Stars and angels may return to Christmas trees in Sonoma County government buildings in downtown Santa Rosa. Their reappearance, however, will be brief and moot. Most county offices are closing Thursday until Jan. 4. On Wednesday Acting Sonoma County Administrator Chris Thomas rescinded his directive on Monday to remove stars and angels from the trees.

Thomas was reacting to a complaint by community activist Irv Sutley who complained about them last week. Sutley, 65, of Santa Rosa, is active in separation of church and state issues. He noticed an angel on top of a Christmas tree in the county recorder’s office Friday, Sonoma County public information officer Jim Toomey said.

Sutley also noticed stars on other Christmas trees in government offices and asked to meet with Thomas on Monday. Sutley, a chairman of the central committee of the county’s Peace and Freedom Party, was not available for further comment today.

Thomas then consulted the county’s legal department, which said a 1989 U.S. Supreme Court decision allows governments to celebrate Christmas as long as it does not espouse a particular doctrine. The stars fell and the angels departed from the trees.

This morning Thomas rescinded his directive after conferring with Supervisor Shirlee Zane who took issue with the removal of the decorations. Thomas told department heads to “use their best judgment” on the decidedly divisive decoration dilemma that made international

Zane told Thomas removing the stars and angels was “potentially a violation of the freedom of speech and the free exercise of religion.” Zane said she initially supported Thomas’ decision to remove the stars and angels but she said she reconsidered her decision “after much input and contemplation. I believe that while you had the best interests of the county at heart, this is a policy decision and one that should be taken up with the board (of supervisors).”

“Moreover, it does involve elected officials and the interpretation of the U.S. Constitution and the oath that we took to uphold it,” Zane said. “I support the separation of church and state but I also support the freedom of speech and the freedom of religion. Unfortunately, these last two freedoms have gotten lost in this debate.”

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