By Tobias Young

Political contributions in the District 2 race for Sonoma County Supervisor exploded in recent days, pushing the campaign total for the two candidates to more than $436,000. In addition, mostly outside money from political action committees is nearing $250,000, pushing the total past $680,000 for the calendar year with a few days left in the election.

The record for spending on the District 2 seat was set in 2010, when eventual winner David Rabbitt and Pamela Torliatt, a former Petaluma City Council member and mayor, chalked up $706,000 between them. The supervisorial district represents Petaluma, Cotati, parts of Rohnert Park, an area south of Sebastopol, and the unincorporated communities of Bloomfield, Penngrove, and Two Rock.

The winner will be either the first Black woman or the first Latina — and the first person of color — to hold the District 2 seat. One of them will also be the first woman to hold the position since Helen Putnam’s death in 1984.

In the June 2, 2026, primary, Paun came in first out of four candidates with 41% of the vote. Lemus in second with 25%, forcing a runoff on Nov. 2. Lemus, who joined the race after Rabbitt announced he wasn’t seeking reelection, has made up ground in her fundraising and has an edge over Paun.

As of Oct. 29, Sylvia Lemus had raised $240,009 and Joanna Paun had raised $196,401.

Some of Lemus’ top contributors

• DeBernardi Dairy in Petaluma ($1,500)
• California Real Estate Political Action Committee, sponsored by the California Association of Realtors, based in Los Angeles ($7,600)
• Darius Anderson, former co-owner of Sonoma Media Investments, which included the Santa Rosa Press Democrat and the Petaluma Argus-Courier, and founder and chairman of Platinum Advisors lobbying firm ($3,000)
• Richard Carnation of Windsor, chief executive officer of Waterworks Industries and current board trustee of Gallaher Community Homes ($7,600)
• Cal Fire Local 2881, Committee for Fire Safety, based in Sacramento ($1,000)
• Craig Jacobsen of Petaluma ($3,000)
• Lace House Linen, Petaluma ($4,000)
• Northern California Engineering Contractors Association PAC, Santa Rosa, ($5,250)
• Poncia Fertilizer, Inc., Petaluma ($2,500)
• Team Ghilotti, Inc., Petaluma ($1,500)
• Kathy Tresch, Tresh Family Farms ($4,900)
• Weber Family Farms, Petaluma, ($2,500)
• Curtis Michelini ($2,000)
• Friends of James Gore for Supervisor 2026 ($2,000)
• Neve Bros. Petaluma ($1,498)
• Neve Bros., Inc ($4,496)
• Janet Orchard, Cotati ($1,550)
• Sonoma County Law Enforcement Association PAC ($3,800)
• Rock Island, Petaluma ($3,750)
• Sonoma County Alliance Political Action Committee ($2,500)
• James Heppelmann, retired CEO of computer software and services company PTC, and Sonoma Mountain landowner whose lawsuit against Petaluma’s efforts to allow public access to Lafferty Ranch, a 270-acre city-owned preserve and former water source on Sonoma Mountain with views of San Francisco, was dismissed in July ($2,500)
• Esther Lemus ($2,000)
• Agricultural Alliance of Sonoma County sponsored by Sonoma County Farm Bureau ($3,800)
• Kimberley Pfendler, Petaluma ($1,250) and Nicholas Pfendler ($1,250), Sonoma Mountain opponents of Lafferty Ranch public access

PACS or independent committees supporting Lemus

• Community Leaders for an Affordable Sonoma County Supporting Lemus for Supervisor 2026 ($95,000 total: Agricultural Alliance of Sonoma County sponsored by Sonoma County Farm Bureau, $10,000; Sonoma County Law Enforcement Association PAC, $10,000; Northcoast Citizens for a Better Economy, $40,000; Sonoma Alliance for Vineyards and the Environment PAC, $20,000; Sonoma County Deputy Sheriff’s Association PAC, $5,000)
• Sonoma County Alliance PAC, Cotati ($2,500); Sonoma County Sheriff’s Association PAC, Santa Rosa ($5,000)

Some of Paun’s top contributors

• Trout Political Action Committee, Sacramento ($3,500)
• UA Local 38, San Francisco, ($3,000)
• Wine Country Young Democrats, Santa Rosa small contributor committee ($1,500)
• Kamala Brown, Sonoma ($1,950)
• Davis Everett, Petaluma ($2,500)
• Ellen Obstler, Petaluma ($2,200)
• Dennis Pocekay, former Petaluma City Council member ($1,100)
• David Powers, Petaluma ($2,500)
• Service Employees International Union Local 1021, Sacramento ($3,800)
• Sheet Metal Workers Local Union 104 Political Committee, Livermore, ($1,500)
• Susan Takami, Petaluma ($1,600)
• Pamela Torliatt, former Petaluma City Council member ($400)
• Eric Vazquez, candidate for Petaluma council ($350)
• Susan Shaw, Sebastopol ($1,000)
• Heather Mutz, Sebastopol ($3,800)
• John Mutz, Sebastopol ($3,800)
• Service Employees International Union Local 1021, Sacramento ($3,800)

Some of the PACS or independent committees supporting Paun or opposing Lemus

• Sonoma County Democratic Party expenditure ($1,368)
• California Workers’ Justice Coalition, sponsored by Service Employees International Union Local 1021, opposing Lemus ($17,737)
• California Workers’ Justice Coalition, sponsored by Service Employees International Union Local 1021, expenditure supporting Paun ($12,300) 
• California Workers’ Justice Coalition, sponsored by Service Employees International Union Local 1021, supporting Paun ($8,775)
• California Workers’ Justice Coalition, sponsored by Service Employees International Union Local 1021, opposing Lemus ($19,625)
• North Bay Labor, cumulative as of Oct. 25, ($55,082)
• International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 551 PAC ($7,600)
• Anthony P. Crabb committee ($3,980)
• Barbara Laurine Grasseschi committee ($3,800)
• Teamsters Union Local No. 665 ($3,800)
• North Coast States Regional Council of Carpenters Power PAC ($3,000)
• UA Local 38 Cope Fund ($3,000)
• California Conference Board Amalgamated Transit Union PAC ($2,500)
• Sheet Metal Works Local Union 104 Political Committee ($1,500)
• Dignity CA Service Employees International Union SEIU Local 2015 ($1,000)
• Operating Engineers Local Union 3 District 10 PAC ($1,000)

Tobias Young is an editor and reporter at Petaluma Voice. He can be reached at tyoung@petalumavoice.org.