Firefighter Jack Piccinini drops out of race for Sonoma County Board of Supervisors

The race for Efren Carrillo's seat on the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors narrowed further this week with the announcement by veteran Santa Rosa firefighter and Sebastopol-area resident Jack Piccinini that he is dropping out of the contest.

The move, which comes less than a month after Piccinini launched his campaign, reflected the momentum and support that is solidifying behind two candidates in the contest, Forestville resident and farmer Lynda Hopkins and former North Coast state Sen. Noreen Evans.

Piccinini, a political newcomer who jumped into the race largely to take on Evans, said he was bowing out partly because it was clear he would not have the ability mount a campaign strong enough to square off with Evans.

“I entered because I didn't feel we had a strong local candidate, but now a few others have stepped in and Lynda Hopkins is gaining support. I am concerned about splitting the vote, so I decided to help clean up the ticket a little,” said Piccinini, 59, a longtime Sebastopol Fire volunteer. “My passion has also always been the fire service, and I'm not ready to turn that switch off yet.”

During wildfire season, Piccinini helps the state manage firefighting operations on large blazes in the region. He cited intensive job training he'll have to undergo this spring and summer as a commitment that would have hampered his bid for the 5th District seat.

Piccinini's announcement follows a decision last week by Occidental attorney and former county supervisor Eric Koenigshofer not to seek the seat he held 35 years ago. Koenigshofer, a close Carrillo adviser, threw his support behind Hopkins, who was the first to announce a bid for the seat in November. Carrillo, a two-term incumbent, didn't rule out a run for re-election until late last month.

Piccinini said he has not decided who to support, but he contended that Evans' recent move into the district - she rented a home in Sebastopol in December - has led to an early groundswell of support for other candidates. He said he has talked with Hopkins numerous times, and plans to meet with potential candidate Timothy Sergent, a special-education teacher from Forestville, before making up his mind.

“From what I'm hearing in my circles, I think people are genuinely tired of professional politicians and big money,” Piccinini said.

Evans is the political heavyweight in the race, with 10 years of service in the Legislature and eight years on the Santa Rosa City Council. She and her supporters have touted her experience representing the North Coast and advocacy for consumer rights and environmental protection.

Environmental organizations and some of the county's largest labor groups have signaled their support for her, as have supervisors Shirlee Zane and Susan Gorin, who also are up for re-election.

Hopkins, also a political newcomer, said she grew interested in running for county office after her experience organizing neighborhood opposition to a large tribal development on Windsor's western boundary. The proposal by the Lytton Band of Pomo Indians to build a new resort and 200,000-case winery is near the Foggy River Farm, the Healdsburg-area property where Hopkins and her husband lived with their two young children until last year. The farm is in the county's 4th District, represented by Supervisor James Gore.

Hopkins said she and her husband purchased a home in Forestville in June, before she decided to run for 5th District supervisor.

She has earned the endorsement of Gore and the Sonoma County Alliance, the county's largest business organization. Her early financial supporters include real estate investor Larry Wassem and Tony Crabb and Barbara Grasseschi, owners of Puma Springs Vineyards in Alexander Valley. Crabb also donated to Gore and to Carrillo's 2012 campaign.

Hopkins has raised $20,000, according to the latest campaign finance records.

Because Evans entered the race after the Dec. 31, 2015 filing period, campaign finance records did not capture her fundraising activity to date.

The 5th District extends from west Santa Rosa to the Sonoma Coast and north to the Mendocino County line.

In addition to Sergent, others considering a bid for the office include Frank Dice, a Sebastopol resident and bartender at Graton's Underwood Bar & Bistro; Lew Brown, a Rio Nido attorney and longtime Guerneville resident; and Marion Chase, a Roseland-area resident and eligibility worker with the county's Human Services Department.

The filing deadline for candidates is March 16.

You can reach Staff Writer Angela Hart at 526-8503 or angela.hart@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @ahartreports.