Sacramento Councilwoman Valenzuela already has a serious challenger. Here’s who
A year from the primary, Sacramento City Councilwoman Katie Valenzuela already has a serious challenger.
Phil Pluckebaum, 43 of River Park, will run for the District 4 seat that Valenzuela has occupied since 2020. He is a moderate Democrat whereas Valenzuela is a self-proclaimed democratic socialist.
County Supervisors Phil Serna, Patrick Kennedy and Rich Desmond as well as former Councilman Steve Hansen have endorsed Pluckebaum. He is also supported by former Councilman Jeff Harris, who appointed Pluckebaum to the city’s Planning and Design Commission in 2015. Pluckebaum served on the body until January 2023.
Pluckebaum’s Tuesday news release highlighted his goal to reduce crime.
“Sacramento has many challenges that need leadership from someone ready to work with all stakeholders to implement realistic policies with true accountability,” the release stated. “Our communities need more housing, approaches to crime that put the safety of our citizens first, and a focus on ensuring that city services like street cleaning, parks, and utilities are beneficial for all residents.”
Valenzuela has said she wants to reduce police funding in order to increase funding for homeless shelters, mental health care and youth programs. She has not been successful in reducing police funding, however. She is the only sitting council member to have opened a large homeless shelter in her district that remains open — the Miller Park Safe Ground site. Despite that, thousands of people are still living outside in her district downtown, her critics often point out.
That’s partly why some residents launched a Valenzuela recall campaign, aiming to remove her from office prior to the end of her term on Dec. 31, 2024. The deadline for the 7,800 signatures is Wednesday. Campaign leader David Feniger did not immediately return an email Tuesday asking whether the group will file paperwork Wednesday.
The council district lines will change Jan. 1., 2025, due to redistricting. District 4 will no longer include Land Park and South Land Park, but will include East Sacramento, as well as midtown, downtown, River Park, the River District and Upper Land Park.
Harris and Hansen are also considering mayoral runs in 2024. Mayor Darrell Steinberg, who is more progressive, has not yet announced whether he will seek re-election.
Pluckebaum, a project manager at UC Davis Health, will likely be the only serious challenger. He has previously served on the city’s redistricting advisory commission, and as president of the River Park Neighborhood Association. His first campaign finance reports will be available to the public around July, said Josh Heller, campaign spokesman.
This story was originally published February 28, 2023 at 12:00 AM.
