Central Santa Rosa council race finds Chris Rogers fending off challenger
Santa Rosa Councilman Chris Rogers has a rival in his race for a second term, squaring off against political newcomer Azmina Hanna to represent a newly formed district that includes much of downtown and surrounding historic neighborhoods.
The nonpartisan match-up presents a clear contrast between Rogers, a politically connected former legislative aide with a broad range of establishment support, and Hanna, a self-employed creative director who is making her first bid for public office, trying to shake up the political establishment.
The District 5 seat they’re running for is open. But because Rogers comes into the race with a long list of endorsements, including from prominent office holders such as Rep. Mike Thompson, and sits on several regional boards and commissions, he enjoys the status of a “pretty well-known incumbent,” said Brian Sobel, a Petaluma-based political analyst.
“That gives him a heck of an advantage,” Sobel said. “Not taking anything
