Public Comment

Welcome to Episode 39 of our "Public Comment" podcast. As former elected officials in Napa Valley, we talk about politics, people and whatever else is on our minds. This episode, the "5 for 5" format is back! We discuss five topics for no more than five minutes each: Napa Valley's 2025 wine harvest, "pop up" vineyard tastings, Napa Valley Standard and other special events, the cultural makeup of l...

Welcome to Episode 38 of our "Public Comment" podcast. As former elected officials in Napa Valley, we talk about politics, people and whatever else is on our minds. Our guest is Mark Dommen, Executive Chef at Hestan Napa restaurant. We talk about his career working in several highly-acclaimed restaurants around the world, including helping launch Julia's Kitchen at Copia in Napa. He earned Micheli...

Welcome to Episode 38 of our "Public Comment" podcast. As former elected officials in Napa Valley, we talk about politics, people and whatever else is on our minds. Our guest is Mark Dommen, Executive Chef at Hestan Napa restaurant. We talk about his career working in several highly-acclaimed restaurants around the world, including helping launch Julia's Kitchen at Copia in Napa. He earned Micheli...

Welcome to Episode 37 of our "Public Comment" podcast. As former elected officials in Napa Valley, we talk about politics, people and whatever else is on our minds. Our guest is Kelly Carter, founder of Napa Valley Noir concierge services, an acclaimed author and a communications consultant. We discuss her unique life journey and how she curates memorable experiences for guests in the North Bay wi...

Welcome to Episode 37 of our "Public Comment" podcast. As former elected officials in Napa Valley, we talk about politics, people and whatever else is on our minds. Our guest is Kelly Carter, founder of Napa Valley Noir concierge services, an acclaimed author and a communications consultant. We discuss her unique life journey and how she curates memorable experiences for guests in the North Bay wi...

Welcome to Episode 36 of our "Public Comment" podcast. As former elected officials in Napa Valley, we talk about politics, people and whatever else is on our minds. Our guest is Sonia Tolbert, Chief Development Officer for Communicare+OLE and Owner of Playbook Strategies Group. We talk about Sonia's development career and her thoughts about non-profits and philanthropy in Napa Valley. #napavalley...

Welcome to Episode 36 of our "Public Comment" podcast. As former elected officials in Napa Valley, we talk about politics, people and whatever else is on our minds. Our guest is Sonia Tolbert, Chief Development Officer for Communicare+OLE and Owner of Playbook Strategies Group. We talk about Sonia's development career and her thoughts about non-profits and philanthropy in Napa Valley. #napavalley...

Welcome to Episode 35 of our "Public Comment" podcast. As former elected officials in Napa Valley, we talk about politics, people and whatever else is on our minds. This episode, we discuss new speed round topics. Calling it "5 for 5", we discuss five topics for no more than five minutes each: City of Napa street repaving, local officials and statewide engagement, the life of a grower/vintner, cou...

Welcome to Episode 35 of our "Public Comment" podcast. As former elected officials in Napa Valley, we talk about politics, people and whatever else is on our minds. This episode, we discuss new speed round topics. Calling it "5 for 5", we discuss five topics for no more than five minutes each: City of Napa street repaving, local officials and statewide engagement, the life of a grower/vintner, cou...

Welcome to Episode 34 of our "Public Comment" podcast. As former elected officials in Napa Valley, we talk about politics, people and whatever else is on our minds. Our guest is Alonso Corona, Chief Executive Officer of the Napa Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and entrepreneur. We talk about Alonso's leadership and vision for the Hispanic Chamber, as well as his nearly two decades as owner/operator o...

Welcome to Episode 34 of our "Public Comment" podcast. As former elected officials in Napa Valley, we talk about politics, people and whatever else is on our minds. Our guest is Alonso Corona, Chief Executive Officer of the Napa Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and entrepreneur. We talk about Alonso's leadership and vision for the Hispanic Chamber, as well as his nearly two decades as owner/operator o...

Welcome to Episode 33 of our "Public Comment" podcast. As former elected officials in Napa Valley, we talk about politics, people and whatever else is on our minds. This episode, we switch up our format. Calling it "3 for 10", we discuss three topics for no more than 10 minutes each: the purchase of Harvest Middle School by the City of Napa, Napa's active downtown redevelopment project, and the Na...

Welcome to Episode 33 of our "Public Comment" podcast. As former elected officials in Napa Valley, we talk about politics, people and whatever else is on our minds. This episode, we switch up our format. Calling it "3 for 10", we discuss three topics for no more than 10 minutes each: the purchase of Harvest Middle School by the City of Napa, Napa's active downtown redevelopment project, and the Na...

Welcome to Episode 32 of our "Public Comment" podcast. As former elected officials in Napa Valley, we talk about politics, people and whatever else is on our minds. This episode, we have a heartfelt conversation with Arik Housley. We start talking about his Napa Valley roots and his business ventures. Later, we discuss the tragedy Arik and his family experienced with the loss of his daughter, Alai...

Welcome to Episode 32 of our "Public Comment" podcast. As former elected officials in Napa Valley, we talk about politics, people and whatever else is on our minds. This episode, we have a heartfelt conversation with Arik Housley. We start talking about his Napa Valley roots and his business ventures. Later, we discuss the tragedy Arik and his family experienced with the loss of his daughter, Alai...

Welcome to Episode 31 of our "Public Comment" podcast. As former elected officials in Napa Valley, we talk about politics, people and whatever else is on our minds. We continue our "Disclosures" as we talk about recent happenings in Napa Valley. This episode, we chat with self-titled local business owner Adam Housley. Adam's career spans minor league baseball, international news correspondent, mul...

Welcome to Episode 31 of our "Public Comment" podcast. As former elected officials in Napa Valley, we talk about politics, people and whatever else is on our minds. We continue our "Disclosures" as we talk about recent happenings in Napa Valley. This episode, we chat with self-titled local business owner Adam Housley. Adam's career spans minor league baseball, international news correspondent, mul...

Welcome to Episode 30 of our "Public Comment" podcast. As former elected officials in Napa Valley, we talk about politics, people and whatever else is on our minds. Also, check out our "Disclosures", as we talk about recent happenings in Napa Valley. This episode, our guest is Cara Mae Wooledge, Executive Director of the Napa Farmers Market. We talk about what it takes to run a certified market an...

Welcome to Episode 30 of our "Public Comment" podcast. As former elected officials in Napa Valley, we talk about politics, people and whatever else is on our minds. Also, check out our "Disclosures", as we talk about recent happenings in Napa Valley. This episode, our guest is Cara Mae Wooledge, Executive Director of the Napa Farmers Market. We talk about what it takes to run a certified market an...

Welcome to Episode 29 of our "Public Comment" podcast. As former elected officials in Napa Valley, we talk about politics, people and whatever else is on our minds. We also continue our segment, "Disclosures", to talk about recent happenings in Napa Valley. This episode, our guest is Grant Long, vintner and founder of Aonair Winery and Reverie Winery. We talk about his career in the wine industry,...

Welcome to Episode 29 of our "Public Comment" podcast. As former elected officials in Napa Valley, we talk about politics, people and whatever else is on our minds. We also continue our segment, "Disclosures", to talk about recent happenings in Napa Valley. This episode, our guest is Grant Long, vintner and founder of Aonair Winery and Reverie Winery. We talk about his career in the wine industry,...

Welcome to Episode 28 of our "Public Comment" podcast. As former elected officials in Napa Valley, we talk about politics, people and whatever else is on our minds. We continue with our "Disclosures" to talk about recent happenings in Napa Valley. This episode, we welcome Kate Miller, recently retired Executive Director of @napavalleytransportationauthority. We talk about the significant traffic c...

Welcome to Episode 28 of our "Public Comment" podcast. As former elected officials in Napa Valley, we talk about politics, people and whatever else is on our minds. We continue with our "Disclosures" to talk about recent happenings in Napa Valley. This episode, we welcome Kate Miller, recently retired Executive Director of @napavalleytransportationauthority. We talk about the significant traffic c...

Welcome to Episode 27 of our "Public Comment" podcast. As former elected officials in Napa Valley, we talk about politics, people and whatever else is on our minds. We also continue our segment, "Disclosures", to talk about recent happenings in Napa Valley. This episode, we welcome retired Napa County Sheriff John Robertson to talk about our shared experiences with emergency response during disast...

Welcome to Episode 27 of our "Public Comment" podcast. As former elected officials in Napa Valley, we talk about politics, people and whatever else is on our minds. We also continue our segment, "Disclosures", to talk about recent happenings in Napa Valley. This episode, we welcome retired Napa County Sheriff John Robertson to talk about our shared experiences with emergency response during disast...