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Cloverdale City Council

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City of Cloverdale

Cloverdale City Council

This person would hold one of three at-large seats on Cloverdale's five-member City Council. The term is four years. Members vote on the budget, land use, zoning, and oversight of city staff. Cloverdale is a Sonoma County city in the Russian River area, with 8,996 people. It is a general-law, council-manager city, run day-to-day by a professional city manager. The Council picks a Mayor and Vice Mayor from its own members. No Cloverdale Mayor race is on this ballot.

Nine candidates are running for three at-large seats on Cloverdale's City Council. Two are incumbents, appointed member Andrés Marquez and elected member Marjorie A Morgenstern. The other seven are challengers. They are Chris Parker, Will Carter, Steve Kawa, Jenn Neylon, Kimberly Kern, Kelly Spagnola, and Colleen Shields. Voters may pick up to three, and there is no primary.

Council seats carry 4-year terms. Winners join two seats not up this cycle -- Vice Mayor Todd Lands and Councilmember Mark Laskey, whose terms don't expire until 2028 -- to complete Cloverdale's five-member City Council: the city budget, land use and zoning, and oversight of city staff for this Russian River-area Sonoma County city of 8,996 residents (2020 Census). Cloverdale is a general-law, council-manager city -- a professional city manager runs day-to-day operations while the elected Council sets policy -- and the Council selects one of its own members to serve as Mayor and another as Vice Mayor each year, not separately elected offices. Sitting Mayor Brian Wheeler did not file to keep his own Council seat this cycle, so at least one of the three winners will be a first-time Cloverdale councilmember regardless of the outcome. This cycle's ballot also called for a City Treasurer seat, but zero candidates filed for it -- the county's own roster and the city's own resolution both confirm the position is vacant with no name to print, so no Treasurer contest appears on this ballot.

With two incumbents (one appointed, one elected) and seven challengers competing for three seats, the practical choice is which of the seven newcomers should join the board alongside -- or in place of -- the sitting members. Marquez is the only candidate to cite specific, checkable Council accomplishments in their own statement; Morgenstern, the longer-serving incumbent, filed no fresh statement this cycle, so Morgenstern's 2026 platform beyond their "Incumbent" ballot designation is not independently confirmed by this pass. Among the challengers, professional backgrounds range from public safety and school administration to small business and civic-club leadership; none has previously held a Cloverdale elected office. This dataset found no candidate forum coverage, comparative news profile, or independent evaluation of the field beyond the candidates' own filed statements and campaign materials -- consistent with the limited local-news footprint typical of a city this size.

Andrés Marquez

Andrés Marquez is the Council's appointed incumbent. They were seated in February 2025. They are now seeking their first full four-year term by election. Their filed ballot designation is "Appointed Incumbent." They reached the seat by a Council vote, not by winning an election. This is their first time facing voters for it. They ran unsuccessfully for a different Council seat in 2024. Their statement lists accomplishments since their appointment. These include $10,000 for the local Food Pantry. They also cite $75,000 to help rehabilitate the Grange. They point to an updated City Code of Conduct. They also cite the "Home of the Eagles" community mural at Washington Gym. They note the city's first guided hike at Soda Springs. They also cite moving student outdoor education into city open space. And they cite Council approval of a regional water partnership.

Marjorie A Morgenstern

Marjorie A Morgenstern is the Council's elected incumbent. They were first elected in 2022 and are now seeking another term. Their filed ballot designation is simply "Incumbent." They did not file a 2026 statement. So there is no fresh, first-person description of their current platform this cycle. Their most recent statement on file is from 2022. It described goals of transparent and inclusive city government. It also cited stronger trust between police and the public. It cited help for people without housing. And it cited bringing urgent care services to Cloverdale. That statement is background on the campaign that won them the seat. It is not a claim about what they are running on in 2026.

Chris Parker

Chris Parker is a retired police chief and a challenger. His filed ballot designation is "Retired Police Chief." He did not file a 2026 statement. But his campaign site says he has more than 28 years of leadership in public service. He has lived in Cloverdale more than 22 years. His two children attended the city's public schools. He is involved with Reach for Home and La Familia Sana. He is also involved with the Rotary Club, Lions Club, and Kiwanis Club. He is involved with the Cloverdale Chamber of Commerce too. His stated priorities are public safety, fiscal management, and support for local businesses. He also lists infrastructure investment and growth that protects the city's small town character. His site does not name the department he led or when he served.

Will Carter

Will Carter is a local IT service business owner and a challenger. At 31, they are the youngest candidate in the field. Their filed ballot designation is "Cloverdale Business Owner." Their statement says their family moved to Cloverdale nearly 30 years ago. They later moved back with their wife to make Cloverdale their home. There they run their business, volunteer, and plan to raise a family. They are now President of the Cloverdale Kiwanis Club. Earlier they were involved with Key Club and Toastmasters. Their stated priorities are safe infrastructure, what they call "rational growth," and open dialogue with residents.

Steve Kawa

Steve Kawa is a challenger and owner of Steve Kawa Strategic Advising. Their filed ballot designation is "Small Business Owner." Their statement says their family has been part of the Cloverdale community for 19 years. They also serve on the Cloverdale Chamber of Commerce Board. They describe more than 25 years working in California state and local government. This includes service in three separate San Francisco mayoral administrations. They were also Chief of Staff to two San Francisco mayors. They hold a law degree from Suffolk University. Their stated priorities are public safety, fiscal responsibility, and keeping Cloverdale "safe, solvent, and successful."

Jenn Neylon

Jenn Neylon is a challenger. They are Chief Operations Officer and Chief Business Officer for a Sonoma County school. Their filed ballot designation is "Chief Business Officer." Their statement describes 28 years of leadership experience across public, private, nonprofit, and educational settings. They currently oversee a rural 20-acre school campus. That includes facilities, utilities, solar, HVAC, and fire suppression systems. The campus has a $4 million annual budget. They also serve on the board of Reinsurance Captive for Stable Schools. That is an insurance group set up by the Redwood Empire Schools Insurance Group. They have lived in Sonoma County more than 40 years. Their priorities are fiscal transparency and community values based development goals. They also want growth that preserves Cloverdale's character.

Kimberly Kern

Kimberly Kern is a challenger. They are the sitting Superintendent of the Pope Valley Union Elementary School District. That district covers grades TK through 8 in neighboring Napa County. Their filed ballot designation is "Public School Superintendent." Their statement says they previously served as Deputy County Superintendent in Mendocino County. They supported 12 districts there. They earlier worked as a principal, assistant principal, and teacher. They are working on an EdD at Johns Hopkins University. They hold a Stanford EdLEADers certificate. They also hold a master's degree in curriculum and instruction. They say they have led schools through wildfire threats and large operational and technology upgrades. Their priorities are guided, community values based growth and careful stewardship of infrastructure and tax dollars.

Colleen Shields

Colleen Shields is a challenger, a massage therapist and bookkeeper. Their filed ballot designation is "Massage Therapist and Bookkeeper." Their statement says they have lived in Cloverdale for almost 30 years. They previously served as a Board Member of the Santa Rosa Community Market. They now work as Safety Committee Administrator at North Gate Ready Mix. They describe their candidacy as "defending and protecting" Cloverdale's character while supporting "regulated, positive growth."

Kelly Spagnola

Kelly Spagnola is a challenger. Their filed ballot designation is "Community Volunteer," and they qualified for the ballot on Aug. 6, 2026. They did not file a statement of qualification. No campaign website, social media, or local news coverage describing their background or platform was found. Their economic interest filing reports no investments, real property, income, or business positions to disclose.

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A nonpartisan office: candidates do not run as Democrats or Republicans, and no party appears on the ballot.

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