Elections

Rochelle Swanson Officially Throws Hat into Council Race

Rochelle Swanson Officially Throws Hat into Council Race

By David M. GreenwaldMarch 10, 2010
citycatAnd then there were three again.  There was a brief period of time when it looked like candidates Sydney Vergis and Joe Krovoza would be anointed rather than elected to the Davis City Council.  That was in a period where everyone believed that Mayor Ruth Asmundson would not run for a third term on City Council.

However, at the same time that the Mayor publicly announced that she would not run, a third candidate entered the race, Rochelle Swanson.  She told the Vanguard last night that she now filed her paperwork and is officially a candidate for the Davis City Council.  She did not send out a formal press release and she will not have an official announcement party.

Citizens Urge Councilmember Heystek to Consider Reentering Council Race

Citizens Urge Councilmember Heystek to Consider Reentering Council Race

By David M. GreenwaldMarch 3, 2010
lamar_heystekLast October Councilmember Lamar Heystek announced that he would not seek a second term as Councilmember.  The move stunned many in the community who had grown to respect him for both his principles and demeanor on the dais.

As time has gone on since that point, a small number of candidates has emerged Sydney Vergis, Joe Krovoza, and the most recent Rochelle Swanson.  Meanwhile as we reported yesterday afternoon, Mayor Ruth Asmundson will not seek a third term.

Mayor Asmundson To Not Seek Re-Election; Rochelle Swanson Enters the Field

Mayor Asmundson To Not Seek Re-Election; Rochelle Swanson Enters the Field

By David M. GreenwaldMarch 3, 2010
asmundsonMayor Ruth Asmundson made official what many have speculated in the weeks following the January 26, 2010 City Council Meeting she will not seek a third term to the Davis City Council.  Her decision is just one of several changes to what was shaping up to be a rather mundane council race.  Right now her decision means that neither incumbent will seek re-election.  Last October Councilmember Lamar Heystek announced that he would not seek re-election siting personal reasons in his decision.  However, as we report above, a group of citizens is mobilizing to get him to possibly reconsider that decision.
The Mayor’s decision comes as little surprise.  There was the well-publicized blow up on the dais between herself and colleague, Councilmember Sue Greenwald.  Both have expressed regret for the incident, however at the time the confrontation left the Mayor badly shaken.  She was rushed to the hospital, transferred to Woodland, where she remained overnight.  She then spent a couple of weeks in the Phillipines, resting and recovering from the incident.
Vanguard Analysis: Davis City Council Early Reporting Shows Marked Contrast in Two Announced Candidates

Vanguard Analysis: Davis City Council Early Reporting Shows Marked Contrast in Two Announced Candidates

By David M. GreenwaldFebruary 14, 2010
citycatSo far there are only two candidates for the Davis City Council, however, that is likely to change as the filing deadline approaches.  In the meantime, the two announced candidates have raised roughly similar amounts of money.

Sydney Vergis who finished fourth back in 2008 has received 6733 dollars while Joe Krovoza has received 7675.  How they got there was very different.

Is Vergis Already Playing Games with Her Announcement for City Council?

Is Vergis Already Playing Games with Her Announcement for City Council?

By David M. GreenwaldJanuary 19, 2010
Something did not seem right Sunday when on the front page of the Davis Enterprise, there was a picture of Sydney Vergis, who had just announced her candidacy for city council for the second time.  She was flanked in the picture as she was last time around by her boyfriend, Anthony Eggert. 

However, in the caption under the picture, posed in front of her campaign sign, it read, “stops downtown during a bicycle ride with her boyfriend, who declined to give his name due to a government job that prevents him from endorsing candidates for political office.”

 

Analysis: A look back at Measure N at Why It Was Defeated

Analysis: A look back at Measure N at Why It Was Defeated

By David M. GreenwaldNovember 7, 2008
imageCity of Davis

The results for Measure N can be looked at in two ways. On the one hand, the measure failed by just 2000 votes despite large amounts of public confusion about what the measure would do and why it was needed.

On the other hand, opponents of Measure N point out that Davis rarely opposes such measures, that there was only late organized opposition, no ballot argument against the measure, and yet it lost.

Both in a way are probably correct.

Mayor Flips on Measure N–Comes Out Against

Mayor Flips on Measure N–Comes Out Against

By David M. GreenwaldNovember 2, 2008
imageCity of Davis

In what may end up being the deathblow for the already beleaguered proposal to create a Charter City in Davis, Mayor Ruth Asmundson who was part of the 4-1 vote to place Measure N on the ballot and one of three Councilmembers to sign the statement in favor of Measure N on the sample ballot, has written a brief but pointed letter coming out against the initiative.

She simply writes without explanation:

“On further consideration, I now believe that Measure N is not in the best interest of Davis voters. Please vote no.”

Davis Lags in Mail in Ballot Returns; Early Voting Begins at UC Davis

Davis Lags in Mail in Ballot Returns; Early Voting Begins at UC Davis

By David M. GreenwaldOctober 28, 2008

Davis Lags behind rest of county in percentage of vote-by-mail returns


As of Monday, October 27, 2008, the city of Davis lagged behind the rest of the county in terms of Vote by Mail ballot returns. While at first glance the percentage returned by the city of Davis does not seem altogether that much lower than the rest of the county. Remember, that Davis also in general votes at a much higher rate than other cities in Yolo County.