Alcalde

The City of Sonoma is thrilled to announce Kathy Witkowicki as the 2025 Honorary Alcaldessa! This honorary title recognizes Kathy’s decades of extraordinary service and dedication to our community. Read the press release [here].

Kathy has made a lasting impact on Sonoma Valley through her leadership and vision. In 1996, she founded the Sonoma Valley Mentoring Alliance, which has connected over 2,300 students with caring mentors. Even after stepping down as executive director, Kathy has remained deeply involved as a board member and mentor.

Her contributions don’t stop there. Kathy also launched the Sonoma Speaker Series, bringing inspiring authors and thought leaders to the Valley. Additionally, she serves as a trustee for Speedway Children’s Charities, which has provided over $6 million in grants to youth-serving non-profits in Sonoma County.

The Honorary Alcalde tradition dates back to California’s pueblo system, where the Alcalde was a respected community leader. Revived by the City of Sonoma in 1975, the title honors individuals who exemplify exceptional community service, leadership, and dedication to the welfare of Sonoma Valley.

Historically, the position of alcalde has its roots in Spanish tradition and was used most extensively in Spain’s overseas colonies.  The alcalde acted not only as a mayor, but as a mayor with veto powers over town council actions, the chief law enforcement officer, judge, assessor, notary, tax collector, hide inspector, and in some cases teacher of the pueblo.  Historian Dr. Theodor Grivas in an article appearing in the California Historical Society Quarterly wrote: “Doubtless, the most important single officer in the administration of local government in California, both before and after the American conquest, was the alcalde.”

The alcalde’s symbol of authority was a silver-headed cane.  If the alcalde himself was unable to attend an official function his cane would be sent in his place.  The cane also served another less ceremonial function as a standard of measure. The alcalde, in his role as arbiter of land disputes and assessor, measured the land in question based on the length of his cane.  His decision in the matter was final.

The very first person named the City of Sonoma Alcalde was Mr. Richard Raoul Emparan, grandson of the Sonoma’s founder General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo.  He was honored with the title in 1972 under action taken by then Supervisor Ignazio A. Vella and the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors and was presented with the Alcalde cane.

In 1975 the Sonoma City Council decided to make naming of an Honorary Alcalde an annual process as a means of recognizing individuals in the community who had made unselfish contributions to the welfare of Sonoma.  At a luncheon held on December 16, 1976 Mayor Henry Riboni announced that August Pinelli had been named as the 1976 Honorary Alcalde for the City of Sonoma.  Mr. Pinelli received a silver-headed cane to carry during his tenure and plaque bearing a key to the City.  The City also established a perpetual plaque to display the names of all the subsequent Honorary Alcaldes.