Olema contractor and longtime North Marin Water District director Dennis Rodoni won the District 4 supervisor race over Novato dairyman Dominic Grossi, with preliminary results allotting Mr. Rodoni 52.9 percent of votes.
The supervisor race became heated in recent weeks. In mailers, Mr. Rodoni highlighted his lifelong Democratic party affiliation and Mr. Grossi’s switch from Republican to decline to state, and Mr. Grossi framed himself as the true supporter of agriculture. In debates, the two fielded questions about affordable housing, the park service ranch lawsuit, tourism and more.
Mr. Grossi nabbed high-profile endorsements from Supervisor Steve Kinsey and his predecessor Gary Giacomini, as well as from this newspaper and the Marin Independent Journal. But Mr. Rodoni, who was endorsed by the Sierra Club and the Marin Association of Public Employees, credited his success to his dedicated volunteers.
“The voters of the Fourth District responded most of all to the outreach made by the dozens of volunteers who walked precincts and made phone calls on my behalf, and the election results are due to their efforts,” he said in a statement.
Mr. Rodoni also said he hoped to reach out to those who supported Mr. Grossi, and to help heal divisions in West Marin. He said he ran on a platform of open and transparent government and plans to hold regular hours in each community in the sprawling district, which includes West Marin, the Canal, Corte Madera, Homestead Valley and parts of Novato. He also wants to encourage county department heads to spend at least four hours a month at front desks, to facilitate more face time with the public.
One issue he will face a supervisor is the environmental hazards chapter of the Local Coastal Program, which the California Coastal Commission declined to vote on because of disagreement between county and commission staffs. Mr. Rodoni said he is hopeful that further discussions will resolve the issues, but cited one particular concern: a provision to retroactively measure redevelopment starting 40 years ago, which he called “a nightmare for the planning process.”
It’s a week of conflicting emotions for much of West Marin. Though Mr. Rodoni enjoyed broad support on Marin’s coast, many are in shock over the presidential victory of real estate mogul Donald Trump. A “post-election trauma support gathering” is planned for this Friday at the Point Reyes Presbyterian Church.
“It’s a mixed day for me,” said Mr. Rodoni on Wednesday.
Mr. Grossi, who thanked his supporters and volunteers, said his political background likely hurt his chances.
“The fact is that I’m not a Democrat,” he said. “I talked to some people who said they would not cross party lines. The people who took the time to meet me and listen to the issues [may have] voted for me….We all will heal from this and work together.”
Elsewhere in West Marin was a tighter race: a three-way contest for two seats on the Bolinas-Stinson Union School District board of trustees. As of Wednesday afternoon, Georgia Woods and Bob Demmerle were leading. Ms. Woods earned 433 votes, while Mr. Demmerle garnered 351. Cyrus Harmon, the sole incumbent, pulled in just 10 fewer votes counted so far, at 341. But vote counts are still considered preliminary.
“Some people have been calling to congratulate me and I’ve been telling them it’s not over!” Mr. Demmerle said. “No matter what happens, it’s a win-win for the Bolinas-Stinson Union School District because all three candidates are commendable.”
Sheila Lichtblau appears to have won the race for the open judge seat on Marin County Superior Court, besting former West Marin resident Michael Coffino. According to preliminary results, Ms. Lichtblau pulled away with 51.8 percent of the electorate.