Micayla Sortland Announces Candidacy for Nevada City Council

My name is Micayla Sortland, and I’m excited to announce my candidacy for Nevada City Council in the June 2026 election. I’m running because I love Nevada City and believe our town can be a model for how neighbors come together and care for one another in difficult times. My priorities are championing vulnerable community members, protecting our fragile ecosystem, and ensuring reliable core city services—strong infrastructure, effective fire protection, and responsible stewardship of public funds. I’m committed to protecting our small-town character and neighborhoods, preserving what makes our town special while building a vibrant, sustainable future for generations to come.

Having grown up here, I am proud that Nevada City is my full-time home.  Nevada City offers an unparalleled quality of life, including the historic character of the vibrant city center, the daily joy of hiking trails like Sugar Loaf, Hirschman’s Pond, and the Tribute Trail, and the tight-knit community that makes our town unique. I’m grateful to the community leaders and neighbors who have worked for decades to make Nevada City the gem it is today. I am running to build on their accomplishments and protect this way of life for the next generations.

For two decades, I have dedicated my career to disability advocacy, navigating complex legal systems and winning Social Security Disability benefit cases for people facing serious life and health challenges. I’ve specialized in helping people with neurological disorders, including multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, migraine disorders, and autism spectrum diagnoses in both children and adults. As the daughter of a Veteran, I am especially proud of my work advocating for disabled Veterans, ensuring the federal government meets its obligations to those who served. I run my small business in Nevada City and am a registered member of the Chamber of Commerce.  I will bring this same tenacity, attention to detail, and accountability to my work on the City Council.

I'm also a professional musician who's performed on world stages—from London's Royal Albert Hall to Newport Folk Festival and Japan's Fuji Rock. Music has shaped my understanding of joy, teamwork, and community. These experiences have also taught me that the best results come from deep listening, trust, and a shared dedication to excellence. I will bring this collaborative spirit to support our artists, small venues, and local businesses—because a vibrant arts scene is essential to Nevada City’s identity and economy. 

I live here, work here, own a home here, and play here, and I don't just listen, I HEAR you.  I look forward to collaborating with current council members, city staff, and residents to address the critical challenges facing our community. My focus will include:

• Commitment to fiscal responsibility and transparency with every taxpayer dollar

• Prioritizing wildfire resilience and public safety in our fire-prone foothills

• Securing and modernizing our water and sewer infrastructure to protect public health 

• Advancing environmental sustainability through zero-waste pilots and a more circular, local economy

• Championing our local artists and independent businesses to ensure Nevada City remains a vibrant, self-sustaining hub

• Supporting thoughtfully planned affordable housing so the people who love it here can afford to live here

I'm honored to step up for Nevada City and look forward to meeting neighbors at events, on doorsteps, and online. Together, we'll keep Nevada City the special place we all love as we plan for and embrace the future.