Gina Cuclis Will Not Endorse in Supervisor's Race

Gina Cuclis, who finished third out of six in the June primary for First District Sonoma County Supervisor, has announced she will remain neutral and not endorse either John Sawyer or Susan Gorin in the run-off. 

Cuclis announced her decision Aug. 16 at a party with supporters in a private home in the Bennett Valley, according to a news release. Cuclis said she decided after conducting extensive, two-hour interviews about Sonoma Valley issues with the two candidates and observing their campaigns before and since the June election. 

“I always said that I would do whatever I thought was best for Sonoma Valley. I think what is best for Sonoma Valley is that I be in the position to be able to work with, and make available my expertise about Sonoma Valley to, whichever candidate wins,” Cuclis stated.

She added, “I don’t believe either candidate is more prepared than the other to represent Sonoma Valley. One would have to be much more knowledgeable than the other to get my endorsement.”

Cuclis said her interviews with each candidate covered the issues of land use, economic development, water, agriculture, the unfinished Highway 12 redevelopment project, the Sonoma Developmental Center, bicycle and bus transportation, roads, health care, building a community pool and accountability to taxpayers.

Gorin and Sawyer are Santa Rosa residents. Cuclis and the other three candidates who competed in the June primary are Sonoma Valley residents.

Cuclis said she phoned Gorin and Sawyer after the party to tell them of her decision and that it was well received by both.

“Both said they respected my decision and appreciated my desire to assist whoever wins,” Cuclis said.

Cuclis said she also told Sawyer and Gorin that they must do their own work to convince the people of Sonoma Valley that their issues will be the new supervisor’s priority. She believes whichever candidate does the better job of convincing Sonoma Valley residents they won’t lose representation will win the election.

Cuclis, who lives in Boyes Hot Springs, was the top Sonoma Valley candidate in the June primary. She finished first in the district’s unincorporated area and in Santa Rosa’s Oakmont retirement community.

She is now running for Area One Trustee on the Sonoma County Board of Education. She said she was recruited to run for the position and is endorsed by all members of the Sonoma Valley Unified School District Board.