Lucas Frerichs Joins Race for City Council
A fifth candidate has entered the race for the Davis City Council. That candidate is Lucas Frerichs – the current chair of the City of Davis Planning Commission.
Stephen Souza, Sue Greenwald and Dan Wolk are all up for reelection this June. Frerichs joins Brett Lee in challenging for those three council seats.
The Davis Vanguard reports that Frerichs supports the surface water project, but feels it can be done differently, and not necessarily with such drastic rate hikes. He also discussed land use and budget issues with the Vanguard.
Frerichs has been endorsed, according to his press release, by Don Saylor, Susan Lovenburg, Kristin Stoneking, and others. View the full list here.
He will hold a kickoff event in March. Here's his full release:
Lucas Frerichs, Chair of the City of Davis Planning Commission and community leader announced his candidacy for Davis City Council today.
“I have served our community for more than 12 years in volunteer leadership capacities,” said Lucas. “Now is the time for new vision, experience, and direction for the City of Davis. We stand at the threshold of a new era in city-state financing, investment in city infrastructure, sustainable budgeting, environmental planning and community caring. I want to lead us into that era prepared and ahead of the game.”
Frerichs currently serves on both the Planning Commission (2008-current-Chair/2012) as well as the Innovation Park Task Force (2011-current). Previously he served on the Social Services Commission for four years (2004-2008- Chair/2008), as well on the city’s General Plan Housing Element Update Steering Committee for two years (2007-08).
Frerichs’ extensive community service also includes membership on the board of Directors of Yolo Basin Foundation, Davis Media Access, Saving California Communities, California Center for Cooperative Development, Acme Theatre Company and serving as the elected Treasurer of the Yolo County Democratic Party.
“Davis is one of the most livable and environmentally aware communities in California,” said Frerichs, “but we can do better. I know I can play a role in ensuring that we preserve what is best about Davis and lead us into the future with new, cutting edge practical policies."
“Davis has a quality of life which is sought after by other cities throughout the nation, and many key attributes such as the vibrant downtown, US Bicycling Hall of Fame, a world-class Farmers Market, a nationally recognized Food Co-op, protected open space, and countless recreational opportunities for all ages, make this an unparalleled place to live and work. Moreover, Davis is an excellent community in which to raise a family.”
“Additionally, I will work in a collaborative way to strengthen the city’s ties with the university. There are many common goals that both institutions share and by working together, we can ensure they become a reality.”
In his professional life, Frerichs, 32, is a Senior Policy Consultant for the California State Assembly, and works on natural resources issues, including water, agriculture, recycling, and renewable energy policy.
Frerichs served on the Board of Directors of the Davis Food Co-op, one of the city’s largest private employers, for nine years, from 1999-2008. He served as Board President from 2003-2005 and helped guide the Co-op, the downtown’s anchor grocery store, through the approval and financing of a $4 million re-model and expansion.
A long time affordable housing advocate, Frerichs served on the Board of Directors of the Yolo Mutual Housing Association from 2000-2008. As Board Chairman from 2005 to 2008, Frerichs led the effort to build over 200 units of much needed permanently affordable housing throughout Davis and Yolo County.
“My service and experience on both the Davis Food Co-op and the Yolo Mutual Housing Association board of directors has given me useful tools to guide Davis into a new era,” Frerichs said, “including hands-on budgeting, and employee contract negotiation skills, as well as project management experience. These skills, together with years of city commission experience, shape the core of the vision I have for the city.
Lucas, and his wife Stacie Frerichs, along with several friends, including former Mayor Mike Corbett, co-built an infill project in Central Davis in 2008. “The Davis community has regularly engaged in a discussion about creating housing through infill projects. My wife and I have put words into action, and we’re making our best attempt to live the principles we strongly believe.”
Born in upstate New York, and raised in Anchorage, Alaska, Frerichs moved to Davis in 1996. He graduated from Davis High School in 1997, where he was a member of the DHS Jazz Choir and Acme Theatre Company.
Frerichs holds a degree in Government from California State University, Sacramento and a certificate in Land Use and Environmental Planning from UC Davis.
In his spare time, Lucas enjoys hiking/biking, gardening, tending to his backyard chicken flock, and walking his dog, Poppy.
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Endorsements for Lucas Frerichs for City Council
Among those who have endorsed Lucas Frerichs are -- according to a release from the candidate -- Don Saylor, Susan Lovenburg, Kristin Stoneking, and more. The full list is below.
Delaine Eastin, California Superintendent of Public Instruction (Former) (Campaign Chair)
Mike McGowan, Yolo County Supervisor
Don Saylor, Yolo County Supervisor
Helen M. Thomson, Former Yolo County Supervisor
Betsy Marchand, Former Yolo County Supervisor
Cass Sylvia, Yolo County Public Guardian
Ruth Asmundson, Former Davis Mayor
Mike Corbett, Former Davis Mayor
Ann M. Evans, Former Davis Mayor
Susan Lovenburg, Davis School Board President
Sheila Allen, Davis School Board Member
Richard Harris, Davis School Board Member
Tim Taylor, Davis School Board Member
Jan Bridge, Former Davis School Board Member
Marty West, Former Davis School Board Member
Mark Braly, Davis Planning Commission
Ananya Choudhuri, Davis Planning Commission
Marilee Hanson, Davis Planning Commission
Rob Hoffman, Davis Planning Commission
Mike Levy, Former Member, Davis Planning Commission
Tracy Harris, Co-Chair, Davis Business and Economic Development Commission
Steve Boschken, Co-Chair, Davis Business and Economic Development Commission
Brian Horsefield, Davis Business and Economic Development Commission
Bob Agee, Former Chair, Davis Business and Economic Development Commission
Anthony Costello, Former Chair, Davis Business and Economic Development Commission
Alan Fernandes, Former Chair, Davis Business and Economic Development Commission
Robb Davis, Member, Davis Bicycle Advisory Commission
Eric Gelber, Davis Social Services Commission
Jenna Templeton, Davis Social Services Commission
Vanessa Errecarte, Former Chair, Davis Social Services Commission
Lorraine Hwang, Former Member, Davis Recreation and Park Commission
Rebecca Ryland, Former Member, Davis Civic Arts Commission
Bob Schelen, Chair, Yolo County Democratic Central Committee
Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, Mayor Pro-Tem, City of Winters
Bob Schelen, Chair, Yolo County Democratic Party
Gregg Herrington, DSIDE Co-chair
Davis Campbell, Former Member, Yolo County Board of Education
Stacie Frerichs
Kristin Stoneking
Bill Julian
Elaine Fingerett
Alan Hastings
Elisa Levy
Elly Fairclough
Jan Agee
Jonathan Clay
Ed Clemens
Jacqueline Clemens
Tom Cross
Elly Fairclough
John Mott-Smith
Carrie Cummings-Ziegler
Jay Ziegler
Leslie Hunter
Robert Canning
Tia Will
Ben Pearl
Andrea Jones
John T. Jones
Warren Jones
Judy Moores
Eldridge Moores
Dorothy Peterson
Dina Biscotti
Siva Gunda
Chris Corbett
Nicole Brashear
Tom Cross
Emily Henderson
Elizabeth Fulmer
Kate Raymond
Claire Black-Slotton
Alf Brandt
Diane Parro
Jon Parro
Eve Hightower
Ryan Galt
Bob Segar
Jennifer Segar
Don Palm
Barbara Meixner
Rick Krogsrud
Nikki Grey Rutamu
Larry Jo