‘Index-Tribune’ endorsements at a glance

A quick look at our recommendations for the local candidates and measures on the Nov. 6 ballot|

Sonoma City Council

Logan Harvey, Rachel Hundley and James Cribb would bring a good mix of experience, with an emphasis on housing, to a council in transition.

Sonoma Valley Healthcare District board

Incumbent Joshua Rymer and Dr. Michael Mainardi are the clear choices for the two seats open on a hospital board charged with navigating Sonoma Valley’s healthcare needs in a rapidly changing world.

Sonoma Valley School District board of trustees

Omar Paz Jr. has already held student positions on educational boards at the county and state level; he would make an energetic addition to the SVUSD board of trustees.

Valley of the Moon Water District board

Incumbents Mark Heneveld and Jon Foreman have gained plenty of experience guiding the VOM water district through a drought and state-mandated rate adjustments; they’ve earned another term on the water district board.

Santa Rosa Junior College board of trustees

Incumbent Jeff Kunde has been a strong supporter of Santa Rosa Junior College since long before his time on the board; he deserves to lead the community college forward through another term.

Measure S

Yes. The City of Sonoma should raise its transient occupancy tax (TOT) from 10 percent to 12 percent to keep pace with other communities’ hotel taxes, paid by out-of-towners with funds going to city needs.

Measures T, Y, X

Yes. This trio of proposed annual taxes on parcels in the Valley of the Moon, Glen Ellen and Schell-Vista fire districts would levy $200 per residence and 10 cents per square foot for commercial parcels – however, 14 cents in Schell-Vista’s Measure X – to raise between $350,000 and $1.2 million per district to hire additional full-time first-responders. After the wildfires of 2017, this is an easy call.

Measure M

Yes. A one-eighth cent sales tax throughout the county to raise $115 million over a 10-year span would bring much-needed funds to the highly valued, but perennially underfunded county and city parks.

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.