Better with Brandie
Brandie Solovay for Sebastopol City Council
An attorney, a parent, and a neighbor who chose this town on purpose — running to keep Sebastopol charming, welcoming, and financially sound.
A budget that adds up
Fiscal discipline and compassion on every dollar — and hard questions about every budgetary decision.
Attainable housing
Homes working families, seniors, and young people can afford, at a scale that still feels like Sebastopol.
Access for everyone
Lived experience as a legally blind resident, applied to streets, parks, buildings, and city communication.
About Brandie
Why I'm running
I didn't grow up in Sebastopol, but like a lot of people here, I knew within a day or two of visiting that this was where I wanted to be.
I've lived in cities big and small across the country, and none of them had what this town has — the independence, the creativity, the farmers market on a Sunday, the local shops and restaurants that could exist nowhere else, the parks and playgrounds where my family spends our weekends.
In 2023 my family bought a home here. We're raising our child here. We chose Sebastopol on purpose, and I'm running for City Council to help protect what makes it worth choosing.
Who I am
I'm an attorney with experience across immigration, criminal defense, family law, disability law, and civil litigation — in private practice and representing clients at nonprofit organizations. My career has been built largely around representing people who don't usually have someone in the room fighting for them.
I'm also legally blind. I know firsthand what it means to navigate a community that isn't always designed with everyone in mind, and I bring that lived experience to questions of accessibility, transportation, and inclusive public space.
As a member of the LGBTQIA community and a parent, I care deeply about Sebastopol remaining a place where every kind of family feels at home.
My commitment
I know I'm relatively new to Sebastopol. What I bring is a deliberate, wholehearted choice to build my family's life here, professional experience solving hard problems for real people, and lived experience that's underrepresented in local government.
I'll listen more than I talk, ask hard questions, and make decisions based on what keeps Sebastopol financially sound, welcoming, and unmistakably itself.
The Platform
What I'll fight for
Five priorities for the Sebastopol City Council — grounded in the challenges this city is facing right now.
A budget that adds up
Sebastopol is facing a structural deficit that isn't going away on its own, with shortfalls projected for years unless we act. This is the central challenge facing our city, and it can't be solved with wishful thinking. I'll bring the same rigor to the city budget that I bring to a legal case: read everything, question every assumption, and prioritize the core services residents actually depend on — public safety, road and infrastructure maintenance, parks, and support for the nonprofits that hold our safety net together.
Attainable housing, without losing our character
Sebastopol needs housing that working families, seniors, and young people can actually afford, and we need to meet our state housing obligations — but growth has to respect the scale and feel of our town. Recent events, like the displacement of low-income tenants, show what's at stake when we don't plan ahead. I'll push for housing solutions that protect vulnerable people and add attainable homes without turning Sebastopol into a place its own residents can't recognize.
Accessibility and inclusion as a default
Not an afterthought. Every resident deserves to move through our town, use our parks, and participate in our civic life. I'll advocate for streets, sidewalks, public buildings, and city communications that work for people with disabilities, older residents, and families alike.
A local economy that stays local
Our independent shops, restaurants, and the farmers market aren't just businesses — they're the character of this town. I'll support policies that help small local businesses survive and keep Sebastopol from looking like everywhere else.
Transparent, accountable government
Residents deserve a city government that explains its decisions in plain language and invites people in rather than talking past them. I'll work to make budget information understandable and public engagement real.
In Her Own Words
Ballot statement
My family chose this town deliberately, bought our home here, and is raising our child here. I fell in love with Sebastopol for its independence, unique character, friendliness, marvelous parade, unique local businesses, and refusal to look like anywhere else. I am running to protect what makes Sebastopol spectacular while facing our challenges proactively and honestly.
That starts with the budget. Our city faces a structural deficit that threatens the services residents depend on — public safety, road repair, parks, and support for local nonprofits. I will bring fiscal discipline and compassion to every dollar we spend, asking hard questions about all budgetary decisions, and removing barriers to help businesses thrive.
As an attorney, I have spent my career representing people who are too often unheard — in disability law, immigration, and family law, both in private practice and alongside nonprofit organizations. As a legally blind resident, I bring lived experience on accessibility that our city needs.
I will fight for attainable housing and protections for vulnerable people while valuing the businesses operating in our community and developing a transparent, dependable budget to ensure a Sebastopol that stays charming, welcoming, unique, and financially sound.
I will be honored to earn your vote.
Get Involved
Let's make Sebastopol better together
Campaigns are won by neighbors talking to neighbors. Whether you have a question about where I stand, want to help out, or just want to tell me what matters to you — I want to hear from you.
- Emailbrandie@votebrandie.com
- VolunteerCanvassing, phone banking, or hosting a meet-and-greet.
- EndorseAdd your name to the list of Sebastopol residents supporting Brandie.
Send Brandie a note
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Email the campaign