shape,” Foppoli, 32, said in an interview after the TV show aired Wednesday afternoon.

Speaking by phone from Houston where he is doing some promotional wine events, Foppoli said “It was fun. It was a good time. I didn’t take it seriously.”

He said he has participated before as a bachelor contestant in some local charity fundraisers, including the 20-30 Club, and the producers of “Steve Harvey” got wind of it.

“They searched up eligible bachelors in the area and called” a few weeks ago, he said. Within a few days he was on his way to Chicago to tape the show, which he was told has 3.5 million viewers.

Foppoli said it was a good opportunity to promote some Sonoma County wines and pour some of his own product.

But he admitted it was intimidating to be up against the buffed competition.

“Most of the other guys are models - fitness models - moonlighting in what they said they did,” he said. “It was their jobs to look pretty.”

Foppoli first ran for the council eight years ago and lost. After serving as a Windsor planning commissioner, he was elected for the first time to the Town Council in November, the youngest among other council members, all in their late 50s or 60s.

Mayor Bruce Okrepkie said Wednesday he knew Foppoli was going to be on the talk show, but hadn’t seen it yet.

“It’s unique and different and good for him,” he said.

In the campaign leading up to the election, Foppoli extolled the virtues of Windsor, where he has lived for most of his life, saying he planned to raise a family there.

“I absolutely do want to settle down in the next year or two and start a family,” he said Wednesday. “Hopefully it will happen soon. Part of it is figuring out who I’m going to marry. I have to find the right girl.”

You can reach Staff Writer Clark Mason 521-5214 or clark.mason@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @clarkmas.