Davis Media Access (DMA) will produce a live, election-night program on June 5, 2018 highlighting the Davis City Council race and local ballot measures. DMA is the non-profit community media and technology center whose main projects are DCTV Channel 15 on the Comcast cable system – public access television; Educational Access Channel 17 on the Comcast cable system; and KDRT-LP, 95.7 FM, low-power community radio.
DMA’s Executive Director Autumn Labbé-Renault has produced the center’s election programming for the past 18 years; the organization itself turns 30 this year. “There are several places in town to get election information,” she said, “but few that take DMA’s non-partisan and content-neutral stance. On a live election-show night where results can be slow to roll in, we focus on thoughtful discussion of the campaign season as a whole.” She added that the election-night show would focus on the robust race for Davis City Council and the multiple local ballot measures. The show is directed by DMA Studio Manager Diane Dedoshka, and crewed by community volunteers.
For this season, DMA has highlighted races spanning Davis City Council to the 3rd Congressional district, as well as contested county races, and local ballot measures. DMA has also partnered with CivEnergy to produce several voter education forums. Programs air on DCTV, Menu 99 on AT&T’s U-verse system, and online at http://davismedia.org/election. “Meet the Candidates for Davis City Council” also airs on KDRT 95.7 FM Mondays from 6-7 p.m., and Wednesdays from 1-2 p.m.
The election night program will stream live at http://davismedia.org. It will also be simulcast on KDRT 95.7 FM. Viewers are invited to tweet questions to @dmafeed or to call the studio line at (530) 757-2419 after 8:30 p.m.
Host for the evening is Stephen Souza. Souza served on the Davis City Council from 2004-2012. A longtime resident of Davis and owner of Ultra Clean Pool Service since 1975, Souza’s résumé boasts a long and varied list of accomplishments. He currently serves as president of the Yolo Democratic Club, and Vice Chair of the Davis Cemetery District and Arboretum. Souza is no stranger to DMA, either, having served as a longtime board member and board chair of the organization when it was called DCTV.
“It’s going to be fantastic to be the one asking the questions this time, instead of being the one answering the questions while sweating out the election results,” Souza said. Mayor Robb Davis, who will step down from Council after June, will co-host the first hour of the program. Councilmember Rochelle Swanson, who will also step down, co-hosts the second hour of the program.
