Biography of Don Williams, Mayor of Calistoga

Until I moved to Calistoga in 1974, I lived in the center of San Francisco. I’m quite familiar with the City and have a native’s strong sense of how a small, semi-rural town like Calistoga must contrast with the urban life to maintain its special identity.

In college I earned a BA in mathematics and a master’s degree in English literature. My education continues still — with an attitude of honest, open inquiry about what I don’t know. I like to ask: “What is really going on here?”  “Does this proposal enlarge or diminish us?”  “What alternative approaches might serve us better?”

That critical curiosity served me well in my working career in two different fields, construction and education. I operated my wood floor business in Calistoga for 30 years, and grew familiar with countywide concerns from my experience with a diverse cross section of Napa Valley residents. For 19 years I also taught math classes at Napa Valley College.

Email: dwilliams@ci.calistoga.ca.us