Julie Combs exits race for Sonoma County supervisor, Chris Coursey said to be readying to run

Santa Rosa Councilwoman Julie Combs is ending her bid for the seat on the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors held by Shirlee Zane, emptying the field of challengers ahead of next year’s election and potentially opening a door for Chris Coursey, the former mayor of Santa Rosa, to launch a campaign of his own.

Combs announced Tuesday evening in an email and Facebook post she would not run against Zane, who is seeking a fourth term next year representing the board’s 3rd District, which covers central Sonoma County including most of Santa Rosa.

Combs cited health issues Tuesday - her husband’s and her own - in deciding not to run against Zane. She did not elaborate on those health concerns and said she considered it a private, family matter.

“Given the rigors of a long campaign, I’ve decided to step back and open the space for others to come forward if they wish to run for this seat,” Combs said in her statement.

Her exit could clear a lane for Coursey, who opted not to run for reelection last year after a single term, including two years as mayor, leading Santa Rosa through the 2017 fires and their trying aftermath.

At the time he said he was stepping down because he could not run to retain the mayor’s seat, an appointed position in the city, and was interested in “other ways to contribute to the community when next year comes around.”

He was tight-lipped Tuesday when asked if he was poised to launch his own bid for the 3rd District supervisor seat.

“I am considering it, but I don’t have anything to announce right now,” he said. “I should have something to say within a few days.”

A seat on the Board of Supervisors is a much sought-after political office, with annual pay over $140,000, full benefits and an opportunity to drive and decide policy on a higher level. It has also been a launching pad to higher office, with the latest example being state Sen. Mike McGuire, who served one term as the 4th District representative before his election to the Legislature.

Coursey wouldn’t say Tuesday whether he had spoken to Combs or to Zane about the race or elaborate at all on his decision-making process.

A former Press Democrat columnist and SMART spokesman, Coursey took several months off after stepping down from the council, a break that he announced was over two weeks ago.

“I’ve dusted off and hung out my shingle for freelance writing and editing work, and PR and government relations consulting,” he wrote on Facebook on April 2. “I’ll also be looking at other opportunities to contribute to our community, and welcome any ideas you might have to help put my oddball skill set to good use.”

He would not say if his planned announcement had anything to do with the supervisor’s race but added that he was “getting asked that question a lot today” and that these inquiries had recently “ramped up.”

“Things are happening very quickly right now. That’s why I’m not ready to answer your question,” he said, adding, “I skied a lot this winter and tried not think about the future, and I’ve only gotten back into that mode of thinking in the past two weeks.”

Asked about the recent registration of an apparent campaign website, www.courseyforsupervisor.com - affiliated with an anonymous registrant - Coursey would not say if he was involved in the site’s creation.

Combs’ withdrawal follows the early exit of Gina Belforte, the mayor of Rohnert Park, who until recently also was running to challenge Zane.

Combs, whose second term on the City Council is up next year, left open the possibility that she could run for a third term.

Because of the city’s phased transition to district-based elections, and Combs’ vow that she would not move to run for a different seat, a bid by her would be for the same seat held by John Sawyer, the longest-serving member of the current council. He easily won reelection last year to represent southeast Santa Rosa.

Combs said in an interview that her decision not to run for the Board of Supervisors was “absolutely not” an endorsement of Zane.

“I think we need some change in leadership there,” Combs said.

Zane did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Combs’ decision to withdraw from the race.

Santa Rosa-based political consultant Rob Muelrath, who is advising Zane, said Tuesday he anticipates Coursey will join the 3rd District race.

“I think he’s definitely running,” he said.

He said Zane, the longest-serving current supervisor, with strong, well-funded support across a wide political spectrum, could not be beat.

“No matter who runs against Shirlee, Shirlee will prevail,” Muelrath said. “Shirlee’s very passionate about our community, and she works hard every day to ensure people are represented.”

You can reach Staff Writer Will Schmitt at 707-521-5207 or will.schmitt@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @wsreports.