Mayor of Fort Bragg 

The mayor of Fort Bragg is not directly elected by voters to serve as mayor. Instead, voters elect members of the City Council. The council members then select one of their own to serve as mayor for two years. 

The mayor presides over council meetings and serves as a ceremonial representative of the city but has the same voting authority as the other council members. 

The City Council elected Mayor Jason Godeke in December 2024.  

How to contact 

(707) 961-2823 ext. 147 
Jgodeke@fortbraggca.gov 

Fort Bragg City Council  

Fort Bragg’s five-member city council is responsible for the city’s governance, setting local policy, and adopting the city’s annual budget. It oversees the city’s municipal services, including the police department, water and sewer services, local streets and infrastructure, development and zoning, and tourism.  

Councilmembers serve four-year terms. Terms are staggered, meaning not all councilmembers are up for election at the same time. Typically, two or three seats appear on the ballot during a general election cycle. Councilmembers do not have term limits. 

Mayor Jason Godeke and Councilmembers Tess Albin-Smith and Lindy Peters are up for reelection in the 2026 general election if they chose to run again. 

CITY COUNCILMEMBERS 

Jason Godeke, Mayor 
(707) 961-2823 ext. 147 
Jgodeke@fortbraggca.gov 

What he works on: Waste management, tourism, annexation, development, city streets, parks, and water and sewers. 

Marcia Rafanan, Vice Mayor 
(707) 961-2823 ext. 149 
Mrafanan@fortbraggca.gov  

What she works on: Governance and accountability, tourism, annexation, development, city budget, and utility rates.  

Tess Albin-Smith 
(707) 961-2826 ext. 146 
Talbinsmith@fortbraggca.gov 

What she works on: Economic development, public transportation, city budget, and utility rates.  

Scott Hockett 
(707) 961-2823 ext. 145 
Shockett@fortbraggca.gov 

What he works on: Emergency preparedness and response, public safety, city streets, parks, water and sewer. 

Lindy Peters 
(707) 961-2823 ext. 148 
Lpeters2@fortbraggca.gov 

What he works on: Emergency preparedness and response, governance and accountability, and public safety. 

The council meets on the 2^nd and 4^th Monday each month at 6 p.m at the Fort Bragg Town Hall, 363 N. Main St. Meetings are also held on Zoom.  

Council office: (707) 961-2823 ext. 147 
Fort Bragg City Hall, 416 N. Franklin St.  
https://www.city.fortbragg.com/government/city_council/index.php 

HOW TO ATTEND A FORT BRAGG CITY COUNCIL MEETING 

Fort Bragg City Council meetings are open to the public and are usually held on the second and fourth Monday at 6 p.m. Agendas are posted a few days in advance.  

Members of the public can attend meetings in-person at the Fort Bragg Town Hall at 363 N. Main St., Fort Bragg. Meetings can also be watched via Zoom and on the city’s live stream. 

Fort Bragg City Manager 

The city manager oversees day-to-day operations of the city and implements the City Council’s policies. They oversee city staff, facilities, public safety, budgeting and public information.  

The city manager is not an elected position. The City Council is responsible for hiring and appointing the position.  

The current city manager is Isaac Whippy, who was appointed in January 2024.  

How to contact 

(707) 961-2825 ext. 102 
IWhippy@fortbraggca.gov  

PLANNING COMMISSION 

The Planning Commission reviews and makes decisions or recommendations on land-use matters in the city of Fort Bragg. It’s one of the most powerful commissions in the city.  

It considers applications for use and design permits, subdivisions, zoning changes and certain development projects. The commission also reviews updates to the city’s General Plan and zoning ordinances before forwarding recommendations to the City Council.  

In short, the Planning Commission helps shape how land is developed and used outside city limits — including housing, commercial projects and coastal development.  

PLANNING COMMISSIONERS  

Each Councilmember appoints a Planning Commissioner on their behalf.  

One phone number was provided for all the Commissioners: (707) 961-2823 ext. 111 

David Jensen, Chair 
Djensen@fortbraggca.gov  

Richard Neils, Vice Chair 
richard@fortbraggelectric.com  

Ryan Bushnell 
bushnell76@gmail.com  

Jary Stavely 
jplanning@mcn.org 

Katie Turner 
katieuna@hotmail.com 

PUBLIC WORKS 

Public Works is responsible for providing, maintaining and operating all public infrastructure. This department manages roads, parks, traffic, parks and public landscaping, traffic signs, garbage, wastewater, water treatment, parking, maps, and city-owned buildings. 

This department is where residents can go if they have questions about the quality of their drinking water, want to know street sweeper schedules, report a pothole, and pay their garbage bills.  

Public Works also oversees special projects like the Oneka Seawater Desalination Buoy Pilot Study.  

How to contact 

General office: (707) 961-2824 

John Smith, director of public works, (707) 961-2823 ext. 136 or Jsmith@fortbraggca.gov 

COMPLAINTS, PERMITS AND OTHER SERVICES 

The city oversees a variety of permitting and fee services and receives complaints about various matters. Here is a list of popular services: 

• Report a pothole: Fill out the form here 

• Report graffiti, abandoned vehicles, dumping or other blight: Complete this form 

• Pay your garbage bill: Visit the C&W Waste Solutions website 

• Apply for a building permit: Download the application here 

• Apply for a business license: Download the application here 

POLICE DEPARTMENT 

The mission of the Fort Bragg Police Department is to “show concern for our community, have compassion for all those we serve, and exemplify courage to do the right thing.”  

The current police chief is Eric Swift. Police chiefs are hired and appointed by the city council. He was appointed in 2025 after a brief stint as interim police chief.  

How to contact 

Dial 911 in an emergency. 

Non-emergency line for crime, public assistance, or general questions: (707) 463-4411 

The department’s physical address is 250 Cypress St.  

Contact Chief Eric Swift directly at (707) 961-2800 ext. 202 or eswift@fortbraggca.gov 

FIRE DEPARTMENT 

The city’s fire department serves the city and outlying unincorporated areas. It comprises 3 stations, 4 staff members, 36 volunteers and 4 auxiliary members. The current fire chief is Steve Orsi. 

The department doesn’t update its website very often and posts most of its updates on its Facebook page.  

How to contact 

Dial 911 in an emergency. 

Fire Chief Steve Orsi can be contacted at (707) 961-2831 or orsi8300@mcn.org.  

The main fire station office is located at 141 N. Main St.  

OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES 

The county’s Office of Emergency Services oversees emergency preparation and response for Fort Bragg. OES also manages the county’s mendoready.org website.  

How to contact 

Call (707) 234-6398 or email oes@mendocinocounty.gov  

OES does not respond to personal emergencies requiring the police or medical help. For those situations, call 911. 

FORT BRAGG UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT 

FBUSD operates five schools and serves approximately 1,678 students. It also operates an adult school and transition learning school for students with disabilities.  

The district is governed by a board of directors. The board comprises five elected trustees that serve four-year terms. There are also two student non-voting student representatives that serve one-year terms. The board oversees budgeting and policies.  

FBUSD BOARD 

Marilyn Puget 
President 
kbabcock@fbusd.us  

Sage Statham 
Vice President 
sstatham@fbusd.us  

Luz Oxte 
loxte@fbusd.us 

Diana Paoli 
dpaoli@fbusd.us 

Scott Schneider 
sschneider@fbusd.us 

Sofia Fichera 
Student Representative 
 
Rinah Garza-Hillman 
Student Representative 

HOW TO ATTEND A BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING 

Trustee meetings are open to the public and are usually held the second Thursday of the month at 6 p.m. The board takes a summer recess in July. Meeting schedules and agendas are posted in advance.  

Members of the public can attend meetings in-person at Fort Bragg High School, Room 306, 300 Dana St.  

Point Arena City Council 

Point Arena has a five-member city council that serves four-year terms. The mayor is elected by members of the City Council every two years. 

The council meets on the 4th Tuesday of the month at 6 p.m. except for in November and December when it meets on the 2^nd Tuesday. Meetings are held at the City Hall, 451 School St. and on Zoom.  

Council office: (707) 882-2122 
City Hall, 451 School St., Point Arena 
admin@pointarena.ca.gov  
https://pointarena.ca.gov/government/city-council/  

Anna Dobbins, Mayor 
anna.dobbins@pointarena.ca.gov  

Dan Doyle, Vice Mayor 
dan.doyle@pointarena.ca.gov  

Barbara Burkey 
barbara.burkey@pointarena.ca.gov 

Jim Koogle 
jim.koogle@pointarena.ca.gov 

Jeff Hansen 
jeff.hansen@pointarena.ca.gov  

Ukiah City Council  

Ukiah has a five-member city council that serves four-year terms. The mayor is elected by members of the City Council every two years. 

The council meets on the 1st and 3^rd Wednesday of the month at 6 p.m. Meetings are held at the Ukiah Civic Center, 300 Seminary Ave. and on Zoom. More information is available at https://cityofukiah.com/meetings/.  

Council office: (707) 463-6200 
Ukiah Civic Center, 300 Seminary Ave., Ukiah 

Susan Sher, Mayor 
(707) 463-1196 
ssher@cityofukiah.com 

What she works on: Governance and accountability, tourism, arts and culture, libraries, public transportation, Great Redwood Trail, watersheds, utilities, emergency preparedness and response, development, and historic preservation.  

Juan Orozco, Vice Mayor 
(707) 367-1216 
jorozco@cityofukiah.com 

What he works on: Emergency preparedness and response, water resources, education, diversity and equity, utilities, special districts, development, parks and recreation, and tourism.  

Heather Criss 
(707) 349-0475 
hcriss@cityofukiah.com 

What she works on: Governance and accountability, children and families, education, diversity and equity, airport, and historic preservation.  

Mari Rodin 
(707) 272-1937  

emergency preparedness and response. 

Douglas Crane 
(707) 462-5635 dcrane@cityofukiah.com 

Willits City Council  

Willits has a five-member city council that serves four-year terms. The mayor is elected by members of the City Council every two years. 

The council meets on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. Meetings are held at the Council Chambers, 111 E. Commercial St., and posted later on Willits Community Television’s YouTube channel. More information is available at https://www.cityofwillits.org/162/City-Council  

Council office: (707) 459-4601 
City Hall, 111 E. Commercial St., Willits 

Tom Allman, Mayor 
tallman@cityofwillits.org 

What he works on: City finances, governance and accountability 

Matthew Alaniz, Vice Mayor 
malaniz@cityofwillits.org 

What he works on: City finances, governance and accountability 

Gerardo “Gerry” Gonzalez 
(707) 456-3404  
ggonzalez@cityofwillits.org  

What he works on: Transportation, city streets, infrastructure 

Larry Stranske 
(707) 456-3401 
lstranske@cityofwillits.org 

What he works on: Transportation, city streets, infrastructure 

Bruce Burton 
bburton@cityofwillits.org  

Mendocino County Board of Supervisors 

The five-member Board of Supervisors governs Mendocino County. Residents are represented by one supervisor based on where they live.  

The supervisors oversee county-managed roads and infrastructure; sheriff and public safety funding; public health; cannabis regulation; planning and building; and the county budget. 

Supervisors serve four-year terms. Terms are staggered, meaning not all supervisors are up for election at the same time. Typically, two or three seats appear on the ballot during a general election cycle. Supervisors do not have term limits.  

Third District Supervisor John Hashchak and 5^th District Supervisor Ted Williams are up for reelection in the 2026 general election. 

SUPERVISORS  

Madeline Cline, 1^st District 
Represents Calpella, Potter Valley, Talmage, Redwood Valley, unincorporated eastern Ukiah, and parts of Hopland.  
clinem@mendocinocounty.gov 

What she works on: Agriculture, economic development, water supply, Potter Valley Project, annexation, housing, fisheries, watersheds, and utilities. 

Maureen Mulheren, 2^nd District 
Represents incorporated Ukiah 
mulherenm@mendocinocounty.org 

What she works on: Governance and accountability, behavioral health, economic development, finance, Potter Valley Project, water supply, watersheds, fisheries, Great Redwood Trail, annexation, emergency preparedness and response, and waste management.  

John Haschak, 3^rd District 
Represents Brooktrails, Covelo, Laytonville and Willits. 
haschakj@mendocinocounty.org  

What he works on: Governance and accountability, early childhood education, aging and disability, finance, public transportation, roads, environment, emergency preparedness and response, and utilities.  

Bernie Norvell, 4^th District 
Represents Caspar, Cleone, Fort Bragg, Leggett, Piercy and Westport.  
norvellb@mendocinocounty.gov  

What he works on: Waste management, education, air quality, juvenile justice, and social services.  

Ted Williams, 5^th District 
Represents Albion, Anchor Bay, Boonville, Comptche, Elk, Gualala, Mendocino, Navarro, Philo and Yorkville.  
williamst@mendocinocounty.org  

What he works on: Broadband, waste management, emergency preparedness and response, and public health. 

HOW TO ATTEND A BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING 

Board of Supervisors meetings are open to the public and are usually held twice monthly on the first and third Tuesday at 9 a.m. The board takes a summer recess for the month of August. A meeting schedule is released every January and agendas are posted in advance.  

Members of the public can attend meetings in-person at the Board of Supervisor Chambers at 501 Low Gap Road, Room 1010 in Ukiah. Meetings can also be watched via Zoom and on the county’s YouTube channel. 

COUNTY CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER 

The CEO manages the day-to-day operations of the county. They manage the county budget and ensure the county’s many departments work to achieve the many goals of the Board of Supervisors.  

The CEO is hired and appointed by the Board of Supervisors. The current CEO is Darcie Antle, who is set to retire in June. The county is currently recruiting for her replacement.  

They put out a monthly newsletter that can be subscribed to, along with other county newsletters, here. 

How to contact 

Contact Darcie Antle at ceo@mendocinocounty.gov or (707) 463-4441 

PLANNING COMMISSION 

The Planning Commission reviews and makes decisions or recommendations on land-use matters in unincorporated areas of Mendocino County. It’s one of the most powerful commissions in the county.  

It considers applications for use permits, subdivisions, zoning changes and certain development projects. The commission also reviews updates to the county’s General Plan and zoning ordinances before forwarding recommendations to the Board of Supervisors. 

In short, the Planning Commission helps shape how land is developed and used outside city limits — including housing, commercial projects, agriculture and cannabis operations. 

PLANNING COMMISSIONERS  

Each Board of Supervisor appoints a planning commissioner to represent their district.  

Contact information for each commissioner was not available publicly when we published this guide, but there is a general email: pbscommissions@mendocinocounty.gov.  

Clifford Paulin, 1^st District 
Represents Calpella, Potter Valley, Talmage, Redwood Valley, unincorporated eastern Ukiah, and parts of Hopland.  

Elora Babbini, 2^nd District 
Represents incorporated Ukiah 

Alison Pernell, 3^rd District 
Represents Brooktrails, Covelo, Laytonville and Willits. 

Marie Jones, 4^th District 
Represents Caspar, Cleone, Fort Bragg, Leggett, Piercy and Westport.  

Diane Wiedemann, 5^th District 
Represents Albion, Anchor Bay, Boonville, Comptche, Elk, Gualala, Mendocino, Navarro, Philo and Yorkville.  
 

HOW TO ATTEND A PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING 

Planning Commission meetings are open to the public and are usually held on the first and third Thursday of the month at 10 a.m. The board regularly cancels meetings. Meetings are announced about a month in advance and agendas, along with minutes from past meetings, are published here. 

Members of the public can attend meetings in-person at the Board of Supervisor Chambers at 501 Low Gap Road, Room 1010 in Ukiah. Meetings can also be watched via Zoom and on the county’s YouTube channel. 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

The Department of Transportation oversees all county-maintained roads, bridges, surface drainage facilities, traffic control signs and signals, and pavement markings. DOT also manages two airports, the surveyor’s office, solid waste and landfills, and the county water agency. It is also involved in permitting and applications regarding county transportation.  

DOT maintains a list of county road construction projects and closures, provides details on garbage collection, and serves as the place to report potholes and other road problems.  

It also manages the county Water Agency, which manages regional water resources, including flood control, groundwater monitoring and water supply planning. Residents can contact the agency regarding wells and groundwater, drought concerns and county-managed reservoirs (i.e., Mill Creek Dam).  

How to contact 

(707) 463-4363 
dot@mendocinocounty.gov  

COMPLAINTS, PERMITS AND OTHER SERVICES 

The county oversees a variety of permitting and fee services and receives complaints about various matters. Here is a list of popular services:  

• Report illegal burns, chemical pollutants, or other pollution concerns: Contact the Mendocino County Air Quality Management District at (707) 234-6360 or mcaqmd@mendocinocounty.gov. 

• Report illegal dumping: Email sstrader@cityofukiah.com  

• Report a building, cannabis or property code violation: Fill out the form here.  

• Report a pothole, mudslide, tree blocking road: Fill out the form here. 

• Get a building permit: Call Planning & Building Services in Ukiah at (707) 234-6650 or Fort Bragg at (707) 964-5379 or apply online here.  

• Apply for a burn permit: Find out if you can burn and permitting required here. 

• Apply for a business license: Learn what you need and where to submit it here. 

• Pay property taxes: Pay them here. 

MENDOCINO COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE 

The mission of the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office is to “protect life and property, preserve the peace, enforce the law, and provide professional public safety services” in the county. It employs approximately 150 employees.  

The current sheriff is Matthew Kendall. Sheriffs are elected officials and serve four-year terms. Kendall was appointed to fill a vacancy in 2019. He ran for re-election in 2022 uncontested. He is up for election in the 2026 general election. 

How to contact 

Dial 911 in an emergency. 

Non-emergency line for crime, public assistance, or general questions: (707) 463-4411 

Contact Sheriff Kendall directly at (707) 463-4085 or kendallm@mendocinosheriff.org 

DISTRICT ATTORNEY 

The Mendocino County District Attorney prosecutes criminal cases on behalf of the people of the State of California.  

The office reviews cases submitted by law enforcement, files criminal charges and represents the county in court proceedings. It also operates a victim-witness assistance program and may handle certain consumer protection and elder abuse matters. 

The district attorney is an elected position serving a four-year term. The current district attorney is David Eyster, who was first elected in 2010. He is up for relection in the upcoming 2026 general election.  

How to contact 

Ukiah office: (707) 463-4211 
Fort Bragg office: (707) 964-5624 

OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES 

The OES oversees the implementation and coordination of emergency preparation and response across the entire county, including cities, unincorporated areas, and tribal communities. OES also manages the county’s mendoready.org website.  

How to contact 

Call (707) 234-6398 or email oes@mendocinocounty.gov  

OES does not respond to personal emergencies requiring the police or medical help. For those situations, call 911. 

OFFICE OF EDUCATION 

The Mendocino County Office of Education, often called MCOE, supports the county’s public school districts and provides specialized education services. 

Unlike a school district, the county office does not operate most neighborhood schools. Instead, it works behind the scenes to provide oversight, coordination and direct services where needed. 

It runs the county’s special education programs, alternative and community schools, court and juvenile hall schools, and career technical education schools.  

The office is overseen by a superintendent, which is an elected, four-year position. The current superintendent is Nicole H. Glentzer, who started her term in 2023.  

MCOE is governed by a board of directors. The board comprises five elected trustees representing the board of supervisor districts. They serve four-year terms.  

MCOE BOARD 

Marilyn Puget, Area 1 
Board President 
Represents Calpella, Potter Valley, Talmage, Redwood Valley, unincorporated eastern Ukiah, and Hopland. 
mpuget.boe@mcoe.us  

VACANT, Area 2 
Represents incorporated Ukiah 

David Strock, Area 3 
Represents Brooktrails, Covelo, Laytonville and Willits. 
dstrock.boe@mcoe.us  

Nancy Bennett, Area 4 
Represents Caspar, Cleone, Fort Bragg, Leggett, Piercy and Westport.  
nbennett.boe@mcoe.us  

Donald Cruser, Area 5 
Board Vice President 
Represents Albion, Anchor Bay, Boonville, Comptche, Elk, Gualala, Mendocino, Navarro, Philo and Yorkville.  
dcruser.boe@mcoe.us  

HOW TO ATTEND A BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING 

Board of Education meetings are open to the public and are usually held every second Monday at 10 a.m. The board takes a summer recess in July. Meeting schedules and agendas are posted in advance.  

Members of the public can attend meetings in-person at the Mendocino County Office of Education River Room at 2240 Old River Road in Ukiah. Meetings can also be watched via on the MCOE’s YouTube channel. 

How to contact 

Office (707) 467-5000  

Superintendent Nicole Glentzer (707) 467-5001 or nglentzer@mcoe.us  

ANIMAL CARE SERVICES 

Mendocino County Animal Care Services enforces state and local animal control laws and operates the county’s animal shelter and spay & neuter program.  

The department responds to reports of stray animals, animal bites, neglect or cruelty, and dangerous animals. It also handles pet licensing, adoptions, and lost-and-found services. 

How to contact  

For animal-related emergencies call Sheriff Dispatch at (707) 463-4086 

Animal shelter, spay & neuter, and adoptions: (707) 463-4427 

Animals available for adoption: https://www.mendoanimalshelter.com/  

MENDOCINO COUNTY FISH AND GAME COMMISSION 

The Mendocino County Fish and Game Commission promotes conservation of fish, wildlife and habitat. 

It comprises a group of seven volunteer commissioners appointed by the Board of Supervisors, representing each supervisor’s respective districts, with two additional at-large commissioners representing inland and the coast.  

The commission provides recommendations to the Board of Supervisors on natural resource issues and administers an annual grants program supporting local conservation projects. 

Meetings are held every other month and are open to the public. 

More information is available on the county website. 

STATE  

U.S. Senate 

Alex Padilla 
San Francisco office: (415) 981-9369, 333 Bush St.  
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/  

Adam Schiff 
San Francisco office: (415) 393-0707, 1 Post St., Suite 2450  
https://www.schiff.senate.gov/  

What senators handle: National legislation, federal courts, Supreme Court confirmations, military matters, federal disaster declarations.  

U.S. House of Representatives 

Jared Huffman, D-San Rafael 
Represents California’s North Coast, including Mendocino County 
Fort Bragg district office: (707) 962-0933, 430 N. Franklin St.  
Ukiah district office: (707) 671-7449, 200 S. School St.  
https://huffman.house.gov/  

What he works on: Federal funding, environmental policy, disaster relief, veterans’ issues, Social Security, Medicare, immigration casework, tribal affairs.  

California State Senate 

Mike McGuire, D-Healdsburg 
Represents Mendocino County in the California Senate 
Ukiah office: (707) 468-8914, 200 S. School St., Suite K 
https://sd02.senate.ca.gov 

What he works on: Wildfire policy, insurance regulation, tribal affairs, housing laws, health programs like Medi-Cal, state budget decisions. 

California State Assembly  

Chris Rogers, D-Santa Rosa 
Represents Assembly District 2, which includes Mendocino County 
Ukiah office: (707) 463-5770, 200 S. School St., Suite D 
https://rogers.asmdc.org  

What he works on: Wildfire and forest management policy, tribal affairs, insurance regulation, housing, state budget decisions, transportation, utilities, environment and natural resources.