Coalition for a Better Sonoma County

1700 C Corby Avenue
Santa Rosa, CA 95407
707-695-6783

The Coalition for a Better Sonoma County brings together organizations, groups and individuals to work toward a common goal – to ensure that our local government acts for the benefit of all the people, not just for the benefit of big money interests.

We are environmentalists, union members, neighborhood activists, and concerned citizens, who believe that by working together we can make Sonoma County a better place.

COPE of the North Bay, AFL-CIO
Sonoma County Conservation Action
Petaluma Tomorrow
IBEW, Local 551
Housing Advocacy Group
Operating Engineers, Local 3
Sonoma County Latino Democratic Club
SEIU Local 707
Concerned Citizens for Santa Rosa
World Stewardship Institute
Sheetmetal Workers, Local 104
Progressive Student Movement
United Healthcare Workers West
UA Local 38, Plumbers and Pipefitters
UFCW, Local 101

Assemblymember Noreen Evans
State Senator Pat Wiggins
Cotati Councilmember Janet Orchard
Healdsburg Councilmember Mike McGuire
Petaluma Mayor Pam Torliatt
Petaluma Councilwoman Teresa Barrett
Rohnert Park Councilmember Jake Mackenzie
Rohnert Park Councilmember Tim Smith
Santa Rosa Councilwoman Susan Gorin
Santa Rosa Councilwoman Veronica Jacobi
Sebastopol Councilmember Larry Robinson
Sebastopol Councilmember Craig Litwin
Sebastopol Councilmember Linda Kelley
Sonoma Councilman Stephen Barbose
Windsor Councilwoman Deb Fudge
Windsor Councilwoman Robin Goble

In March of 2002, Santa Rosa Councilwoman Noreen Evans, with others, convened a meeting of Labor Union representatives, environmental groups and civic organizations that were active in Sonoma County. All these groups were frustrated by the failure of local governments to act on the issues that concerned them, such as: living wage ordinances, project labor agreements, local land use planning, affordable housing, local representation for minorities, availability of health care options, water resource issues, and campaign finance reform.

They understood that they could make progress on these issues only by working together to back progressive candidates for local offices.

Over the next few months, they reached agreement on a statement of principles by which to measure candidates, and formed a political support group – the Coalition for a Better Sonoma County. The Coalition backed City Council and Junior College Board candidates in the November 2002 elections. Part of these campaigns was the first concerted outreach to Latino voters.

In part because of the Coalition's support of local candidates, Sonoma County will soon have its first living wage ordinance. Much more remains to be done for the 2004 elections, and the Coalition is actively engaged in fundraising and organizing, in order to be prepared for action.

We will have an on-line form soon, but in the meantime, please contact us to join the Coalition! We welcome all members who support our Statement of Principles and want to join in our goal of electing candidates who also agree with, and will abide by, our Statement of Principles.

Contact us to join.

Coalition for a Better Sonoma County, 1700 C Corby Avenue, Santa Rosa, CA 95407, 707-695-6783, FPPC# 1248159 | All rights reserved
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