Introducing our newest board member

Eighteen months ago, we announced a new program in which we invite two members of the community to join The Press Democrat Editorial Board for six months at a time.

Today, we’re pleased to introduce our newest board member, Maureen Middlebrook of Santa Rosa.

To longtime readers, the name is most likely familiar. As a public affairs officer, Middlebrook has worked for a variety of North Coast organizations over the years, including the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District, Empire Waste Management and, most recently, the Redwood Regional Medical Group.

She also is a past board member and former president of the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District, and she is a past board member of Sonoma County Alliance.

Middlebrook, who says she fell in love with Sonoma County while spending the summers of her childhood at her grandparents’ home in Glen Ellen, received her undergraduate degree in English from the College of Holy Names and her master’s in political science from Sonoma State University. A resident of Sonoma County since 1970, she is now principal of her own consulting group, Middlebrook Communications.

In accepting the post, Middlebrook said she has always considered the editorial pages to be a “reflection of the community.”

“It provokes us to talk to each other, to sort things out, to take things on,” she said. “I am thrilled and humbly honored to be able to observe and learn about the process and have an opportunity to contribute on the team with a degree in political science.”

Middlebrook’s background and extensive understanding of the workings of Sonoma County will be invaluable, and we look forward to having her insight and voice on the Editorial Board.

Middlebrook joins the existing members of the Editorial Board: Sonoma Media Investments CEO Steve Falk, Editorial Director Paul Gullixson, Assistant Editorial Director Jim Sweeney and Community Member Paul Berlant, a former city manager of Windsor and Sebastopol and a resident of Windsor.

She will serve until Jan. 1, 2016.

As we’ve noted before, the community members take part in weekly board meetings, interviews with community leaders and election candidates and occasional off-site visits. During their terms, they are full voting members of the board who are given an opportunity to weigh in on issues, and, if they so choose, write their own opinion pieces.

We encourage all those who are interested in applying for a community member position to send a cover letter and resume to paul.gullixson@pressdemocrat.com. And please be patient. We maintain a running list of applicants which we use in our selection of candidates. As we’ve noted previously, our goal is to hear from those who live and work in areas not represented by the current members of the Editorial Board. We also are looking for residents who represent a variety of viewpoints, professions and demographics.

If you’re interested, we would like to hear from you.