Election 2022: Mike Nugent ready to make tough decisions

Editor’s Note: The Index-Tribune will profile one candidate for the Sonoma City Council every Friday through Oct. 7. Mail ballots begin to go out Oct. 10.

The “buck” famously stopped with Harry S. Truman – and it won’t get too far past Mike Nugent, either, if he can help it.

At least that’s how the longtime Sonoma resident is framing his run for Sonoma City Council: There’s a lot of work to be done, and he’s ready to do it.

“We’ve got big decisions to make in the City of Sonoma, and we’ve got to start making them,” said Nugent, offering as close to a campaign slogan as he’s conjured thus far.

Nugent is one of five city candidates vying for three open city council seats on the Nov. 8 ballot. He’s had his sights set on the council since 2021 when he applied for the seat left vacant by the resignation of Rachel Hundley – an appointment which ultimately went to Vice Mayor Kelso Barnett – and later that year came up short to Sandra Lowe in a race for the seat vacated by Amy Harrington.

He’s hoping third time’s a charm – and believes Sonoma voters will put their faith in him on the Nov. 8 ballot.

“I’m a known entity, having served for about 17 years on the (Sonoma Valley Healthcare District) board,” said Nugent, describing his contentious time on the hospital board as “the toughest job I’ve ever had in my life.”

“I have a record to run on,” he adds in reference to his role in ushering Sonoma Valley Hospital through a time when costly seismic upgrades threatened its future.

Nugent, 77, has been a Sonoma resident for more than 40 years, having raised his children in the Valley with his wife, Therese. Professionally, he’s been in the financial services industry, with a special focus on the coffee trade.

He stresses that he doesn’t view the Sonoma City Council as a “stepping stone” to other positions and, therefore, isn’t beholden to political positions embraced by regional party platforms. “I’m only interested in solving Sonoma problems,” said Nugent. “And we have plenty to solve.”

At the top of his list is hiring a permanent city manager and bringing stability to the council, noting the city has had a revolving door of interim or would-be permanent city managers in the past three years, while in that same time span multiple city council members have resigned mid-term.

“We’ve been adrift,” said Nugent. “Thank god we’ve got great employees, but we need leadership. And I’ll help provide that.”

He’s complimentary of the current council, but is concerned that members too often “put things off” with lengthy deliberations rather than make a hard decision. “It’s filling the air with words and not really saying anything. That’s not me.”

He likens the City Council to an organization’s board of directors. “I’ve served on boards and I know how they work,” said Nugent. “Your job is to provide oversight and policy. You don’t tell the CEO what to do, you tell them what the policy of the company is and provide oversight.”

He has no plans to “micromanage the city of Sonoma,” but, rather, “provide direction to staff.”

He also thinks decisive leadership would allow the city to scale back on hiring consultants.

“The City Council has done some great things, but those have come from hard decisions,” said Nugent. He said too often the council has “waffled” on a decision and turned to consultants for guidance.

“The council needs to understand that we’re here to make decisions on behalf of the community,” Nugent said. “But what do we do? We hire a consultant.”

Concludes Nugent: “This election is the time for the people of Sonoma to hire three consultants - and call them City Council members.”

Email Jason Walsh at Jason.walsh@sonomanews.com.