Sebastopol City Council Budget update by Neysa Hinton, Mayor

Neysa Hinton is a fourth-generation Sonoma County resident. Born in Petaluma, Neysa grew up in Sebastopol. After graduation, Neysa attended college in Idaho and pursued a career in radio that would span 25 years. She moved back to Sebastopol in 1997, got married, and started a family. Her two grown children, Jordan and Jered, are Sebastopol natives who currently live in Sonoma County.

In 2012, Neysa made the decision to pursue a career in service and became a licensed administrator. She is currently the Executive Director and licensed Administrator for two locally owned Marin County Assisted Living facilities in San Anselmo and San Rafael. The work is both challenging and gratifying and has given Neysa the opportunity to serve our seniors. On any given day, you can find Neysa engaged with staff, residents, and their families, to address a diverse array of needs and help to facilitate happy, fulfilling lives. As a front-line worker, Neysa works tirelessly to serve the residents and staff in the ever changing fast-paced world of healthcare.

Neysa has always had a passion to serve her community. Over the course of her life in West County, Neysa has devoted countless hours volunteering on projects that have benefitted Sebastopol and people who live there.

Neysa’s past projects include helping launch Sebastopol’s Farm Market and serving as its first chairperson. In 1990 Neysa was one of the first women invited to join the Sebastopol Rotary Club. For 21 years she aspired to embody the Rotary Club’s “Service Above Self” motto, participating on various committees that include, “Learn to Swim,” “Read to Me,” Community Grants, Student Exchange, and fundraising events like the popular Lobster Boil and Cajun Festival.

One of Neysa’s most rewarding volunteer experiences came in 2007 when she was selected to lead a team of young professionals on a group exchange focused on health services and education in Guanajuato, Mexico. Living with local families to improve community services strengthened her faith in the ability of ordinary citizens to work together to create positive change.

Neysa is currently serving as Sebastopol’s Mayor through 2023. Neysa previously served as mayor in 2019, as vice mayor in 2018 & 2022 and was elected to Sebastopol City Council in 2016.

Neysa has served on several subcommittees: Budget Subcommittee, CalPERS, Park Village, and the Staffing Assessment Subcommittee. She represents Sebastopol on the Russian River Watershed Association and the Mayors and Councilmembers Association of Sonoma County Legislative Committee. Additionally, Neysa was appointed to the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District Advisory Committee by the Mayor and Council Members Association. She also serves as 5th District Supervisor, Lynda Hopkins’ appointee as a Director on the Sonoma County Fair Board.

Term Expires: December 2024