Outgoing Mayor Sandra Lowe passed the mayoral gavel on to Vice Mayor John Gurney on Dec. 20, marking the end of a transitional year for the city of Sonoma.
During Lowe’s term as mayor, three new members took over seats on City Council, and Sonoma hired a new city manager. Members of the public and Lowe’s fellow council members remarked on the humor and intelligence she displayed as she led the city.
“You have brought a spirit of art to the community,” Gurney told Lowe during the start of the council reorganization. “You have provided great leadership to all of us, especially since we have a new majority of new council members … you were an inspiration to us all.”
Lowe praised the city’s employees, adding that “nothing happens in the city without staff.” She thanked their commitment for initiatives like turning the City Council chambers into an art gallery and fixing up the Sonoma Plaza bathrooms.
“The most important thing that happened during my tenure is the bathrooms on the Plaza are so much nicer,” Lowe joked. “If I’m remembered for nothing but that, I would be honored.”
Shortly after, Gurney was unanimously voted mayor by the council.
He was first elected to the Sonoma City Council last year, along with fellow council members Patricia Farrar-Rivas and Ron Wellander.
Gurney previously served as chief of the Sonoma Police Department and director of the Sonoma Community Center.
In 1994, while at SPD, Gurney developed the Youth and Family Services Department to keep at-risk youth out of the criminal justice system. Gurney also worked in the private sector at Bank of America and in the oil industry.
“It’s been a great year,” Lowe said. “There’s going to be a State of the City meeting that the Chamber(of Commerce) is setting up. And at that time, I’ll have remarks regarding the summary of what went on this year.”
Contact Chase Hunter at chase.hunter@sonomanews.com and follow @Chase_HunterB on Twitter.
