Is a 2006 repeat in the cards for city council?

In 2006, two powerful challengers rode a wave of public discontent to unseat two incumbents - Rick Soares (left) and Dan Briggs (bottom).

Those challengers - Pat Hume and Gary Davis - not only pulled off the campaign victory but also have given hope to some challengers in this year's Elk Grove City Council election.
Steve Detrick and all three candidates challenging Sophia Scherman have vigorously inserted themselves and their beliefs into the public eye and are working hard to win. Whether any can unseat an incumbent will be determined on Nov. 4.

In past elections, this year's three incumbents have had different paths to their council seats.
District 1 incumbent Jim Cooper has traditionally had an easy time of things. His only challenger this year is LaWanna Montgomery, someone he beat handily in 2004 by a whopping 17,000+ votes.
In 2004, Scherman had five challengers in District 5 and won by a slim margin over second place finisher Carol McElheny, edging her with around a 2,500-vote margin.
Leary also had a passle of challengers in 2004, and secured the win over second place finisher Mary Addi by just more than 2,000 votes. The District 3 race had four candidates aside from Leary and Addi, including Marco Rodriguez and Braulio "BT" Torres.

Jeff Forward, Elk Grove Citizen

Looks like Simmons got the last laugh...

Now retired Elk Grove police Chief Robert Simmons, pictured in the center of the photo at an Elk Grove City Council meeting in 2007, took a lot of public heat from Elk Grove City Council Member Mike Leary over alleged traffic ticket quotas.
Leary repeatedly bashed Simmons during open sessions of the city council earlier this year, alleging the former chief ordered traffic ticket quotas in order to raise revenue.
Simmons flatly and continually denied the allegations and Leary also was chided by Mayor Gary Davis for his line of attack on Simmons.
Now, Simmons is free to ride his Harley-Davidson around town and enjoy life. He can also do things like throw his support in this year's city council election toward Leary challenger Steve Detrick. Indeed, Simmons did decide to endorse Detrick over Leary.
Leary for his part has admitted the ticket quota controversy has cost him some key endorsements - the Elk Grove Police Officers Association also endorsed Detrick over Leary - and that he faces "obstacles" in his bid for re-election.

Jeff Forward, Elk Grove Citizen

Cosumnes CSD Forum - Albiani Opening Statement

Gil Albiani, seeking his second term on the CCSD board, makes his case for re-election during his opening comments during the Oct. 16 CCSD candidate forum.

Video & Text By Jeff Forward, Elk Grove Citizen.

Linda Le Park parent column now on blog

Linda Le Park's parenting column is a regular Wednesday feature in the Citizen. It can also be found online at egcitizen.com and on her new new blog. I will link it to the left later today.
JF