Get to know the local candidates on your Davis ballot for the 2024 election
Davis City Council, District 2
Three candidates
LINDA DEOS
Age: 62
Residence: Davis
Title/occupation: Planning Commissioner/ Attorney
Education:
- Certificate of completion, Senior Executives in State & Local Government Program, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University Executive Education, 2022
- Certificate of completion, Behavioral Insights and Public Policy Program, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University Executive Education, 2023
- Juris Doctorate, University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law
- B.A. in international policy studies, Monterey Institute of International Studies, Middlebury College
- Studied in Istanbul, Turkey, as American Field Service student
Work experience:
- CEO, DeosLaw, PC, 2009-present
- Staff Counsel III, Employment Development Department, State of California, 2000-05
Civic engagement:
- Volunteer, Davis Interfaith Rotating Winter Shelter, 2012-18
- Court Appointed Mediator, Eastern District of California, 2016-20
- Board Member, Davis Democratic Club, 2017-present
- Commissioner and Chair, Yolo County Cannabis Business Tax Oversight, 2018-20
- Utilities Commissioner and Chair, City of Davis, 2018-22
- Board Member, Yolo Basin Foundation, 2018-22
- Member, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Davis Lodge #169, 2018-present
- Volunteer Site Coordinator, Yolo Food Bank, 2020-21
- Campaign Cabinet Member, Paul’s Place Homeless Shelter, 2020-22
- Chair, Yolo County Democratic Central Committee, 2020-24
- Planning Commissioner, City of Davis, 2022-present
What do you believe is the most important issue facing your constituents today, and what will you do to address it?
While I believe housing is the most important issue, as well as city financial responsibility, I will use this question to address separate issues because there are dedicated questions touching on the other issues.
One of the other most critical issues we need to address is creating a climate-ready Davis. We stand at a pivotal moment in our shared responsibility to address climate change. The impacts of a warming planet are evident, from extreme weather events to shifts in our local ecosystems. I am dedicated to leading Davis towards a sustainable and resilient future. Through investment in renewable energy, enhancement of public transportation, and the promotion of eco-friendly practices, we can reduce our carbon footprint and create a model for environmental stewardship.
We also need to become climate resilient. From heat waves to floods to wildfires and smoke, we face myriad climate challenges. Our community must be ready to address these head on, by providing equitable solutions for our most vulnerable communities and ensuring we can keep power on during our worst storms and heat waves. We must collaborate to implement policies that safeguard our community, preserve our natural resources, and leave a healthier, more sustainable Davis for generations to come.
To achieve this, we must make progress on creating a micro-grid to have more autonomy and control over our power. Everyone has seen what PG&E has done to the state and we’re all facing rate increases. I support local control over our grid. Together, we can take meaningful steps towards combating climate change and building a greener, more vibrant future.
Davis, like other cities, faces the challenge of addressing housing needs both in density and cost. What is your vision for the issue of integrating higher-density housing without compromising the city’s existing suburban character?
The most important issue facing our community is the availability and affordability of housing. Affordable and accessible housing is fundamental to our community’s success and future. Davis faces a critical housing problem, with home prices and rental rates outpacing the financial capabilities of many residents, particularly students, young families and seniors. This shortage of affordable housing threatens to erode the diversity and inclusivity that make Davis such a vibrant place to live.
The housing issue is a fulcrum for so many other problems. Families struggle to stay in Davis, local businesses find it harder to attract and retain employees, and economic inequality deepens. We are seeing the impacts of lack of housing already; we have less families going downtown and our schools are facing declining enrollment. We have shuttered storefronts resulting in less diversity of businesses. Our schools are facing difficult decisions with cutting classes and curriculum.
I support densification. The downtown plan that was passed while I was on the Planning Commission is a great first step, and we are already seeing dense housing proposals being proposed. A lack of action on housing is what is compromising the character of the town. Davis’ vibrancy is built on our community engagement and lively events. We need to revitalize the downtown and our neighborhoods.
To address housing, we need a multi-pronged approach. I will advocate for increased development of affordable housing units through both public and private partnerships; I will push for policies that protect renters; I will collaborate with regional partners to address housing needs on a larger scale, recognizing that affordable housing is a regional issue that requires regional solutions.
Affordable housing is essential to the health and future of Davis, and I am committed to ensuring that everyone who wants to live here can find a home.
Do you support Measure Q, the one-cent sales tax increase, that proponents say will help pay for a variety of programs from public safety to climate change to pothole repair?
Yes, I support Measure Q. This one-cent sales tax increase is essential to addressing Davis’ current spending shortfall and the lack of general fund reserves. Our city faces a critical funding gap that threatens the sustainability of essential services, from public safety to infrastructure maintenance, including improving our roads and greenbelts, servicing our parks, and keeping downtown clean.
Our general fund reserves are low, about half what is recommended for cities our size. We also have unfunded liabilities that we will need to pay. This financial shortfall puts the city at risk of deeper cuts and delayed maintenance, which could lead to more costly repairs down the road. With Measure Q, we can responsibly fund necessary services while also addressing pressing infrastructure needs such as pothole repair and road safety improvements.
One of the most important aspects of supporting Measure Q is ensuring transparency and accountability in how these funds are spent. If elected, I will advocate for a return to regular budget audits and reviews. As a bankruptcy attorney who has reviewed thousands of budgets and financial documents, I am well qualified to ensure the city is spending its money efficiently and in line with the community’s priorities.
It’s crucial that the city not only raises the revenue it needs but also demonstrates responsible spending practices to rebuild trust with residents. Measure Q will not unilaterally solve all our issues, but it’s an important step.
Measure Q offers Davis the opportunity to improve our financial security and allows us to continue investing in our future.
VICTOR LAGUNES
Age: 36
Residence: Davis, District 2
Title/occupation: Teacher/Union Leader
Education: B.A. and master’s in teaching, UC Davis
Work experience:
- Classroom teacher, junior high level, 2013-present
- Union leadership, last 9 years
- President, Davis Teachers Association, elected in 2018
What do you believe is the most important issue facing your constituents today, and what will you do to address it?
The issue that is most important to the Davis community is housing. The scarcity and high cost of both ownership and renting in Davis has a pervasive impact on every level of our community and connects to other issues important to Davis voters: climate, open spaces, schools, the unhoused, and more.
I am a teacher in Davis and am serving my third term as president of Davis Teachers Association, and I have seen how our lack of available and affordable housing has affected students’ and teachers’ families alike. Young families, just starting out, cannot afford to live in Davis. Renter families can’t save enough to transition to becoming homeowners. Seniors can’t afford to downsize and struggle with their family-sized homes as they age. UC Davis students struggle to stay housed while they get their degrees, then can’t settle here after graduation even if they wish to.
This affects the tax base that funds our schools as well as the city services that so many Davis residents want, such as road repair and maintenance of our parks and greenbelts. It also has climate and traffic impacts, as children are more likely driven to school since they can’t live within walking or biking distances. And it harms our local businesses as their client base shrinks while rents rise, forcing them to close.
We have struggled to gain voter approval for housing developments in the past, but I believe the dire situation is causing a shift in attitudes. My background in community advocacy with DTA and the Davis Community Action Network which seeks to find affordable and climate-smart housing solutions can make the difference. I plan to draw on my skills in organizing, community engagement and communication, to work toward greater consensus and progress on more missing middle housing, infill projects and responsible peripheral growth.
Davis, like other cities, faces the challenge of addressing housing needs both in density and cost. What is your vision for the issue of integrating higher-density housing without compromising the city’s existing suburban character?
The scarcity and high cost of housing in California is exacerbated in Davis due to limited growth and slow pace of infill over the last 20 years. This has led to the urgency for more housing of a greater variety of types, such as duplexes, condos and townhomes to meet these demands and continue our community’s commitment to using lands for open spaces, bike paths, parks and our urban forests. There are a variety of ways we can address housing density in Davis through both infill and peripheral growth.
For infill projects, we must evaluate the properties that are already owned by the city that can be developed and begin those projects. Community outreach will be needed in those neighborhoods to educate the community on the need for greater density housing and solicit feedback on how the designs can be integrated seamlessly into each neighborhood. Additionally, in mixed-use zones and areas near central commercial districts, we must develop greater housing availability through vertical residential growth. This will increase supply, density, walk- and bike-ability, and be designs that are at more accessible price-points for seniors, students, and working people while contributing to economic development of our downtown and other areas without sacrificing the current character of Davis.
For the development of new peripheral projects, our city must hold developers to their agreements for affordable housing minimums, promote projects that have greater varieties of housing types that increase density and limit our land usage, and set aside significant lands for open-spaces and parks.
Do you support Measure Q, the one-cent sales tax increase, that proponents say will help pay for a variety of programs from public safety to climate change to pothole repair?
Certain basic, quality-of-life problems in Davis can no longer be ignored or deferred, but demand an immediate fix. For that reason, I support Measure Q. Ask the kids that bike to school, ask the walking groups on our greenbelts, ask your neighbors about potholes in our local streets: Our city has a responsibility to repair them in a timely fashion.
We identified a clear need for additional revenue for infrastructure in 2018 when Davis put forth a special tax specifically for street and bike path maintenance. In the wake of the pandemic, construction costs have risen and the state of our roads and paths worsened. Passing Measure Q now will allow us to make repairs sooner and save long-term costs.
The financial stability and sustainability of our city is paramount. We must continue to offer critical services such as emergency response and public safety, keep up with employee compensation to fill critical staffing positions, and provide the support programs for our residents by addressing homelessness and investing in affordable housing. The Downtown Davis Business Association supports Measure Q because our businesses need more services to maintain the attractiveness of our downtown. Woodland, West Sacramento and Winters have all placed identical taxes on the ballot, demonstrating that these fiscal challenges are not Davis-specific but are shared by municipalities regionally.
I share a concern some Davisites have expressed that the tax is regressive, affecting our working-class residents more proportionally to their income; however, Measure Q is structured to support greater accessibility and economic opportunity for these residents and their families by investing in the housing trust fund.
Measure Q will not be a cure-all for these issues. We need to cultivate economic development and grow our tax base to ensure our city’s revenue will keep up with demand for services.
OTHER CANDIDATE
Candidate who did not respond: Dillan Horton
Davis City Council, District 3
One candidate
DONNA NEVILLE
Age: 67
Residence: Davis, CA
Title/occupation: City Councilmember
Education: Master’s in writing
Work experience:
- Served as legal counsel to the California Legislature for twelve years
- Served as chief counsel to the California State Auditor
- I have broad legal experience including working on environmental laws, education law and public finance
Civic engagement:
- Served on the City of Davis Finance and Budget Commission and on the Planning Commission
- Chaired the Davis Joint Unified School District Measure M Bond Oversight Committee
What do you believe is the most important issue facing your constituents today, and what will you do to address it?
I ran for office because I knew that Davis needed to take serious action to address housing availability and affordability. The fact that the median price for a home in Davis is close to $900,000 makes buying a home completely out of reach for working families and individuals. I am working to promote the development of sustainable, affordable housing in Davis. It begins by making sure that everyone recognizes the need to make more housing available. Then we have to tackle the hard issue of getting affordable housing built. We need to build housing that is denser and take advantage of state and federal funding for affordable housing.
Davis, like other cities, faces the challenge of addressing housing needs both in density and cost. What is your vision for the issue of integrating higher-density housing without compromising the city’s existing suburban character?
First, we are currently working to do as much dense infill as possible. Our Downtown Plan provides certainty to developers and encourages dense infill using a streamlined process. It’s unlikely we will be able to meet the requirements of our Housing Element beyond the current cycle if we don’t do some development on the periphery of the city. But we need to be sure that these projects maximize the number of affordable units. As we embark on our General Plan update the way we do our Circulation Element (the way people move around) will be critical to promoting a bike- and pedestrian-friendly community, which is an important aspect of the character of Davis.
Do you support Measure Q, the one-cent sales tax increase, that proponents say will help pay for a variety of programs from public safety to climate change to pothole repair?
Yes. I absolutely support this much-needed modest increase to our local sales tax. The revenue it will generate will allow us to repair roads, maintain our parks and bike paths, address climate change, homelessness and other city services. Together with our increased attention to economic development we can provide the level of quality our community deserves.
Davis City Council, District 5
One candidate
Joshua Chapman
Davis JUSD, Area 2
Two candidates
LIZZY GRIFFITH
Age: 39
Residence: Davis
Title/occupation: Public Policy Researcher
Education: Ph.D. in Cultural Anthropology, UC Santa Cruz, with a graduate certificate from the Science & Justice Research Center
Work experience:
I currently serve at the California Department of Social Services, where I oversee teams that oversees evaluation, innovation, and special projects for the CalWORKs (cash assistance) program. Prior to CDSS, I taught Cultural Anthropology at Scripps College.
Civic engagement:
I was appointed to the Davis Bicycling, Transportation and Street Safety Commission and served from 2020-2022. During that time I was chair of the Davis Innovation and Sustainability Campus Sub-committee.
I was elected to the North Area Neighborhood Development Council in Los Angeles, a municipal office that serves the City Council in an advisory capacity on local matters.
What is the key initiative you want to pursue if you are elected?
If elected, I would increase the representation of families of young children to the board. I also want to pursue increasing transparency and accountability of the board. Finally, I want to ensure the continuous quality improvement methods are used in implementing the existing strategic plan for the district.
How do you plan to address the achievement/opportunity gap in the district?
I would prioritize what the Davis community has already established as our priorities in the existing strategic plan. However, I would want to ensure that we are using data to track and iterate this as needed. Demographic achievement gaps are unfortunately not unique to DJUSD. Not all students are starting from the same position, and not all are going home to the same circumstances. Currently, my professional work looks at this issue through a variety of different lenses. As one example, my team launched a statewide Racial Equity and Implicit Bias training for social workers who work with participants in public assistance programs, and the feedback and outcomes of this effort are quite encouraging. DJUSD could look into similar initiatives to ensure that staff and teachers are implementing best practices for equity in their work.
How would you rate the quality of special education in the district, and what changes need to be made to ensure all students with special needs receive a quality education?
This is an area that the DJUSD board could work to improve. We need to ensure that there are evidence-based best practices in place as we work to support these families.
OTHER CANDIDATE
Candidate who did not respond: Lea Darrah
This story was originally published October 6, 2024 at 4:55 AM.