To: Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): County Executive’s Office
Staff Name and Phone Number: Clerk of the Board 707-565-2241
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Appointments of Directors to Special District vacancies per California Elections Code Sections 10515(a), (b).
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Approve the following Appointments to the office of Director.
A) Approve the appointments of Hector Galvan and Susan Campbell to the North Sonoma County Health Care District, each to serve a four-year term beginning on December 4, 2026 and ending on December 13, 2030.
B) Approve the appointments of Guy Smith, and Arthur Deicke to the Gold Ridge Resource Conservation District, each to serve a four-year term beginning on December 4, 2026 and ending on December 13, 2030.
C) Approve the appointments of Isaac Jenkins, Frederick Euphrat, Bruce Abelli-Amen, and John Nagle to the Sonoma Resource Conservation District, each to serve a four-year term beginning on December 4, 2026 and ending on December 13, 2030.
D) Approve the appointment of Catherine Donahue to the Sonoma Valley Health Care District, to serve a four-year term beginning on December 4, 2026 and ending on December 13, 2030 (Countywide)
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Executive Summary:
Pursuant to California Elections Code section 10515(a), if the number of candidates for a special district office is greater than one but less than or equal to the number of seats to be filled for that office, no election is needed and the supervising authority (which is the Board of Supervisors for special districts) shall appoint such person(s) to that office. On September 15, 2026, Pursuant to California Elections Code section 10515, the Board of Supervisors of the County of Sonoma adopted Resolution 26-0357 appointing over 40 candidates to over a dozen offices who met those conditions.
California Elections Code section 10515(b) further states that if any seats remain unfilled for a special district office because the number of people who filed nomination paperwork was zero or less than the number of seats, the supervising authority shall appoint any person(s) who are qualified on the date when the general district election would have been held (November 3, 2026). Persons appointed under California Elections Code section 10515 shall take office and serve exactly as if elected. According to California Elections Code section 10554, the new term for special district offices begins “at noon on the first Friday in December following the general district election.” This year, that date is December 4, 2026.
Upon approval, the Clerk of the Board will provide timely notice to the Registrar of Voters and administrative staff of each affected special district so they can prepare the necessary certificates and oaths of office.
Discussion:
Strategic Plan:
N/A
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
September 15, 2026, the Board of Supervisors authorized appointment of district directors in special districts with insufficient nominees to be on the ballot in the November 3, 2026, General Election (Resolution Number 26-0357).
Fiscal Summary
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
N/A
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
N/A
Attachments:
N/A
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
BOS Resolution 26-0357