The application period for candidates to file for public office in Sonoma County ended on Friday, Aug. 9. While several offices were held open for additional candidates to file because only the incumbent was running or no one had applied, locally multiple candidates applied for the available seats.
In Healdsburg, five candidates filed for three four-year terms that will be on the ballot. They included the incumbents in those seats—Dave Hagele, to run for a third consecutive term; Ariel Kelley, to run to fill a second term; and Ron Edwards, who won a two-year term in 2022 and is running for a full four-year term this year.
Two additional candidates also filed: Linda Cade, who also ran in 2022 but failed to reach a winning threshold; and Heather Hannon-Kramer, a newcomer to Healdsburg politics. While most candidates were issued nomination papers in the first two weeks of the application period, Hannon-Kramer only “pulled papers” on Aug. 8, the day before the application deadline of Aug. 9.
Ariel Kelley: Kelley was first out of the gate with a statement about her candidacy, issued Aug. 11. Elected to the council in 2020, she served as mayor in 2023 and stated she “dedicated her tenure to advancing public infrastructure projects such as the new fire station, North Healdsburg Avenue streetscape and municipal recycled water pipeline, while also enhancing public safety, and promoting inclusive community engagement.”
She added, “I believe in the power of collaboration and open dialogue. Our city has a lot of commitments we owe to the community. Completing projects before we start new ones, ensuring the budget is fiscally sound—these are basic, but not guaranteed in these trying times.”
Last year she ran for the open Assembly District 2 seat, but came in third in the primary election behind Republican Mike Greer and Democrat Chris Rogers, who will meet in the general election in November.
David Hagele: Hagele, currently serving in the mayor’s seat, first ran for council in 2016 and won re-election in 2020.
His official statement begins, “I’m seeking reelection to continue providing experienced leadership on the most pressing issues facing Healdsburg today: expanding affordable and middle-class housing options; supporting Healdsburg businesses and working families; protecting our environment and water resources; and preserving our small-town character by serving as a voice for all who call Healdsburg home.”
He added, “Serving as Mayor during the Kincade Fire [2019] was one of the most difficult periods during my time on the Council; by engaging with neighbors and first responders to keep Healdsburg safe, we emerged as a more resilient city that’s strengthened our sense of community.”
Ron Edwards: Edwards, another sitting councilmember, is also in the running. Though he won a two-year term in 2022, he had long promised to run for a full term and pulled papers to run on the first day they were available, Aug. 15 (as did Kelley and Hagele).
“I am determined to run extremely hard this time, even harder than I did last time,” Edwards said in a phone call this week.
His campaign statement reads in part, “My focus will be to continue my work to lessen tourism industry impacts while ensuring the Council supports our residents and city finances. I’m a strong advocate for using Transient Occupancy Tax dollars to support senior programs and community services. My interactions with neighbors have shown me that Healdsburg is a vibrant community beyond the downtown.”
Linda Cade: Cade also prepared a candidate statement. She said she is a health coach and maintains a four-generation Healdsburg connection. Her statement reads in part, “I believe in free market housing, charity, and disallowing vagrancy. I will vote no on funding future climate mobilization strategies because I believe the climate crisis is driven by global elites. I believe staying energy diversified is prudent.”
She also wrote, “I support family farming, and will vote no on Measure J. I also oppose transitioning to Central Banking Digital Currency, and will never agree to mandated health procedures… My goal is to bring leadership and accountability, listen to residents, and make sound decisions that benefit us as a whole.”
Cade ran for City Council previously, when in 2022 she came in fourth in a race for two four-year seats. Incumbent Evelyn Mitchell and newcomer Chris Herrod won the open seats.
Heather Hannan-Kramer: The last candidate to pull papers, Hannan-Kramer, did so on Aug. 8 and filed the next day. She said that “for generations my family has rooted itself in Healdsburg,” though she and her family relocated here from Silicon valley in 2021. She and her husband are raising two daughters.
“As a business professional for 20 years, I’ve worked hard from the ground up to perfect my skills in executive leadership support, global operations, and business strategy. That’s translated into practical tools for long-term solutions tackling rising housing costs, climate crisis mobilization, and protecting the financial integrity of our working families,” reads her statement in part.
“As a collegiate athlete, I learned the value of teamwork, the importance of perseverance, and the lifelong gift of sportsmanship. Now I am teaching my daughters how to cherish their community, respect the environment, and help their neighbors.”
