Sonoma County Board of Supervisors, District 2

What does a county supervisor do? 

Supervisors govern county programs and departments and approve the county budget. Their largest area of spending is traditionally healthcare and human services. Supervisors are also responsible for local jails and elections, and they make decisions on law enforcement and housing in unincorporated areas of the county. If a supervisor candidate receives over 50% of the vote in the primary, they take office for a four-year term. Otherwise, the top two candidates face off in the November general election.

Candidate Statements

Candidate Statements are excerpted from the statements provided to election offices, where available.

Joanna Paun

  • Trustee, Petaluma Joint Union High School District
  • Experience: “I’ve served as President of the Petaluma School Board and as Sonoma County’s education coordinator for our most vulnerable students. I helped bring equity and diversity to our schools, advanced climate initiatives, and worked to close the achievement gap; always focused on delivering real results, not politics.” 
  • Priorities: “As supervisor, I will make Sonoma County more affordable for families, workers, seniors, and small businesses; support community-driven housing solutions; tackle homelessness with meaningful investments in mental health and prevention; … and stand up to special interests and deliver tangible results.” 
  • Transparency: “Residents deserve to understand how decisions are made and how resources are allocated. I will work to improve communication and public engagement; make meetings and processes more accessible; proactively share information with the community; invite public input before major decisions are finalized.”

Sylvia Lemus

  • Council member, businesswoman, mom
  • Experience: “I served Sonoma County for 33 years — helping low-income residents in the Sonoma County Human Services Department and managing programs in the Sonoma County Human Resources Department. … Public service is part of my DNA, as the mayor of Cotati along with leadership roles with Sonoma Clean Power, the Sonoma County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Community and Local Law Enforcement Task Force.”
  • Housing: “Recognizing that housing is a top concern among local residents, she has led efforts to transform Cotati into one of the most housing-forward cities in Sonoma County. Under her leadership, the city has implemented business-friendly policies that streamline permitting, establish clear and predictable development standards, and remove unnecessary barriers that often delay or prevent new housing.”
  • Community safety: “As the only candidate for Supervisor endorsed by The Professional Fire Fighters of Sonoma County, Sonoma County Deputy Sheriffs’ Association, Sonoma County Law Enforcement Association, and Sheriff Eddie Engram, Sylvia will make it a priority to bring stakeholders together to address current and future public safety issues.”

Shelina Moreda

  • Professional athlete, farmer
  • Food sovereignty: “As supervisor, I’ll connect those who grow our food with those who eat it, protect local food sovereignty, food access, and support sustainable agriculture that honors our environment and heritage. … Access to local food is the foundation of a resilient, compassionate community.” 
  • Priorities: “Preserving farms and food systems, advocating for farmworkers’ rights, and nurturing small businesses that strengthen our communities. As a fifth-generation dairy farmer, sustaining Sonoma County’s agricultural legacy is top of mind.”
  • Community experience: “My background as a professional motorcycle racer has taught me to make critical decisions under pressure with focus and integrity. During the 2017 Tubbs Wildfire, I founded an animal rescue organization, working with the Sheriff’s Department and firefighters to evacuate thousands of animals since.”

John E. King

  • Operating engineer, organic farmer
  • Experience: “I led a successful lawsuit protecting groundwater from overpumping, permanently preserving state-identified groundwater recharge land. … I spent five years developing policy language for the Sonoma County General Plan Update strengthening protections for agriculture, land use, traffic circulation, and housing. My business background includes public accounting, auditing, commercial lending, railroads, construction, and organic farming.”
  • Development policy: “As a union operating engineer in construction, with a background in finance and community advocacy, John understands the cost of delays, the consequences of poor planning, and what it takes to get projects done the right way. That’s why he supports a practical, no-nonsense approach—cutting unnecessary red tape while maintaining the oversight needed to protect the public.”
  • Preserving agriculture: “He believes growth should never come at the expense of the land that sustains our communities, and will continue to support policies that preserve farmland, protect open space, and ensure agriculture remains a vital part of Sonoma County’s future.”

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