August 2026
Volume 31 Issue 7 | |
The President’s Message
by Donna J. Roper | | | Recently, the board met for its annual retreat to evaluate our current work and brainstorm on what we will do this coming year. I want to thank our passionate and hardworking board members — Robyn Bramhall, Sherrie Brand, Lynn Dooley, Deborah Doyle, Julianne Guariglia, Sara Ingle, Rebecca Jones, Leona Judson, Jim Masters, Eleni Mistos, and Juanita Roland. Joining us this year are Debbie McKay and Evan Ehry. We came up with so many good ideas from a member pool party to meeting with elected officials, more civics information, encouraging advocacy work, making tabling easier, updating our materials and website, a fundraising event, more partnerships and so much more! We can only accomplish this with your help. Think back on why you joined the League — what interests you — and get involved! Please see our 2026-2027 Strategic Plan at our website under member resources so you too can get enthusiastic about the work of the League. |  | Federal Court Blocks US Postal Service from Implementing Executive Order Restricting
Mail Voting
Press Release from the League of Women Voters of the United States | | | In granting the preliminary injunction, court finds that President Trump’s 2026 executive order is likely unconstitutional and likely to disenfranchise voters in upcoming elections in a case brought by a coalition of nonpartisan voting rights groups that includes the League of Women Voters.
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and Expense Challenges
by Deborah McKay | | | | The town of Windsor and several other cities will have sales tax measures on their November 2026 ballots. We took a closer look at why cities and towns struggle to meet the required goal of having a balanced budget each year. Here are some of the important factors we found. | Revenue:
In California (post Proposition 13) property taxes are adjusted upwards each time a home is sold. Property taxes are not growing as much as in previous years because housing sales are down (cities and towns receive a share of local property taxes). Sales tax revenues are down because people spend less during uncertain times. The cost of living is increasing, so discretionary spending is down. And since the pandemic, online buying has increased exponentially and no sales tax is paid on most of those purchases.
The California state budget has seen cuts to revenues sent to local governments, likewise the federal government has cut back on revenue sent to cities and states, especially "blue states". The federal government has also delayed payments to the state and cities. Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) payments for fires and other disasters have been reduced and delayed, especially for "blue states" so local governments must manage the increased costs to recover from disasters.
Expenses:
Because the rate of inflation is high, employee salaries continue to increase, as well as payments for employee health benefits and pensions. In addition, several cities have underpaid their required pension payment and are under “catchup" plans. Inflation has also caused operating expenses such as utilities, diesel, and gas to steadily increase. And, employee turnover has increased which involves hidden costs such as training, lower productivity, and loss of knowledge among employee teams. | | If this brief overview piqued your interest, take a deeper dive on budgets, revenue and expenses, learn more > | | | | Your Support
Made the Difference
by Lynn Dooley
Special thanks to all who purchased a Stand Up for Democracy yard sign. Because of your support we have recouped the cost of the signs. Our hope now is to spread the word about this remarkable campaign that helps the public refresh knowledge of their rights so they can see how they related to current events and be inspired to VOTE THEIR VALUES.
Stand Up for Democracy
yard signs are now FREE!
Please encourage your friends to bring civics knowledge to their neighborhoods in time for the midterm election.
Contact Lynn Dooley at
and we’ll arrange to get the signs to you or them. | | | | It is also with great pride that I announce that our Stand Up for Democracy program of civic education is now being adapted by Leagues of Women Voters in NINE U.S. states! Residents of California (in four counties), Florida, Oklahoma, Michigan (in two counties), Oregon (in two counties), Ohio, Missouri, North Carolina and Virginia will soon have access to the civics topics our amazing team created. Thank you to all who made the Sonoma County League a nationally recognized League standing up for democracy. | |
General Plan Update
by Leona Judson | | | The Advocacy Committee recently hosted a talk with Rue Furch, a local environmental activist, about the process the county is currently going through to update their general plan. This is a mandated state law that all jurisdictions need to develop such a plan every 20 years. It affects all aspects of community life. View the video of this talk on the LWVSC YouTube channel.
The Board of Supervisors is conducting a workshop on the general plan update on Tuesday, September 15th. The time is yet to be determined. This is an opportunity for individuals and our League to have a say in this critical process. This is an opportunity to make our voices heard. | | | |
for Our 250th Anniversary
Recommended by Deborah McKay
As we celebrate our 250th anniversary you may want to know more about the founding of our nation. A great read is The Founding of America: The Words that Shaped a Nation. This book is available at the Sonoma County Library or order from your local bookstore. | | | | This anthology brings together 20 texts written by our founders which were vital in forging the United States and its constitution as we know it. Since the founding of the republic, great thinkers and politicians have set out their visions for America through formal documents, impassioned speeches and momentous treaties. This collection includes some of the most important works that helped define the country that America was to become, and includes the thoughts of George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton and many others who helped define the founding values of the United States of America. | |
Coming Our Way
by Deborah McKay | | | | Our League has been concerned with climate change for many years. We are about to experience some of the effects of climate warming this winter. El Niño is a natural climate pattern of warming ocean surface temperatures in the tropical Pacific that affects weather and marine life worldwide. This year, when combined with the effects of global warming, it could bring extreme weather to many parts of the world. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has said that El Niño conditions are likely to strengthen over the rest of 2026 and many forecasts suggest it could be one of the strongest El Niños ever recorded. | A strong El Niño event would “exacerbate drought and heavy rainfall and increase the risk of heat waves both on land and in the ocean”, said World Meteorological Organization secretary general Celeste Saulo. | A warm El Niño causes the ocean level to rise as surface water warms. This year the rise could be as much as 6 inches to 1 foot and when combined with higher-than-usual king tides this upcoming winter, it could cause coastal flooding and beach erosion.
To learn more, watch the YouTube video of the recent town hall hosted by California Senate Leader Mike McGuire with a panel of four experts sharing predictions on the 2026 impacts of El Niño.
| | Welcome New Members
It’s great to have you on our team.
Rosalinda Brady - Santa Rosa
Michael Castagnola - Sebastopol
Kendall Gutt - Santa Rosa
Marie Hansen - Santa Rosa
Helen Mehl - Sonoma
Trudy Rothenberg - Santa Rosa | | | For all members! Save the date September 19th for a pool party in Kenwood. More information to come. | | |  | |
August 20-Moderated by Karen Rust
One Nation Under Guns:
How Gun Culture Distorts History and Threatens our Democracy
by Dominic Erdozain
(2024 / 191 pages)
An in-depth look into how gun rights activists have muddied the story of firearms in our country and changed our laws. In the 1960s six out of ten Americans favored a ban on handguns. Richard Nixon hated handguns and despised the NRA. How did we get here, where the leading cause of death among children and teens is gunshots? And, our “uniquely American” problem of mass shootings? It’s a well written look at a topic that is uncomfortable and terrifying.
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Sept 17-Moderated by Iris Harrell
The Book Club
for Troublesome Women
by Marie Bostwick
(2025 / 384 pages)
This book is about four suburban housewives in 1963 Virginia who form a book club to escape their dissatisfaction. They affectionately call themselves “The Bettys” after Betty Friedan and read The Feminine Mystique as their first book, sparking conversations about their lives, secrets, and the societal expectations they face. The story follows their journeys of self-discovery as they forge a strong bond of sisterhood through shared vulnerability and support.
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LWVSC Calendar
latest schedule and for
locations or link to virtual meetings.
| | | Connect with the League
We want to hear from you! | LWVSC Board of Directors and Other Officers
| | Donna Roper | President
Open | Administrative VP
Sherrie Brand | Secretary | | Robyn Bramhall | Executive VP
Jim Masters | VP Advocacy
Sara Ingle | Treasurer | | | | Julianne Guariglia | Membership
Open | Community Outreach
Chris Riezenman &
Kendall Gutt | Youth Outreach
Eleni Misthos | Voter Service
Lynn Dooley | Stand Up for Democracy
Leona Judson | Programs | | Rebecca Jones | Communications
& Vote411
Julianne Guariglia | Fundraising
Evan Ehly | Director at Large
Deborah Doyle | Director at Large
Deborah McKay | Director at Large
Juanita Roland | Director at Large | | | |
Become A Member
League of Women Voters
of Sonoma County
Joining the League of Women Voters is a great way to get involved in your community and play and active role in our democracy. Joining is easy: go to the LWV Membership portal by clicking the Join Us button below. You may pay your dues online or print the invoice and send it along with your check payable to LWV of Sonoma County to our office at the address below. Or print out the printable Membership Form and send it to our office along with a check for your dues.
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Quick Links
League of Women Voters
Websites & Social Media
| | | Empowering Voters. Defending Democracy.
Your Vote is Your Voice. | 555 Fifth Street, Suite 300-O | Santa Rosa, CA 95401-8301 | (707) 545-5943
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