Changing of the Guard in Petaluma Politics Likely this Election Year

Strolling around a bustling, historic downtown of boutique clothing stores, antique emporiums, a thriving restaurant row of inviting cafes, a stranger to Petaluma, CA might assume that business is booming in this quaintly bucolic outpost of the San Francisco Bay Area.

Locals and visitors alike continue to frequent the most stalwart of the area's characteristic independent business and eateries, yet recession time has certainly taken its toll here at the gateway to Sonoma County wine country with just as many cash-strapped civic coffers, vacant commercial buildings, job cuts, slashed community resources and housing foreclosures as most anywhere else in the northern outreaches of the Bay Area's more affluent south.

One Petaluman with a keen eye on reversing the current economic trend of shutting shop and down sizing future investment is prospective politician and deep-rooted farmers' daughter, Karen Nau.

"My personal background, having grown up here in Petaluma with a deep understanding of its past, enables me to explain to all ages the importance of a balance between needed economic growth, preserving traditions and quality of life," says Nau, a former Petaluma City Councilwoman and strongly positioned return candidate for the 2010 elections.

"Daily, I (explain) this (model) as a preschool teacher and as a community leader in Petaluma," says Nau, contending for one of four seats that will come available on the seven seat city council this November. 

If voted back onto the council (Nau lost her seat in 2008 to current Councilwoman Tiffany Renee):  "I want to continue to fulfill the vision of the new General Plan, establish economic development and make a difference in Petaluma's future," she says.

" We need to create jobs, put people back to work, establish shopping opportunities and revenue for our general fund. With a healthy budget, we can maintain a standard of fire/police safety, improve street conditions and create/maintain our city parks."

Nau isn't the only candidate with a back-to-business agenda. Two newcomers have entered the race for Petaluma City Council seats this month: both reportedly bearing business-friendly credentials and the likeliness of being in support of long-winded, controversial Regency and Deer Creek developments that would bring big box stores such as Target and Lowe's to town. 

Due to a 4-3 council majority on slow growth, Petaluma has won itself the unofficial mantel of a regional namesake for its stranglehold (good or bad) over any new development over the past few years. If Nau and incumbent Mike Harris are seated in favor of certain development projects, the potential successful election of fellow community contenders Ray Johnson and Chris Albertson will undoubtedly tip the balance of recent history. 

Former Fire Chief here in Petaluma, Albertson's considerable appeal to voters will no doubt be driven in part by equal measures of goodwill and a reportedly pragmatic approach to ending an extended period of no-progress.

Likewise, its is probably fair to assume that retired telecom executive Ray Johnson has big plans to utilize an extensive top-ranking sales background with Pacific Bell to create and foster an environment in which progressive businesses from outside of the area will once more cast their vision here for desperately needed corporate growth and development in the heart of southern Sonoma County. 

With a robust tax flow and expendable income back in vogue, sole proprietors such as Barry Singer's Fine Photography Gallery on Western Avenue and A Splendid Little Shoppe (pictured above) on Petaluma Boulevard will serve as flag bearers who survived the recession and inspiration for all of the new businesses that have yet to bloom in a more stable economy.

Comments

[Frances]

I'm commenting on my own post in this instance to add some perspective to my take on the current political environment during a turbulent economic period here in Petaluma(CA)history. Here's my response to a Facebook comment urging me not to jump on the bandwagon of big box development:
I was raised in a small town in England and witnessed first hand the gradual demise of my family's two generational small business due to the advent of multi car households and all of the shopping going on in larger surrounding towns with more retail options. To experience the commerce of a town shrivel up on itself is just as unappealing as allowing larger retail outfits to keep the money local. Don't assume the new manager of Petaluma's Target won't eat out downtown, sign up for community clubs and teams, support our schools and treat his/her kids to an ice cream and a visit to the theater.

[John Parnell]

this is from Frances' Dad...re for or against commercial development in Petaluma. Our small country town in England, in common with others has 35% of empty retail outlets.However, my courier jobs take me to many similar small towns and where they have attracted nationwide chain stores on the outskirts, the town centers have come back to life with niche markets. From personal experience after 46 yrs running my second generation newsagents shop, I found it increasingly difficult to maintain profitability, eventually having the good fortune to sell up and take a part time job to keep me active in retirement ....from John Parnell local Councillor, Crowland, Lincolnshire, England

[Frank Simpson]

Offered only as an observation, but admitedly with a bit of a snarky laugh, it was Raley's that put up $25,000 to help keep our July 4th show. Safeway could not get to the party in time as they were too busy scanning my driver's license.

Sorry, could not resist twisting the knife just a wee bit. :-)