Healdsburg Mayor Ariel Kelley announces run for Jim Wood’s Assembly seat

Healdsburg Mayor Ariel Kelley announced Wednesday she is running for State Assemblyman Jim Wood’s 2nd District seat, following his sudden announcement late last week that he will not run for reelection.

Kelley said in an interview Wednesday morning that she filed nomination papers on Monday. She made her announcement via email Thursday morning.

Kelley, an attorney, former planning commissioner and former CEO of the nonprofit Corazón Healdsburg, had been considering running for statewide office for some time. She said her supporters have suggested she run for Wood’s seat, or possibly the seat of Sen. Mike McGuire, whose final term in the Legislature ends in 2026.

With Wood’s decision last week, Kelley zeroed in on the Assembly seat. The 2nd District stretches from the northern half of Santa Rosa to the Oregon border, including Mendocino, Humboldt, Trinity and Del Norte counties.

“When the opportunity came open, I felt like it was something that I could sprint and jump in the race and make an impact,” she said.

Kelley said she understands there is a short “onramp” in the election cycle leading up to the November general election. Kelley and anyone else interested in Wood’s seat will have to face off in a March 5 primary.

Kelley said she’s already talked to two other prominent candidates interested in the Assembly race: Santa Rosa City Council Member Chris Rogers and Rusty Hicks, chair of the California Democratic Party. Hicks lives in Arcata.

Hicks is expected to announce his candidacy soon and Rogers has reportedly been discussing his options with supporters.

Sonoma State University political scientist David McCuan said Kelley, while not as well known as Rogers or Hicks, has a proven track record for raising money and will be a formidable opponent. But she’ll have to cover a lot of political ground before the primary and is likely to have to spend quite a bit of money doing so.

“It’s certainly a short runway or not a long time between now and March 5,” McCuan said. “And that has pushed everyone's timelines forward.”

Kelley, who grew up in rural Oregon, said she’s eager to campaign in similar communities in the expansive 2nd District. She described the region as “one of the most beautiful places on the planet.“

“I think that we are able to protect and preserve the natural resources that make it so beautiful, while at the same time solving some of these really chronic challenges, whether it's homelessness or economic insecurity, housing challenges, water issues — these are things keeping people up at night in this community,” Kelley said.

Kelley majored in business administration, with a concentration in sports marketing, at the University of Oregon, where she also was a cheerleader.

After college she moved to San Francisco, earning her law degree and master’s degree in business administration at Golden Gate University.

In seeking state office, Kelley said she hopes to address the struggles of the most vulnerable residents and working families, who are finding it increasingly difficult to remain in the state. That includes the lack of affordable housing and the need for better paying jobs.

“California is now the fourth largest economy in the world and there is a ton of prosperity in this state, but it's not reaching our everyday working class families,” she said. “People are working in record numbers, we have really low unemployment, but at the same time lines at the food bank have never been longer.”

McCuan said that with several strong Democrats vying for Wood’s seat, spending in the campaign could approach the $2 million mark, not counting independent expenditures.

“One of her strengths is her ability to raise money,“ McCuan said, adding that because of her stiff competition, ”she’s going to have to run a perfect campaign.“

McCuan said it would take up to $500,000 in campaign spending for candidates to be competitive. Another $250,000 would put candidates in a stronger position.

Adding to the field of Democrats vying for Wood’s seat, Ted Williams, a Mendocino County Supervisor, on Monday announced on his Facebook page that he had filed nomination papers. He said he was motivated by the need for greater representation for those who live north of Sonoma County.

“I decided to run because our rural northern communities need a stronger voice in California,” Williams wrote. “The data shows we are being left behind and I want to talk about how we can turn that around.”

On the Republican side, Michael Greer, a board member of the Del Norte Unified School District, also submitted nomination papers this week. He is endorsed by the Sonoma County Republican Party.

In her announcement, Kelley said she’s already gained the support of some elected officials and community leaders.

Lynda Hopkins, Sonoma County’s 5th District supervisor, praised Kelley for her work through one disaster after another.

“From fires to floods to pandemic, I’ve seen Ariel in action,” Hopkins said in Kelley’s announcement. “She’s someone I can always count on to show up for our communities, and I’m proud to support her campaign.”

Barbara Grasseschi, a prominent Democratic donor in the North Bay, said Kelley has a “track record of delivering for our region from health care to climate to jobs.”

You can reach Staff Writer Martin Espinoza at 707-521-5213 or martin.espinoza@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @pressreno.