Gary Davis for Congress 2010

Background:

Gary Davis was born and raised in Rancho Cordova, California. Gary and his wife Heather are raising their 3 children in Elk Grove, where he (Gary) serves on the (Elk Grove) City Council and was Mayor in 2008. As a member of the Elk Grove City Council, Gary has brought quality jobs to the community, championed the Strong Neighborhoods Initiative, reduced crime, and reformed city hall.
Professionally, Gary works for EdVoice, a nonprofit education advocacy organization working to improve student achievement in California public schools. Before joining EdVoice, Gary worked as a Program Director at California State University, Sacramento, and as the Executive Director of the Sacramento State Alumni Association. Before returning to Elk Grove, Gary served for four years as a Trustee on the Natomas School Board.
Additional Community Service Activities:
Member, Elk Grove Economic Development Corporation Board
Founder, Elk Grove Youth Sports Foundation
Member, City of Elk Grove Quality of Life Task Force
Commissioner, California's Advisory Commission on Charter Schools.
Board Member, Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG)
Board Member, Sacramento Air Quality Management District
President, Natomas Unified School District Board of Trustees, 2000 - 2004
Chair, Natomas Kids First, a successful effort to pass a $45 million school bond, 2004
Board of Directors, CSUS Foundation, 1998 - 1999
Member, SACOG Regional Transportation Planning Round Table, 2000 - 2001

Goals:

I was born and raised in the 3rd Congressional District. I love serving on the City Council and being mayor. As mayor, I have a strong track record of creating jobs and improving the safety of our neighborhoods. However, the best way for me to continue serving my community is to go to Washington and represent the needs of our district on a national level.
Our region has been hit hard by the economic downturn. We need jobs. In Washington, I'll make sure our communities are getting the resources and leadership needed to be at the center of the economic recovery.
It's time for you to be represented by a member of Congress who works hard and brings fresh ideas to the table to help address the urgent challenges we face.
I will be an advocate for creating local jobs, increasing public safety, improving access to affordable and high quality health care, and increasing funding for education for all our families.

Issues:

1. Creating quality jobs and turning our economy around - one community at a time.

2. Quality and affordable health care for every American.

3. Improving our struggling public schools by increasing student achievement and providing more support for teachers.

Grassroots Support:

Grassroots support has been at the heart of every one of my campaigns. Boots-on-the-ground volunteers, neighborhood outreach, and community support have helped me defeat high profile Republicans in the past, and now, together we can beat Dan Lungren.

DFA Values:

In my decade of public service on the city council, school board, and as the Mayor of Elk Grove, I have faced many challenges. At the center of my success has been an enduring spirit of community and activism. When faced with the recent economic troubles, the city of Elk Grove took many formal steps to protect jobs and homeowners. However, this was not enough. We needed to address the recession on a neighborhood level as well. In response to this need, I founded the Playground Partners organization to create a community space in a neighborhood otherwise devastated by foreclosures and abandonments.
It is in this spirit of community and activism that I hope to serve in the United States Congress and represent the neighborhoods and small towns of the 3rd District.