The west county seat on the Santa Rosa Junior College board, Trustee Area 7, is contested between incumbent Michael Valdovinos and Katelyn Rutkowski, the Press Democrat reports.
The candidates
- Michael Valdovinos (Trustee, Sonoma County Junior College District Area 7). Valdovinos's county voter guide statement says he graduated from El Molino High School and SRJC, served in the U.S. Air Force and earned a doctorate in psychology. Second-term priorities include affordable student housing and transportation, employer and K-12 partnerships, STEM pathways and student mental health.
- Katelyn Rutkowski (Homemaker/Student). Rutkowski's statement says she has attended SRJC on and off for 26 years, including the past three as a full-time student. She served on a student-government task force on artificial intelligence, earned an associate degree in philosophy and was accepted to UC Berkeley's philosophy program.
The Sonoma County DSA guide made no recommendation in this race. The county candidate list spells the challenger's first name "Kateliyn"; her statement and the Press Democrat use "Katelyn."
See also the Area 5 race and Measure AB.
More races and measures: our 2026 election hub.
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.