Sawyer is Santa Rosa's new mayor

John Sawyer is Santa Rosa’s new mayor thanks largely to the spirit of the man he replaced and the woman nominated to challenge Sawyer for the top spot.

It had been anticipated that Sawyer, who served as vice mayor under Mayor Bob Blanchard who died Saturday, would be elevated to fill the remaining six months left of Blanchard’s term as mayor.

Councilwoman Carol Dean, citing Blanchard’s spirit of cooperation on the day the council held a two-hour tribute in his honor, nominated Sawyer to be mayor and Councilwoman Susan Gorin to be vice mayor.

“It’s been a very emotional evening. It’s time to put our political differences aside and do what’s right for the city,” she said.

But Councilwoman Veronica Jacobi then nominated Councilwoman Susan Gorin to be mayor, a nomination seconded by Councilman Lee Pierce.

Gorin quickly stepped in to put the potential controversy to rest.

“I really appreciate the thought,” she told Jacobi and Pierce, “but I also am interested in moving forward in a cooperative, transitional way.”

Then she cast the swing vote, voting against herself to join Dean, Sawyer and Councilwoman Jane Bender in electing Sawyer as mayor.

Dean’s motion to name Gorin vice mayor then passed unanimously.

The debate over the mayor’s position, however, isn’t over.

Under the city’s charter, the blueprint for how the city operates, anyone who serves as mayor cannot serve a second consecutive term.

City Attorney Brien Farrell said the charter calls for the council to name one of their own to the two-year position. At issue is whether that means whoever filled Blanchard’s remaining term would be excluded from consideration when a new mayor is chosen in December.

Farrell said it’s the opinion of his office the remaining six months of Blanchard’s term does not qualify as “a substantial portion” of his two-year term and would not bar anyone appointed to serve again in December.

The council will form a committee to develop charter language to clarify the issue of succession, a measure that likely would be placed on the November ballot.