For a Healthy Sonoma County

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KENT PORTER / The Press Democrat

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Union workers protest proposed reductions

by Bleys W. Rose
The Press Democrat
Published Wednesday, August 20, 2008

About 700 of the county's union workers protested health care benefit cuts Tuesday by noisily parading through hallways and packing the supervisors chambers.

The crowd, most wearing purple shirts signifying membership in the Service Employees International Union, sounded whistles, bullhorns and plastic hand-clapping devices.

The demonstration, which lasted nearly three hours and was one of the largest labor rallies in recent years, was timed to coincide with a Sonoma County Board of Supervisors debate and vote on proposals to shift higher health premium costs onto retirees and non-union employees.

Board approval of the measure on a 5-0 vote effectively gives county administrators the green light to continue offering similar proposals at the bargaining table.

Union leaders said county negotiators are offering no compromises in their proposals to decrease county contributions to health premiums. And they urged the crowd to work for supervisorial candidates in three seats up for election in November.

"We are trying to take back our supervisors from those who have given it to the business interests and developers," said Lisa Maldonado, executive director of the North Bay Labor Council.

Two SEIU-endorsed candidates, Rue Furch in the 5th District and Shirlee Zane in the 3rd District, told demonstrators that county administrators haven't adequately weighed alternatives that would be less onerous to workers and retirees. Furch and Zane have said that, if elected, they would oppose the administration's plans.

Zane, CEO of the Council on Aging, said the county should honor previous commitments to provide health care to retirees.

"A promise is a promise," Zane said. "And there are other ways to balance our budget instead of on the backs of you."

Full article text

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Zane, Wright to face off in November election

By BLEYS W. ROSE
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
Published: Wednesday, June 4, 2008 at 4:30 a.m.

Shirlee Zane, CEO of the Council on Aging, and Sharon Wright, a former Santa Rosa councilwoman, emerged from an intense four-way election battle in Sonoma County's 3rd Supervisorial District and will face each other in a November showdown.

The district, which covers central Santa Rosa and northern Rohnert Park, pitted labor unions, business interests, environmentalists and Democratic Party activists in an intense fight to control the seat.

The post is being vacated by Tim Smith, who is retiring after 20 years in the pivotal board position.

Final, but unofficial, tallies showed Zane finished with about 34 percent of the vote and Wright had 27 percent. Voter turnout was light, with predictions that only half the 42,500 voters in the central county district would cast ballots.

Zane said she was elated, and more than a bit surprised, that she topped Wright, who is far better known as a City Council veteran of 12 years. (click the link above to read the entire article)

Zane wins Conservation Action endorsement
April 19, 2008, The Press Democrat

Conservation Action, Sonoma County's leading environmental political group, decided late Saturday to pass over two candidates it had previously endorsed and back Shirlee Zane for an open seat on the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors... (click link to read entire article)


Third District Debate at Democratic Club
April 24, 2008, The Press Democrat

...Shirlee Zane, CEO of the Council on Aging, said she wouldn't cut mental health, substance abuse programs or retiree health benefits, all of which the current board has done or is considering.

She would merge the separate departments of human services and health services and "cut administrative overhead, not line staff."...

Shirlee Zane quoted on Public Health and Safety
March 19, 2008 The Press Democrat

"One of the objections to the casino raised at the public hearing came from Shirlee Zane, executive director of the Council on Aging and a candidate for central county supervisor. She criticized the alcohol sales restrictions as being little solace for the first time that supervisors confront a parent whose child dies in a drunken-driving incident involving the casino.

'It bothers me that this is a public health and safety issue, and there is no amount of money that can buy our health and safety,' Zane said. 'I think we should be getting a better deal for the people of this county.' ''

Shirlee Zane quoted on seniors and gambling addictions.:
Press Democrat, February 27, 2008

"Shirlee Zane, executive director of the Council on Aging and a candidate for 3rd District supervisor, said a public vote should include the issue of gambling addiction among seniors. She said seniors are attracted to casinos that offer 'cheap meals, transportation and alcohol.'"

Shirlee Zane tops in fundraising:
Press Democrat, February 1, 2008

"In the 3rd District race, which encompasses central Santa Rosa and parts of Rohnert Park, Shirlee Zane, director of the Council on Aging, was tops in fund raising, followed by former Santa Rosa Councilwoman Sharon Wright."

Shirlee Zane on Market woes for older workers:
Press Democrat, January 28, 2008

"Shirlee Zane, chief executive director of the Council on Aging, said that traditional financial wisdom for retirement no longer applies.

'The retirement goal was always to have the three-legged stool, savings, pension plan and Social Security,' said Zane.

Pensions have disappeared and baby boomers have not done a good job saving money, she said. 'The tripod has become very wobbly.'"

Letter to the Editor:
Press Democrat, January 14, 2008

Progress report

EDITOR: It has been six months now since Council on Aging moved into our new offices and Meals on Wheels Kitchen, and we'd like to report to the community how their generosity has assisted our senior nutrition program. We are now serving vegetarian meals, thanks to a generous partnership with Amy's Kitchen. We will start serving special menus for seniors with renal disease as well as nutritional supplements for cancer patients. Next month we will begin a new outreach program for seniors with diabetes that will provide them with teleconferencing support groups. We now have the capacity and equipment to make our own frozen meals, which saves us about 31 cents per meal.

Recently our county was pounded by storms that threatened our rural areas with flooding. Our kitchen is available to prepare up to 10,000 meals a day in the case of any emergency disasters. The back-up generator that was purchased so we can provide this service was partially funded with the assistance of Rep Lynn Woolsey. A new agreement with the local Red Cross Chapter will assist us in providing these emergency meals.

We thank the community for all of their support and celebrate these new opportunities to serve our precious seniors.

SHIRLEE ZANE,
CEO, Council on Aging
Santa Rosa

Council on Aging chief seeks supervisor seat
By BLEYS W. ROSE
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Published on October 16, 2007

Shirlee Zane, a leading advocate on issues affecting seniors for the past decade, is running for the central Sonoma County seat on the Board of Supervisors.

The seat vacated by incumbent Tim Smith now has four official candidates, including former Santa Rosa Councilwomen Maureen Casey and Sharon Wright and Rohnert Park Councilman Tim Smith, who is not related to the supervisor.

Zane filed her Form 501 candidate intention statements with the county registrar of voters Friday to compete in the June 3 nonpartisan election. The filing deadline is not until March.

As chief executive officer of the Sonoma County Council on Aging for nine years, Zane has been on the forefront of issues such as maintaining publicly funded services for seniors, keeping Sutter Medical Center open and establishing a kitchen for preparation of food for the Meals on Wheels program and dining sites for seniors.

Zane is a 47-year-old Santa Rosa resident who has lived in Sonoma County for 18 years. She has worked for more than 25 years in social and health services and has not previously sought election except for service on the Democratic Party Central Committee.

"A healthy Sonoma County means environmental and social justice, affordable housing, clean water and mental health services for all," Zane said. "I want to have a say in how money is spent in terms of seniors and their well-being."

She campaigned for voter approval of reauthorization of the open space sales tax and she initiated last year's "Take Back the Streets" event to raise awareness on pedestrian and bicycle safety.

She said that during her campaign for office she would retain her post as head of the Council on Aging.

Read this story at the Press Democrat