History

Paul Dohring Biography

I was born in 1961 into a working-class family with little formal education and extremely modest means. For a time, we lived in the ethnically diverse and impoverished south side of Stockton and then later in west Stockton where my mother still lives today. I spent much of my early childhood with my Mexican-American grandmother, and I am very proud of this heritage. After the loss of both my father and grandmother in 1968 --when I was seven years of age-- my mother courageously raised me and my five brothers as a single mother.

My early life experiences have profoundly shaped and influenced the man I have become: proud father, husband, lawyer, activist and public servant. My core values, faith, grit, resilience, pragmatism and world view are all solidly connected to my humble upbringing and manifested in service to my family and community.

I attended public schools in Stockton and was the first and only member of my family to attend college. In 1983, I graduated from the University of California at Berkeley. In 1986, I received my law degree from the University of California at Davis. After law school, I spent a year on the Mexican border teaching English and providing medical services to impoverished Mexican children.

I met my wonderful wife Kara while we were in school at U.C. Davis. We married in 1988 and started our respective professional careers in the Stockton area. In 1991, we had the good fortune to move to beautiful St. Helena, where I started working for a small law firm, and Kara continued her teaching career as a Spanish Dual-Immersion teacher. Kara is currently a Spanish teacher at RLS Middle school. To read more about Kara in a St. Helena Star article, please click here.

In 1997, I opened a small law office in Calistoga, specializing in business, insurance claims, real estate, civil litigation, mediations/arbitrations and land use. In addition to my individual clients, I have had the good fortune of representing a broad range of businesses, including many wine, vineyard, restaurant, and hospitality interests, as well as many small business owners. I have a very keen understanding of the business of the Napa Valley.

I served on the Board of Directors for the 25th District Agricultural Association (Napa Expo) for seven years. I was a Board Member of Community Action of the Napa Valley (Napa Valley Food Bank, Meals on Wheels, Childcare, low income services and other charitable endeavors) for several years. I served on the Calistoga Planning Commission for two years and was elected to the Calistoga City Council in 1997 (four year term). I also previously served on Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) from 1997 to 2001 and again in 2017.

In addition to serving as St.Helena’s Vice Mayor for four years, and currently serving my first term as mayor, I represent the City of St. Helena on the following boards and commissions: 

  • Water and Wastwater Exploratory Committee

  • Agenda Review Committee

  • Napa County’s City Selection Committee

  • Napa County Flood Control and Water Conservation

  • Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) – City Representative to General Assembly

  • Napa Valley Transportation Authority (NVTA) (Member) (Have served on this Board for 14 years)

  • Active Transportation and Sustainability Committee (City Council Liaison)

I am a member of the following:

·       St. Helena Catholic Church (33 Years)

·       Native Sons of the Golden West (29 years)

·       Rotary Club (Calistoga) (29 years)

·       Chamber of Commerce in Calistoga (Served on Chamber Board for two years)

·       Founding Member of Calistoga Family Center (now known as UpValley Family Center)

I was a founding member of “Dads & Kids” and served for several years while our children were growing up. This was a service group of local dads and their young children doing a variety of service projects, including home cleanups for seniors, painting of park benches at city parks, spreading mulch at the city parks, weeding of parks etc. It was formed to teach our children about thinking beyond themselves by engaging in community service.

Kara and I purchased our home in St. Helena in 2002 and have lived here for the past twenty-two years. We have lived in the Napa Valley for over 33 years. My wife and I are the proud parents of two children, ages 26 and 23. They attended the St. Helena Cooperative Nursery School in Rutherford and the St. Helena public schools beginning in kindergarten. We feel extremely fortunate to be a part of this great community, and we continue to find ways to make it even better through our professional work, public service, volunteer opportunities --including LGBTQ+ support and advocacy, adoption support and advocacy-- and charitable giving.

My life could have gone in many different directions. Looking back, and reflecting on where I am now, I am filled with gratitude for all that life has provided.  I feel especially blessed for being able to call this amazing city my home.

Mayor Paul Dohring