MAIN STREET: Election update

The filing date for local elections is coming up fast. August 11
is your last chance to throw your hat in the ring to serve your
community. There are two seats open on the Healdsburg City Council.
Incumbents Kent Mitchell and Jason Liles are stepping down. Jim
Wood, who lives in Healdsburg and has a dental practice in
Cloverdale, is running. Jim has no elective office experience, but
has served as a Healdsburg Planning Commissioner, and is active
with a statewide political action committee for the dental
industry.
The only other candidate so far is Eric Ziedrich, who served one
term on the Council, from 1996 to 2000. Eric, who owns Healdsburg
Lumber Company, also served on the school board and the hospital
board. He was one of the founding members of the hospital district
board, before resigning in frustration over dealing with fellow
board member Kurt Hahn, who was trying to run the place like his
personal kingdom.
Speaking of the hospital board, two seats are up for election,
and there will be at least one new face. Incumbent Herb Liberman is
not running, and incumbent (and board chair) EJ Neil, is running.
So far, there are no other candidates. The hospital board has been
a challenge from the start, with more infighting and conflict than
most local boards. The hospital staff tries not to let board
politics impact service, and a big donor has just come through to
help get the Emergency Department remodel on the fast track, so
things may be looking up.
In the old days, newspaper columnists like me might fondly refer
to a woman as ³quite a dame.² We don¹t do that any more, here in
the rarified air of the 21st Century, but we might have to make a
couple of exceptions. My sweetie turned 50 this week. She¹s still
adorable, funny, flirty, and my best pal. Happy Five-Oh, babe.
Another strong community leader who happens to be a woman is
about to hit the half-century mark. If you see Healdsburg Police
Chief Susan Jones, wish her happy birthday. She turns 50 on August
7.
If there was ever any doubt that we all worship petroleum, let¹s
put it to rest. Elizabeth Holmes contacted Main Street last week to
point out that in the new Yellow Pages, on Page 275, there is just
one listing under ³Convents & Monasteries.² The listing is for
³Fast Lane Gas 2² on Healdsburg Avenue. Elizabeth wonders if the
alleged convent¹s formal name might be ³Our Lady of Internal
Combustion.²
Ray Holley likes his car, but not in that way. He can be reached
at ra*******@gm***.com.