For the first time, Healdsburg voters will elect City Council members by district instead of citywide. Two of the five districts are on the Nov. 3 ballot. The city finalized the switch last year under legal threat, according to The Press Democrat.
District 2
District 2 covers neighborhoods east of Healdsburg Avenue between Piper Street and Powell Avenue, including a small part of downtown, and stretches east toward Fitch Mountain.
- Mathew Lopez, 27, is a math teacher and coach at Healdsburg High School who first ran in 2022. He's campaigning as a young professional who feels squeezed trying to settle long-term in his hometown.
- Scott Pratt, 63, is an advertising producer. He calls himself a problem-solver and says he'll draw on his business background to tackle problems like housing affordability.
- Alex Wood, a city planning commissioner, suspended his campaign in late September. His name stays on the ballot, but his website says he won't take office if he wins.
District 4
Mayor Chris Herrod, first elected in 2022, is unopposed. Councilmember Evelyn Mitchell decided not to seek a third term. The district covers the area east of Healdsburg Avenue between Powell Avenue and Terrace Boulevard, including neighborhoods around Healdsburg High School and Healdsburg Hospital.
What's next
Districts 1, 3 and 5 elect their representatives in 2028. Until then, current council members who live in those districts keep serving as at-large members. The new council will deal with housing and affordability, infrastructure maintenance, and the city's long-term water supply as the Russian River may get less water in the future.
How to vote
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Polls and vote centers close at 8 p.m., and mailed ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and arrive within seven days. You can check your registration and ballot status at sos.ca.gov/elections. California lets you register and vote the same day at a vote center.