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Gorin claims victory in supes race

In the wake of Tuesday’s tight race for the 1st District Supervisorial seat, with an undetermined number of votes still to be counted, candidates Susan Gorin and John Sawyer went to sleep early Wednesday morning without knowing the outcome.

Gorin had maintained a steady, but razor-thin margin over Sawyer into the night, but as late precinct figures came in, the margin of difference did not appreciably change and by Thursday – both candidates had reached the same conclusion: Gorin will replace retiring veteran incumbent Valerie Brown on the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors.

Gorin holds a 1,299-vote margin over Sawyer. Gorin received 20,197 votes to Sawyer’s 18,898 votes.

“The chances of these numbers turning around are pretty slim,” Sawyer said Wednesday evening. “I think it’s a done deal.”

Responded Gorin Wednesday night, “I am tired and elated. I’m anxious to get to work.”

In a long and expensive campaign, the 1st District candidates jointly spent and raised more than $700,000 that financed a blizzard of hard-hitting campaign mailers and robo-phone calls.

Despite the time and expense, Sawyer said Wednesday night that he takes many lasting, positive memories from the campaign experience. “It was truly a privilege to get to know so many fine people in the Valley. My only regret is that I won’t be able to represent those fine people on the Board of Supervisors. It’s been a wonderful experience.”

Sawyer said he has no immediate plans. “I have been on this path for a long time. That part of the journey is over. It’s time to stop and reflect. I need to turn off my head and basically unwind.”

Gorin said she’s already working to create “a smooth transition” with Brown, who will be leaving office Dec. 31. Gorin said she has had supportive phone calls from Brown – who endorsed Sawyer – and Supervisors Mike McGuire and Efren Carrillo.

“I’ll be accompanying other supervisors to a CSAC (California State Association of Counties) meeting later this month. I’ll be ready to take the office; there should be very little gap between Valerie and me.”

Gorin said she is “so grateful to the residents of the 1st District. There has been so much support, so many engaging conversations. And I’ll be reaching out to groups that were supporting John, to let them know I want to work with them.”