Rabbitt unopposed in supervisor race

Supervisor Rabbitt to retain seat on Board of Supervisors; Countywide offices are on June primary ballot.|

David Rabbitt is running unopposed in the race for the south Sonoma County Supervisor’s seat, virtually assuring the two-term supervisor will win another four years on the county board of supervisors.

No challenger had filed to run in the June primary by the March 9 deadline, according to the Sonoma County Registrar of Voters. Petaluma voters will see several countywide races and a competitive State Assembly seat on the June 5 ballot.

An architect and former Petaluma City Councilman, Rabbitt was first elected to the board of supervisors in 2010, defeating former Petaluma Mayor Pam Torliatt. He was reelected in 2014 over John King.

A voice of fiscal responsibility, Rabbitt co-chaired an ad hoc committee on the county’s pension crisis. He has also worked on several transportation issues, helping oversee the launch of the SMART train as a board member of the rail agency, and working to improve county roads and widen Highway 101 as a member of the Sonoma County Transportation Authority. Rabbitt also serves on the Golden Gate Bridge district and is president of the Association of Bay Area Governments.

Rabbitt said he was happy to continue his work for the county, including wildfire recovery, cannabis policy, housing and transportation. He said he was surprised to not have a challenger in the election.

“I’m honored to continue to serve the 2nd District,” he said. “I’m relieved that I can continue to do the work I’m doing without having to campaign. I take nothing for granted.”

Three candidates are running for Sonoma County Sheriff: Sheriff’s Capt. Mark Essick, Santa Rosa City Councilman and retired Santa Rosa Police Lt. Ernesto Olivares, and retired Los Angeles Police Capt. John Mutz. Steve Freitas held the position for six years before retiring in July because of health issues. Current Sheriff Rob Giordano, who stepped in after Freitas left, declined to run for the seat.

District Attorney Jill Ravitch, in her reelection bid, faces criminal defense attorney Scott Murray of Santa Rosa. A lawyer since 2000, he was working until last year as a deputy public defender, and is now in private practice serving as a court-appointed lawyer in the juvenile division.

Three candidates are vying to become Sonoma County’s next clerk-recorder-assessor and elections chief. Ray Leonard, the department’s longtime administrative services officer, will face two other internal candidates: Deva Marie Proto, the chief deputy clerk-recorder, as well as Rod Marusic, an assessment process specialist.

The county auditor-controller-tax collector and superintendent of education are both uncontested.

Petaluma voters will also have a choice for State Assembly. Incumbent Marc Levine, a Marin County Democrat, faces another Democrat from Marin, Dan Monte, a retired general contractor and paratransit bus driver. The two will likely advance to the face off in the November general election.

Rep. Jared Huffman, D-San Rafael, will again face Republican Dale Mensing of Redway in the Congressional district that includes Petaluma. A grocery store clerk, Mensing ran for the seat in 2014 and 2016, garnering around 25 percent of the vote both times.

Voters in the nine Bay Area counties will also decide on Regional Measure 3 on the June ballot. If passed, the measure would raise tolls on Bay Area bridges, except for the Golden Gate bridge, by up to $3. The Metropolitan Transportation Commission says the measure would raise $4.5 billion for regional transportation projects.

The expenditure plan includes $120 million to widen Highway 101 from Petaluma to Novato, $100 million for Highway 37 improvements and $40 million to extend SMART to Windsor and Healdsburg.

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

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