Dominic Foppoli won’t run for mayor of Windsor

Dominic Foppoli, the former Windsor mayor who resigned last year after a group of women accused him of rape, sexual assault or other acts of sexual misconduct, is not running for mayor in November.

Windsor Town Clerk Irene Camacho-Werby confirmed Wednesday that Foppoli did not file the papers he took out a year ago to run for mayor along with the verified signatures of registered voters needed to continue the process by the Aug. 17 deadline.

If he had chosen to become a candidate, he would have been up against two current incumbents, Council member Rosa Reynoza and Vice Mayor Esther Lemus, a former assistant district attorney who has accused Foppoli of drugging and raping her two years ago while they were serving on the council.

“I’m concentrating on a new love in my life and new business and charity opportunities. I don’t have the time to concentrate on getting back into politics yet. Unfairly I went through the hardest experience of my life, but it led me to reevaluating what’s important and led me to finding a fulfillment I never dreamed of before,” Foppoli said in a statement to The Press Democrat.

When asked what his new business opportunity is, he said “Wine and hospitality projects in Italy.”

His last known residence was in Windsor’s District 4, where if he had decided to run for a council seat, he would have faced candidates Tanya Potter and Kevin Gonyo.

Asked for her reaction Wednesday afternoon, Lemus said, “We have moved forward and I’m excited that we are continuing to move forward.

“We have many issues that we need strong leadership to deal with. I look forward to addressing housing affordability, drought issues, fire prevention and continuing support of small businesses as mayor,” she added.

Reynoza said people were “definitely nervous” when Foppoli took out papers last year. And when the town clerk extended a filing deadline for five days last month, she said a few people messaged her, “Oh now this gives him (Foppoli) more time to file.”

“I’m not interested in seeing his name on any ballot,” added Reynoza.

She said the social media machine was fed by a recent appearance by Foppoli at a Thursday Night Concert on the Town Green.

If Foppoli had waged a campaign, she said, “I don’t see how he could have won,” but added that there is a small group of people in town who continue to support him, pointing out that he hasn’t been charged with any crimes.

As of Wednesday, 14 women have come forward with allegations against Foppoli since they were first reported in April 2021 in the San Francisco Chronicle.

Foppoli, 40, was the subject of a criminal investigation by the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office, which was turned over to the state attorney general’s office earlier this year.

The press office for the attorney general said Wednesday there were no updates on the status of the agency’s investigation or any charging decisions.

Seven women joined together in April in a lawsuit accusing Foppoli of sexual assault. Their suit contends that his Healdsburg winery, Christopher Creek, and the Santa Rosa chapter of Active 20-30, a national service club, facilitated his misconduct.

Traci Carrillo, who is the attorney for the plaintiffs, said the case is still in the discovery phase where both sides are requesting documents. She said there were “a couple of court dates in November.”

You can reach Staff Writer Kathleen Coates at kathleen.coates@pressdemocrat.com or 707-521-5209.