Ferrara’s re-election campaign brings in $9,000 during first half of 2021

VALLEJO – Solano County Sheriff Thomas Ferrara raised more than $9,000 in cash and non-monetary contributions in his bid for another term as the county’s top cop, according to campaign records submitted to the Solano County Registrar of Voters this week.

The contributions were all received during the first six months of 2021 and came from ranchers, business owners, and elected officials. The largest cash donation, $1075, came from rancher Martin Emigh.

Ferrara’s campaign also received $700 in cash from Gregory Lynn, business owner of Northern California Roofing Co., and from Tim Anderson of Pacific Flyway Supplies, respectively.

The campaign also received sizable donations of $605 from farmer Chope Gill of Reveille Farms, and $600 from Dixon real estate broker Gary Archer.

Ferrara’s campaign received notable donations of $100 each from Solano County Supervisor James Spering, Fairfield Councilman Chuck Timm, Gary Falati, former Fairfield City Councilmember and Fairfield-Suisun School District’s governing board member, Dixon Mayor Steven Bird, and the Steve Bird for Mayor campaign.

Records show that Dixon Vice Mayor Jim Ernest donated $100, while the same amount came from the Marc Tonnesen for Assessor/Recorder campaign, Glenn Zook, assistant Solano County assessor-recorder gave $100, and $200 came from Ryan Chalk, district representative for Solano County Supervisor John Vasquez.

The Committee to elect Mitch Mashburn to Solano County Supervisor provided $349 of non cash contributions to Ferrara’s campaign. As of June 30, Ferrara’s campaign reported having $11,258 in cash.

Ferrara was appointed to the position following the retirement of Gary Stanton in 2012. He ran unopposed in 2014, and defeated two challengers in 2018.

Those challengers being Fairfield police Lt. Dan Marshall, and then-Deputy Daryl Snedeker. In June, Marshall announced his intent to challenge Ferrara again but withdrew his candidacy a month later, citing a desire to spend more time with his family.

Ferrara has faced increased criticism following the revelation that at least three members of the sheriff’s office displayed support for the Three Percenter group. The anti-government militia was involved in the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

One of the leading critics of Ferrara, the Benicia Black Lives Matter Benicia group, has demanded that the county board of supervisors convene a civilian oversight committee to investigate the Sheriff’s Office.

A new state law empowers the board of supervisors to appoint the civilian commission. The board of supervisors have yet to establish the oversight committee.

The sheriff contest will be on the June 7, 2022 Gubernatorial Primary ballot.