(DANVILLE, Calif.) - Pratima Sonavne, a Danville childcare business owner and candidate for Town Council, issued the following statement after the Nov. 3 election. Sonavne finished third in a three-candidate race for two at-large Town Council seats, with more than 5,000 votes (about 18%), according to the latest Contra Costa County results. Results remain unofficial until certified by the county.
Photo Credit: Pratima Sonavne / OpGov.News
“I want to start by saying thank you,” said Sonavne. “More than 5,000 of my neighbors put their trust in me, and I don’t take that lightly. I didn’t win this one, and I’d be lying if I said that doesn’t sting. But losing has taught me something winning might not, and I want to share it.”
Sonavne holds a master’s degree in Human Resource Management and has more than 20 years of experience in human resources and operations. She entered the race late and ran a self-funded campaign. She has congratulated Robert Storer and Denton Carlson and wished them well.
What I Learned
1. People don’t just want results. They want to be heard.
“A lot of us want to be heard and want our town to keep getting better. What I heard again and again was not anger. It was a wish to be listened to, and to understand why decisions are made. Residents told me that housing, public safety, and how the town spends its money matter to them, and they want to follow those conversations without needing an insider’s knowledge. Good local government explains itself.”
2. Accountability is a conversation worth having.
“I was the only candidate at the September forum who supported term limits. I know many people disagree, including my opponents, who spoke about the value of experience. Both views deserve a serious hearing. The question underneath is how a community keeps its leadership open to new voices and new ideas, and Danville will keep asking it.”
3. Running without a network shows you how the system really works.
“I ran without major donors or an established political network. That taught me how much of local politics depends on relationships, name recognition, and time that many working parents and small business owners simply don’t have. I don’t say that out of bitterness. I say it because if we want a council that reflects our whole community, we need to make it easier for more people to take part.”
4. Losing teaches things winning doesn’t.
“A campaign tests your patience, your humility, and your willingness to be told no. I learned to listen more closely, to disagree respectfully, and to keep showing up for people whether or not there is a title attached. Those lessons will stay with me far longer than any election night.”
5. Local democracy runs on participation.
“Decisions at the town level shape our daily lives, from our streets to our parks to how safe we feel. A small number of votes and a small number of voices decide a lot. I hope more residents, especially women, parents, immigrants, and small business owners, will consider running, serving on commissions, or simply attending a council meeting.”
Looking Ahead
Sonavne encouraged the incoming council to keep engaging residents openly on the concerns raised during the campaign, including transparency in decision-making and how the town communicates with families.
“This doesn’t end on Election Day, and neither does my commitment to Danville,” she said. “I will keep serving this community, whether through my work with local families, through town commissions and volunteer efforts, or in future elections. To my family, my supporters, and every neighbor who took part, thank you.”
To reach out or share additional information, please leave a comment on this article.
0
0
Comments