Despite residents’ calls for the chance to elect an at-large mayor, the Healdsburg City Council has chosen to keep things as close to the status quo as possible as it moves toward district-based elections.

That means there will be a total of five members on the council, each of whom will represent one district — rather than four districts with a mayor who is elected citywide — based on a vote the council took at its Dec. 16 meeting.

The boundaries of each district have yet to be determined. That’s the next step in the process now that the council has plotted a course for its overall makeup.

Healdsburg’s now operates as an at-large council, with voters citywide electing members. In the Nov. 5 election, for example, five candidates ran for three available council seats, and the top three vote-getters won election.

The city is moving toward district-based elections after it received a letter from Kevin Shenkman, a Southern California attorney known for suing cities throughout the state for violating the California Voting Rights Act. Since that law’s adoption in 2001, at least 185 cities and 400 other jurisdictions have moved from at-large to district-based elections, Healdsburg officials said.

A letter from Shenkman, sent at the end of September on behalf of the Southwest Voter Registration Education Project, characterized voting in Healdsburg as “racially polarized, resulting in minority vote dilution.”

As a result, the city is voluntarily moving toward district-based elections, following in the footsteps of Santa Rosa, Rohnert Park, Windsor and Petaluma, which also received similar letters and responded by changing from at-large to district-based races. Like Healdsburg, the city of Sonoma is also in the process of converting to a district-based system.

During the Dec. 16 meeting, several residents urged Healdsburg council members to use the opportunity to reconstitute the council to have four districts, each with its own member elected from within each district, an at-large mayor elected by all city voters. That option would have meant four districts, instead of five, on the soon-to-be-drawn election map.

“I’m surprised. I felt like [only one option] was being encouraged, and I think all options are legal. I would like us to be open minded,” resident Whitney Hopkins said.

Hopkins says she thinks voters are likely to be more disenfranchised only getting to vote for one representative. She said she prefers the opportunity to vote for a council member in a district and an at-large mayor.

“We need to be open to all options available,” she said.

Healdsburg’s mayoral position doesn’t hold any greater degree of power over the other four council members. The mayor, who is chosen by fellow council members, typically leads council meetings, signs proclamations and attends public functions.

Council members said during their meeting that all of them should have an equal opportunity of getting to serve in the role.

“I like the system we have now,” Council Member David Hagele said. “I feel like we are equal here. And, as much as I like being mayor, I look forward to rotating.”

Council Member Ron Edwards said he thinks council members gain “invaluable experience” from serving as vice mayor and mayor.

The council was also concerned that an at-large mayor would hold too much power, if even ceremonially.

“I think we want to keep everyone even and the districts keep it even,” now-Mayor Evelyn Mitchell said.

The council’s decision to move to the five-district system is non-binding, meaning it technically could be undone down the road.

Timeline for district-based elections in Healdsburg

Healdsburg will work toward implementing district-based elections over the next two-and-a-half months. Here are key dates in the public-participation process. More information is expected to be released soon on the city’s website: healdsburg.gov.

Jan. 6, 2025: 2nd public hearing at Healdsburg Council Chambers, 401 Grove St., to provide opportunity for public comment on composition of districts and preferences for district lines. The online tool for the public to draw draft maps will also be live at healdsburg.gov/districtelections.

Jan. 24, 2025: Informational brunch at the Healdsburg Senior Center, 133 Matheson St.

Feb. 10, 2025: Draft district boundary map and potential sequence of elections published for review.

Feb. 18, 2025: 3rd public hearing at Healdsburg Council Chambers. Provides opportunity for public comment on draft map and potential sequence of elections.

Mar. 10, 2025: New or amended maps published.

Mar. 17, 2025: 4th public hearing at Healdsburg Council Chambers. Provides opportunity for public comment on draft map and potential sequence of elections.

Apr. 7, 2025: 5th public hearing at Healdsburg Council Chambers. Goal is to adopt ordinance establishing district-based elections with final district maps and sequence of elections.

If finalized, city’s first district-based election would be in November 2026.