Longtime Novato Sales Exec Takes Political Job

Pat Gilardi, a longtime Marin advertising sales manager, started Monday on the staff of a new Sonoma County Board of Supervisors member. 

Gilardi, an employee at the Marin Independent Journal since 1987, will be district director in the office of incoming First District County Supervisor Susan Gorin. Gilardi is the sole staff person for the supervisor's office, responsible for constituent services, scheduling and representing Gorin throughout the community when the supervisor is unavailable. 

 “It is an honor to be working for Supervisor Gorin and the people of the First District,” Gilardi said.

The First District of Sonoma County encompasses the cities of Santa Rosa and Sonoma as well as unincorporated areas as far south as San Pablo Bay and east to the Napa County border.

Gilardi, who worked in Novato for more than 20 years when the IJ was located there, is no stranger to local politics. She served on the Cotati City Council since 2000 and and has served as mayor and vice mayor. She has been a director of the Sonoma County Transportation Authority and Regional Climate Protection Authority, according to the city's website.

"Beyond being a policy expert, she also brings private sector experience and understands the challenges facing the community,” Gorin stated in a news release.

Gilardi also has held positions in many civic and nonprofit groups including:

• Co-founder of Cotati 4-H;
• Former Executive Board Officer of Sonoma County 4-H;
• Former member of the Board of Directors of the non-profit Accordion Festival;
• Former two-term Parent Teacher Association President in the Cotati-Rohnert Park School District;
• Former three-year member of Cotati’s Planning Commission including one year as Chair;
• Cotati Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year 2006.

Gilardi grew up in Marin County where she attended local schools including College of Marin where her focus was on journalism. She married West Marin native Ed Gilardi in 1983, according to Gorin's news release. After living on the family dairy ranch for a short time, the couple moved to Sonoma County in 1984. They have two adult children, Marissa and Anthony.

Gilardi's annual salary will be $73,008 and she will be Gorin's at-will employee. She may be reached at (707) 565-3752 or via email at Pat.Gilardi@Sonoma-County.org.

Stay Patched in! Follow Novato Patch on Twitter | Like Novato Patch on Facebook | Sign up for the daily e-mail with links to the latest news.