A Petaluma school board trustee has declared victory in last week’s election to replace a long-time incumbent on the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors.
Joanna Paun, a trustee with the Petaluma City Schools Board of Education and the county’s foster and homeless youth education coordinator, had more than 61% of the vote as of the latest results from the county Monday in the District 2 supervisor race against Cotati Mayor Sylvia Lemus.
Paun’s campaign said on social media that she is the first Black woman and first person of color to represent District 2 on the Board of Supervisors. District 2 covers Cotati, Petaluma, Penngrove, the county’s southern farm region, and part of Rohnert Park.
“This is a moment worth celebrating, not just for the historic firsts, but for what it represents for future generations who deserve to see themselves reflected in positions of leadership,” Paun’s campaign wrote.
She is replacing David Rabbitt, who served four terms on the board after first being elected in 2010.
In the other supervisor race in Sonoma County from the Nov. 3 election, in District 4, former Cloverdale City Councilmember Melanie Bagby was narrowly leading former Santa Rosa mayor and police chief Tom Schwedhelm 51.9% to 48.1% as of the latest results Monday, with Bagby ahead by 949 votes.
The winner will replace James Gore to represent the supervisorial district that includes Cloverdale, Healdsburg, Windsor, northern Santa Rosa and the grape-growing regions of Dry Creek, Knights and Alexander valleys.
