Sylvia's
Story

Sylvia Lemus is a longtime Sonoma County resident, public servant, and community leader dedicated to strengthening the communities she has always called home. With more than 33 years of experience working in Sonoma County government, Sylvia built a career focused on helping residents, improving services, and ensuring local government works effectively for everyone.

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Sylvia’s commitment to community is rooted in her family’s story. Her grandfather, Jose Manuel Sebastian Lemus, was an agricultural worker all his life. In 1969, he moved his family from Fresno to Santa Rosa in search of better opportunities and continued working in Sonoma County vineyards. Even after retirement, he dedicated his time to volunteering at community gardens in the Roseland area. With a legacy of service, Sylvia’s connection to community service began early.

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Throughout her career, Sylvia served in several departments including the Sonoma County Human Services Department, where she worked to support low-income residents and families. She later worked in the Child Support Office before managing programs in the Human Resources Department. After 30+ years working in these capacities with the County of Sonoma, Sylvia concluded her career as a bilingual communications specialist in the County Administrator’s Office. Her decades of experience have given her a deep understanding of how county government operates and how thoughtful leadership can deliver meaningful results.

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Sylvia has proudly called Sonoma County home since she was 4 years old, and has lived in Cotati for the past 19 years. Since being appointed to the Cotati City Council in 2022, she has become the first Latina Councilmember and, in 2026, the first Latina Mayor in the city’s history. Prior to her appointment, she served as a Cotati City Planning Commissioner beginning in 2020 and was selected as Chair of the Planning Commission in 2022. As Mayor, she continues to advance her commitment to thoughtful leadership and community engagement.

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In addition to her public service, Sylvia is a small business owner. Alongside her siblings and cousins, she helps operate Lemus Family Wines, a small Sonoma County wine brand rooted in family, agriculture, and community.

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Sylvia is also deeply involved in local organizations and initiatives. She has served on boards and task forces and volunteered with organizations including the Sonoma County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Sonoma Clean Power, LandPaths, the Sonoma County Regional Parks Foundation, the Community and Local Law Enforcement (CALLE) Task Force, the Latino Alliance of Rohnert Park & Cotati, and Sonoma Raceway’s Speedway Children’s Charities. She is also a founding member of Los Cien Sonoma County and the Santa Rosa Cinco de Mayo organization.

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As the daughter of an immigrant and a lifelong resident of Sonoma County, Sylvia believes public service is about listening to the community and working collaboratively to solve challenges. She remains committed to supporting working families, protecting agriculture and the environment, strengthening public safety, and ensuring Sonoma County continues to be a place where all residents can live, work, and thrive.