Suzanne Hatch shows off her engagement ring

Rob Schroder

Martinez Mayor Rob Schroder proposed marriage  in Venice Tuesday after sharing a gondola ride, dinner and wine with the object of his affection, Suzanne Hatch.

She said she would think about it.

Nah.

She said yes. And then she posted the good news on Facebook, where I saw it moments ago.

No word yet on the particulars such as a date.

But now that I think about it, Schroder was exceptionally enthusiastic about his upcoming European vacation when he told me about the trip a few weeks ago.

It is a local political merger of sorts.

Hatch is the daughter of Carol Hatch, the retired veteran district director for Rep. George Miller,  D-Martinez.

Schroder is the son of Republican and former Contra Costa Supervisor Bob Schroder. Rob changed his party registration from Republican to decline to state around the same time he started dating Hatch, a switch that reflects Schroder’s more moderate politics and ensured that he would be invited to the Hatch home for Christmas dinner. (The last part is a joke.)

Congratulations to the happy couple.

May they be as happy as I am. (My husband, Joe, and I will celebrate our 14th wedding anniversary tomorrow. He proposed in Carson City, Nev., not as romantic as Venice, perhaps, but the outcome has been just as nice!)