Thus far 3 Davis City Council candidates have publicly announced plans to limit contributions from developers. Linda Deos, Larry Gunther and Ezra Beeman have declared developer contributions off limits.
Linda Deos’s website states, “As an independent voice for Davis, I will not accept any campaign contributions from developers.” Her website does not list endorsements of any developers.
Council candidate Larry Gunther posted a statement on the Davis Enterprise website. “I will not be taking contributions from anyone who does business with the City of Davis – employees, labor unions, developers, etc. I agree that it represents a conflict of interest. In the interest of transparency, I have received a donation from a developer and his wife. These have been returned and can be publicly verified at the next financial reporting.”
Council Candidate Ezra Beeman has posted on his Facebook page. “I share the concerns of Rich [Rifkin – Davis Entrerprise] and Larry (and Linda), and will not be taking donations from developers, employees, labor unions, or other lobbying groups. I will also work to strengthen conflict of interest reporting by the Council, employees, etc.”
Beeman further stated, “This will avoid a conflict of interest when developer, salary, etc. issues come before the council. I urge all the other candidates to do the same, as independent Councillors are in the best interest of the community.”
By Comparison Council Candidate Dan Carson seems to have embraced Davis developers and developer contributions. He is endorsed by Tim Ruff of Nishi partners that is seeking to push forward the extremely controversial Nishi project. Carson is also endorsed by Dan Ramos, the lead developer for the enormous Mace Ranch Innovation Center East of Mace Blvd. Carson is also endorsed by Jason Taormino who is part of the group seeking to develop the West Davis Active Adult Community West of the Sutter hospital.
Carson is also endorsed by Randy Yackzan of the Yackzan Group land development and property management company.
The Davis Enterprise reported on Carson’s 2017 donations, “Carson received contributions from 130 people, including current City Council members Will Arnold and Lucas Frerichs; former state Sen. Lois Wolk; and local developers Tim Ruff, Dave Taormino and Dan Ramos.”
The Enterprise further noted, “Ruff is developing the Nishi student housing project with John Whitcombe — which the current council voted to place on the June ballot earlier this week — while Taormino has proposed the West Davis Active Adult Community, which the council will consider placing on the November ballot. Both contributed the 2017 maximum $100 to Carson’s campaign.” And that, “Ramos, project manager for the proposed Mace Ranch Innovation Center, also contributed $100 to Carson’s campaign.”
$100 was the 2017 donation limit.
Eric Gudz who has spoken at several city meetings on behalf of development projects including Sterling, Lincoln 40, Trackside and Nishi 2.0 makes no pledge to limit contributions from developers. Gudz is endorsed by Kemble Pope, the developer of the very controversial Trackside project. Pope is also the developer of the hotly contested 11 unit B St. Residences which has been approved for construction accross the street from single family homes.
Davisite 
Leave a comment