Randy Bayne reports that Gary Davis, a member of the Elk Grove City Council, has announced that he will run against Dan Lungren in CA-03. He’s unveiled an official campaign website named Davis Beats Lungren, which certainly displays confidence.
Davis also works as the Political Director for EdVoice in addition to serving on the Elk Grove City Council, and was a legislative director for Darrell Steinberg when he served in the State Assembly. EdVoice has lined up on the “reformer” side of the divide inside the Democratic Party over education, supporting charter schools and vouchers, and often raising the ire of teacher’s unions. CEOs like Reed Hastings of Netflix and Don Fisher of the Gap fund EdVoice, and they have played in many local races with independent expernditure money. See this very lame EdVoice attack on eventual winner Mariko Yamada used in AD-08 last cycle on behalf of Christopher Cabaldon for an example. Simply put, EdVoice has used deep pockets to try and become a special interest player in Sacramento, with mixed results.
I’ve been adamant that we need a real candidate in CA-03 to take advantage of this opportunity in that district. I still believe Phil Angelides, who has been unusually active in the special election battle (advocating a No vote, I might add), could make a good fit here. Hopefully, I’ll have a chance to talk to Davis in the next couple weeks, but his association with EdVoice doesn’t exactly make me leap to the phone to make a donation.
Whoops, I misread that. I was thinking that was rather strange that he’d be looking for that kind of political comeback..
… and he’s in tune with his district, particularly on the issues you dont seem to like. Phil Angelides doesn’t live in the district, has super high negatives, and would be the Republican dream come true opponent.
(i’m hoping he falls into the same hole which has graciously swallowed steve westley and grey davis), and i don’t know a thing about gary davis, but ugh about edvoice. i’ve got no use for those guys, after all the crap they flung in the 8th primary. not sure i’d oppose davis based on that, but it isn’t a mark for him in my book.
as this race heats up, i’m going to have to more get up to speed; while i’m not in the 3rd at the moment, it’s quite likely yolo will get drawn into it after redistricting. it was our district in the 90s, when dog ose “represented” us.
…or maybe it is, but that isn’t what I felt when I met with him. It was more a air of entitlement, not unlike what I felt with Cabaldon when he ran in AD-08. Admittedly, I have issues with Davis, and more crop up all the time.
First is his relationship with EdVoice. I’m concerned with where he really stands on public education. EdVoice favors the management side of education and supports charter schools and vouchers. Not only do they raise the ire of the teachers unions, they are anathema to classified employees.
A second issue is one I’m still investigating his relationship too. More on that later on my blog when I have information and facts.
I do agree, “his association with EdVoice doesn’t exactly make me leap to the phone to make a donation.”