Healdsburg sent one of its own to represent Sonoma County.
Councilmember Joe Naujokas was nominated to the SMART/SCTA board. He was nominated alongside Santa Rosa Vice Mayor Chris Rogers in the only contested nomination of the City Selection Committee’s meeting on Jan. 31.
Cloverdale Mayor Melanie Bagby was the other candidate, losing in a 7-6-5 vote that favored Rogers.
Before the vote, Cloverdale Vice Mayor Gus Wolter advocated for Bagby, saying he’s seen Cloverdale left off the map too often. Several other members of the public showed their support. Bagby is also a member of the council association.
Advocating for himself, Naujokas said he is excited for what SMART can do for the county’s transportation. The train is extending north into Windsor. Now, he said Healdsburg is the next step for the train going north and referenced the roundabout that brings drivers off the 101 Central Healdsburg exit to downtown. Running through the intersection is a set of tracks.
“I’m not going to rest until I see a train going through that roundabout,” he said.
Naujokas also received support from fellow councilmember Shaun McCaffery and Mayor David Haegle, who was also a member of the selection committee.
Gracious in her defeat, Bagby seconded the motion to accept the vote. Each term serves for four years.
Healdsburg Vice Mayor Leah Gold and Sebastopol Mayor Neysa Hinton were also selected to the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District Citizens Advisory Committee in an uncontested pair of openings.
