The citizens of Napa have a pivotal decision to make in their upcoming Nov. 5 elections. In their only competitive race, they’re choosing their next mayor: current Mayor Scott Sedgley or the newcomer Tuesday Allison. Mayor Sedgley, proven through his past performances, competes against Allison, an enterprising local businesswoman.
Napa borne and bred, Sedgley and Allison share a native’s love for the city but bring vastly different backgrounds to the table. Mayor Sedgley, at 72, boasts a robust political career, whereas Allison, a certified taxi driver and business owner, has chosen to leap directly into the mayoral race without political preamble.
Sedgley, having dedicated over three decades of service to the Napa Fire Department before retiring in 2011, is also a two-term member of the Napa City Council, starting from 2012. He added another feather to his cap with his nine-year involvement with the Napa Valley Unified School District board.
Sedgley relies heavily on his extensive experience, citing his contributions to his community as his main motivation for running. In his own words: ‘My experience makes me highly qualified. It’s about caring for my wife’s community, our children, and our grandchildren. I really care about this community. If you don’t bring that attitude, you’re perhaps not fit to be mayor.’
Contrastingly, Allison, a sixth-generation Napan at 46, lacks political background but claims her multifaceted career history has equipped her with necessary skills. She confidently presents her multifaceted career – as a professional taxi driver, tree care business owner, and massage therapist – as preparation for public service.
Skillful multitasking, deep listening, and swift, sound decision-making: these are the abilities Allison attributes to her nonconventional journey. She believes these crucial skills, honed in her varied professional arenas, will effectively translate to public leadership.
Sedgley seems to enjoy the support of most major elected officials representing Napa Valley, affirming his candidacy. His deep-seated concern revolves around the city’s affordability – specifically, the exorbitant housing costs that have led to dwindling numbers of young families and school-age kids living in the city.
Meanwhile, Allison reports a motivation for stepping into the political arena arises from apparently flawed ride-hailing apps. Irregular availability and puzzling payment systems were just some of the issues that moved Allison to action.
Despite minor progress made toward shelter availability, homelessness remains a concern for Sedgley. Now, more than ever, the city must consider collaborating with affordable housing developers to address the community’s urgent needs.
Both candidates recognize the challenge in striking a balance between catering to tourists and meeting locals’ needs. Sedgley reinforces the idea that satisfying residents’ needs is an integral part of progress. Conversely, Allison acknowledges the city’s success in establishing a thriving tourist environment while emphasizing the importance of supporting the industries that underpin the wine industry.
The issues of ride finance and irregular service availability are personal for Allison due to her professional taxi driving experience. She expresses concern about residents sometimes being left stranded and believes that addressing this problem is part of her campaign platform.
Beyond the mayoral contest, the city faces other election races. Notably are those for city council seats representing the election District 2 and District 4. The former includes the western side of the city and Browns Valley, while the latter focuses on the city’s downtown area.
Incumbents Beth Painter and Bernie Narvaez hold these two council seats, respectively. Both are running for reelection, and interestingly, they face no opposition. Their aims to maintain status quo might reflect a prevailing satisfaction with the current council’s performance.
Both Painter and Narvaez are relatively recent additions to the council, having been elected for the first time in 2020. That year marked the city’s shift from at-large elections, where the entire city votes on every council member, to district-based elections, where residents vote on candidates residing in their area.
As the election season heats up, the contrasts and parallels between the mayoral candidates create a dynamic political landscape in Napa. Sedgley, the experienced and widely supported incumbent, embrace his depth of service, while Allison’s fresh perspective and shared concerns align with the grassroots.
The citizens of Napa will soon be casting their votes, their choices possibly reshaping their city’s future. Will they prefer Sedgley’s familiar and tested leadership, or dare to explore fresh perspective via Allison’s novel approach? Only time will tell.