In presidential primary, Petaluma feels the Bern

In Petaluma, where Democrats outnumber Republicans two to one, the campaign of Democrat Bernie Sanders has established the most visible presence ahead of next month’s primary.|

As the Democratic campaign for president drags on, giving California a rare shot at a relevant primary, interest in the candidates is ramping up across the state and locally ahead of the June 7 contest.

In Petaluma, where Democrats outnumber Republicans two to one, the campaign of Democrat Bernie Sanders has established the most visible presence. The Vermont Senator announced last week that he was cutting staff nationwide to focus on California. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton remains the front runner in the Democratic primary with a sizable delegate lead.

Sanders’ populist message and grassroots organizing ability have resonated in Petaluma. Stephen Tynan, a Petaluma nurse, has been campaigning for Sanders since last July. In December, he opened a Sanders campaign office on Western Street, the only presidential campaign from either of the two major parties with a Petaluma headquarters.

Staffed with volunteers, Tynan said the office coordinates 680 activists in the Petaluma area. While it is not a sanctioned office of the national Sanders campaign, Tynan said the campaign has provided guidance on voter outreach and asked the volunteers to help establish an official Sonoma County headquarters in Santa Rosa.

“We’ve been making calls to voters,” Tynan said. “We were focused on voters in other states, but now we’re focused on California.”

The Sanders campaign office, next door to the Tea Room, is actually a portion of the Mickles Enterprises property management office. Owner Lindsay Mickles, a Sanders supporter, said he donated the space to give the volunteers a place to coordinate their efforts.

“This is just a bunch of enthusiasts who try to get the word out,” he said. “Bernie’s got the best message. We have a structure that’s rigged for rich people. Bernie’s been right about everything he’s said.”

At the Sanders Petaluma office last week, volunteer Nancy Sullivan made phone calls to potential voters and sold Bernie Sanders shirts, bags, buttons and other gear. A retired private school teacher, Sullivan said she likes the fact that Sanders doesn’t waiver from his ideals.

“I think he’s generated a lot of enthusiasm,” she said. “He’s a can-do person. He is consistent. I feel like I understand him.”

While Clinton holds the lead nationally and is honing in on clinching the democratic nomination, Petaluma still remains Sanders country. In the last campaign finance reporting period ending Jan. 31, Sanders had received 407 donations from Petaluma residents while Clinton received 187 donations from Petaluma, according to the Federal Election Commission. Countywide, Sanders raised $197,700 while Clinton had collected $132,300.

On the Republican side, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz raised $950 from 16 Petaluma donations, real estate mogul Donal Trump raised $394 from just two Petaluma residents, and Ohio Gov. John Kasich found no financial support in Petaluma.

Sonoma State University political scientist David McCuan said that, given the demographics of Petaluma, it’s not surprising that Sanders is generating excitement here. Drilling down into Petaluma’s neighborhoods, he said Sanders would likely do better on the west side of town, which tends to be more progressive.

“You have the east-west divide,” he said. “The east side looks to favor Clinton while the west side looks like Sanders country. The microcosm of Petaluma reflects the divides that are writ large in the Democratic Party itself.”

If the California primary remains competitive until the beginning of June, McCuan said he would not be surprised if one or more candidates made a campaign stop in Sonoma County.

The Clinton campaign is ramping up its presence in California and has a large team of volunteers in Sonoma County, although no office in Petaluma. Lisa Neville-Anderson, a volunteer coordinator with West Sonoma County for Hillary Clinton, said many Petaluma-based volunteers were phone banking from home or working out of locations in Sebastopol and Santa Rosa.

“We’ve been working hard since January,” she said.

A message left with the Sonoma County Republican Party was not returned.

For Tynan, it’s Sanders or nothing, a sentiment reflective of many Sanders diehards.

“If he doesn’t win, I would not support Hillary,” he said. “I would probably vote for the Green Party, or hope that Bernie runs as an independent.”

(Contact Matt Brown at matt.brown@arguscourier.com.)

UPDATED: Please read and follow our commenting policy:
  • This is a family newspaper, please use a kind and respectful tone.
  • No profanity, hate speech or personal attacks. No off-topic remarks.
  • No disinformation about current events.
  • We will remove any comments — or commenters — that do not follow this commenting policy.