A long history of local involvement

It has been an honor serving as your Mayor and Councilmember over the past eight years. I have lived in Healdsburg my entire life. I attended local public schools and have served our community for more than 35 years: 28 years with the Healdsburg Police Department, and eight years as a Councilmember and Mayor.  
As Mayor, I have worked diligently to preserve Healdsburg’s small-town character while addressing our most pressing issues. I am working effectively to balance the budget and build a sustainable economy. I have successfully negotiated with our public employee unions so that they pay a share of health and pension benefits, knowing our long-term vitality cannot be ensured if we continue to burden local taxpayers with unfunded pension liabilities. I also continue to actively explore long-term solutions to reduce Healdsburg’s structural deficits. We still have to do more and I have the institutional knowledge to get it done.
Part of our long-term prosperity is dependent on the City Council working with businesses to create a more business-friendly climate and build our economy. As a businessman, I have applied my experience and reached out to our small business owners to understand their challenges and explore solutions to make Healdsburg more attractive to new business ventures large and small. Doing so will not only create a more vibrant city, but strengthen employment and revenues coming into our General Fund.
Having lived in Healdsburg my entire life, I am truly committed to preserving Healdsburg’s scenic beauty and protecting our environment. I was an early advocate of refurbishing the Healdsburg Memorial Bridge instead of replacing the iconic structure. I successfully negotiated with the County of Sonoma to keep our Russian River Dam in place. As the Chair of the Northern California Power Agency, I worked with them to bring clean renewable energy to Healdsburg that meets and exceeds the Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard set by the State of California. As Mayor, I have advocated for funding to use recycled water for landscape irrigation, knowing we need to more efficiently use our water resources to ensure sustainable supplies remain intact for present needs and future growth.
The past four years have been challenging ones for local businesses, residents and government.  That being said, I know there is no challenge too great to overcome.  I have built strong relationships with our local Citizens and local Businesses as well as County, State and Federal Elected Officials. These relationships are fundamental to getting things done.
I am proud of what I’ve accomplished as your Mayor and Councilmember: preserving our small-town character, protecting our environment, effectively working to balance the budget and laying a foundation to a sustainable economy. Healdsburg is the place I have always loved and served. My top priorities are working for your interests, addressing our pension and health issues, our rising cost of water and sewer utilities as well as maintaining a healthy balance when it comes to growth issues. I will always put our community first.
I respectfully ask for your vote to continue serving you on the Healdsburg City Council.  Thank you.
Gary Plass is a Healdsburg resident and is running for a seat on the Healdsburg City Council. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 6.