David Guhin, the city manager of Sonoma and a longtime North Bay government leader, has been selected as Sonoma County’s next top executive.
Sonoma County announced the appointment on Tuesday after the Board of Supervisors tapped Guhin to serve as county executive. He will be the chief administrative officer of the county and will oversee an organization with more than 4,000 employees, manage the county’s budget, implement board policies and guide county departments and operations.
Before he was serving as Sonoma’s city manager, Guhin spent more than 18 years with the city of Santa Rosa, where he held several leadership roles, including director of Santa Rosa Water, director of Planning and Economic Development, and assistant city manager. He also served as executive director of government operations for the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria.
“David Guhin is a proven leader with deep roots in Sonoma County and a clear understanding of the complex challenges facing our communities,” Supervisor Rebecca Hermosillo, chair of the Board of Supervisors, said in a statement released by the county.
Ready to start
Guhin said he is honored by the appointment and grateful for the opportunity.
“I’ve had the privilege of working with cities, tribal government, and community partners, and I’m excited to bring that experience to serve at a countywide level,” he said. “I look forward to working with county employees and our community to deliver essential services and advance a shared vision for a healthy, resilient, and inclusive county.”
Guhin holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology and a master’s degree in organizational development from Sonoma State University. His first day as county executive will be April 20. His annual base salary will be $377,226.
In Sonoma, city leaders praised Guhin’s work but acknowledged his departure will be felt. Mayor Ron Wellander said the city is “saddened” to see Guhin leave but grateful for his contributions over the past three years. Under Guhin’s leadership, the city strengthened financial stewardship, improved operations and advanced long-term planning, Wellander said.
“On behalf of the City Council and the entire Sonoma community, I thank David for his dedicated service and wish him every success in this next chapter,” the mayor said in a statement.