What happened before and after the alleged bribe attempt in Sacramento mayor race?
This much is agreed: California Black Chamber of Commerce President Jay King called mayoral candidate Flojuane Cofer on Sept. 24 to press her to support a contract extension for City Manager Howard Chan. Campaign contributions were discussed.
Cofer has called that Sept. 24 call an illegal bribe offer. King said it was a healthy discussion about the future health and stability of the city. The CBCC, the organization King leads, has received 19 contracts and was paid $1.2 million during Chan’s tenure. The Bee has detailed those contracts and Cofer’s and King’s descriptions of their phone calls, meetings and interactions.
To help you understand the context and chronology, we have crafted a timeline.
In some cases, we cite the month the events occurred.
We also don’t have specific dates for at least two meetings between King, Petrovich and Chan. King said in an interview that during those meetings they talked about Petrovich’s development on Fair Oaks Boulevard and Watt Avenue, for which King served as an informal advocate. We do not have information about when those meetings took place and whether other topics were discussed. Issues related to Petrovich and Chan included the city’s $26 million settlement with Petrovich over his Crocker Village development and Chan’s contract. On June 30, 2022, property records show that Petrovich gifted the CBCC two parcels of land in Amador County.
City spokeswoman Jennifer Singer said she was not able to provide more specific dates of meetings Chan held with Petrovich and King and what was discussed and asked that we submit a public records request. We have done that.
Chan is now an assistant city manager with an annual salary of $340,000. Chan has not responded to requests for an interview.
Timeline, before and after the call
March 5, 2024: Flojaune Cofer wins primary with Kevin McCarty a close second.
May 1, 2024: The Sacramento Police sign a $128,100 contract with CBCC to provide “reporting and financial practices” training to nonprofit organizations that have contracts with the police department, even though the CBCC has not filed a non-profit tax return in two years.
June 1, 2024: A ceremony at the B Street Theatre awards the Jay King a Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award. The city makes a payment of $1,500 with no contract or purchase order to “sponsor” the event. Both Chan and Petrovich attend and offer testimonials about King, according to two people who attended.
June 1, 2024: The City Manager’s Office signs a $24,000 contract which calls for KDEE, the chamber’s and King’s radio station, to conduct bi-weekly interviews with city officials. The contract describes the interviews as “advertising spots.”
August 2024: King, Cofer and Howard Chan have lunch at Season’s 52, the same restaurant that the city sponsors a monthly mixer, paying the the chamber $15,000. Cofer and King both said it was a get-to-know-each-other lunch.
Sept. 2024: Cofer said she was asked by Mayor Darrell Steinberg to agree, along with McCarty, to extend Chan’s contract by a year.
Sept. 20, 2024: Howard Chan places a call to Cofer. Cofer returns the call and they speak for an hour and 18 minutes. According to Cofer, Chan expressed frustration that the City Council had broken a promise and not extended his contract. Cofer said that she urged the city manager to quit if he felt disrespected. Cofer said that Chan did not directly ask her to agree to extend his contract.
Sept. 24, 2024: The alleged bribe call occurs. Cofer said she told King,”my integrity is not for sale,” and that she called Steinberg and multiple members of the City Council, expressing concern about the legality of what she experienced.
Oct. 3, 2024: The city signs a contract with CBCC to sponsor an Oct. 5 economic summit in which Chan and Petrovich receive awards.
Oct. 7, 2024: City Express, the city’s official publication, publishes a story publicizing the award a week ahead of a crucial City Council vote. Although the story does not have a byline, spokeswoman Singer said she authored it.
Oct. 15, 2024: The City Council debates Chan’s contract and decides to put the decision off until the new council is seated. King speaks in support of extending Chan’s contract.
Oct. 23, 2024: At a mayoral debate, Kevin McCarty says he supports extending Chan’s contract through Dec. 31, 2025. “I support having the city manager stick around one more year…He’s a fine public servant. I can work with him in the first year. I think it’s important we have continuity in the early days.”
Cofer publicly stakes out a position that it’s time for leadership change.
“It’s clear there’s challenges there, and I think it’s time for a fresh start,” she says. “ The city needs new leadership. We don’t have to be afraid to say that out loud. That’s where we are as a city. It’s time.”
Oct. 24, 2024: King makes a $1,000 contribution to McCarty, bringing his total support to the maximum $4,000 according to campaign financial filings.
Nov. 1, 2024: Petrovich and his wife Cheryl Petrovich each donate $4,000 to McCarty campaign, according to campaign financial filings.
Dec. 3, 2024: McCarty is declared winner of mayor’s race by 1,938 votes.
Dec. 17, 2024: As both King and Petrovich lobby for new council to extend contract, Cofer makes bribe allegation in public comments prior to vote. “I worry why at least two political donors in Sacramento are willing to commit crimes to try to keep the unelected city manager in his job,” she says.
McCarty reverses his previous position, voting to reject a contract extension for Chan.
Following the vote, King sends a text message. “Kevin, everyone said your words couldn’t be trusted. U proved on the first chance you got that assessment is true. Now lets see how vindictive will you will be.”
McCarty responds, “My attorneys have advised me against any communication with you. I wish you well.”
This story was originally published February 6, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
CORRECTION: This story was updated Feb. 6 to correct Howard Chan’s new title and salary.
