PD Editorial: A strong field for Sonoma City Council

With Mayor Tom Rouse and Councilman Steve Barbose deciding not to seek another term in office, Sonoma is certain to have at least two new faces on its five-member City Council following the Nov. 4 election.

But in our view, it shouldn’t be more than that. Although Sonoma voters may find it difficult to choose from among the eight qualified candidates competing for three seats on the City Council, we recommend the re-election of Ken Brown and the election of Gary Edwards and Madolyn Agrimonti.

Brown, who is seeking his fifth term on the council, has been a true public servant and ambassador for the community. His devotion to Sonoma is evident in his loyal attendance at community events and involvement with local organizations, from the Sonoma Valley Citizens Advisory Commission to Sonoma Mentoring Alliance to Sonoma Splash, an organization advocating the construction of a community pool. Brown’s institutional knowledge and leadership will be critical in the days to come, particularly as the city tackles issues that have been his primary areas of focus - from the development of affordable housing to the creation of a plan for addressing the city’s water needs.

Although Gary Edwards is not an incumbent, he nearly has all the credentials of one. He has served on the city‘s Planning Commission for eight years and, like Brown, is deeply rooted in the community. The owner of Sage Marketing, which specializes in marketing fine cheese, Edwards has served as president of the Sonoma Rotary Club, and he has been a board member of the Sonoma Valley Citizens Advisory Board and the Redwood Empire Food Bank. Edwards is someone who can speak thoughtfully on a high government policy level while also being able and willing to roll up his sleeves and put on a free meal program at Thanksgiving, something he has done for 10 years.

Edwards also has become a student on all matters related to planning and land-use, skills that will serve him and the community well on the City Council.

As for the third vacant seat, we were divided between Madolyn Agrimonti, who has extensive experience in elected office having served 12 years on the Daly City City Council, and Rachel Hundley, an attorney and owner of a catering business who represents a new generation of young professionals in town.

In the end, we give the nod to Agrimonti given her background in public service and her demonstrated involvement in the community including serving on the Sonoma Valley Hospital Foundation and the Sonoma Community Center. Energetic and articulate, Agrimonti also has been a leader in raising funds for the new community pool.

That said, given Hundley’s sophistication and critical thinking skills, we see her as a promising community leader and believe, if she fails to win a seat on the City Council, that Sonoma would be well served by having her on the Planning Commission.

The other four candidates offer a broad range of personal skills and experience. Most notable are Andrew Sawicki, a podiatrist and a resident in town for nearly three decades, and Cameron Stuckey, a personal trainer and resident for 17 years.

Stuckey has unmatched energy and enthusiasm for the community and many good ideas. Sawicki’s experience in private practice and his analytical skills would clearly benefit the community as well.

The same can be said of the other candidates including Lynda Corrado, a facility planner for AT&T, and Jack Wagner, a Sonoma native who is looking to make his mark in local politics. But none of them offer the community credentials or political background as those we recommend.

For the Sonoma City Council, The Press Democrat recommends Ken Brown, Gary Edwards and Madolyn Agrimonti.