The Davis Enterprise Endorses Rexroad

There is a battle currently being waged for the “soul” of the Yolo democratic political machine. Money and entrenched power are against change and only by vigorous, committed participation can Yolo Democrats be proud, once again, of this label.

There is a battle currently being waged for the “soul” of the Yolo democratic political machine. Money and entrenched power are against change and only by vigorous, committed participation can Yolo Democrats be proud, once again, of this label.

Doug Paul Davis and Davisite —

I am looking forward to representing you on the Yolo County Board of Supervisors.

This endorsement by the Enterprise makes it a clean sweep. The Sacramento Bee, Daily Democrat, and Davis Enterprise have all weighed in on this race twice. Each time they have sided with the person that actually has a track record of getting things done.

The reality is that Woodland does not have a voice on the Board of Supervisors. I am sorry that you are disappointed that you will miss having Thomson, Yamada, and Sieferman speaking for Davis but the people of Woodland deserve a voice. I will provide that voice.

Please call me at home if you have any questions. My home number is 662-5184.

Matt Rexroad

P.S. Nice site. The more information the better.

Doug Paul Davis and Davisite —

I am looking forward to representing you on the Yolo County Board of Supervisors.

This endorsement by the Enterprise makes it a clean sweep. The Sacramento Bee, Daily Democrat, and Davis Enterprise have all weighed in on this race twice. Each time they have sided with the person that actually has a track record of getting things done.

The reality is that Woodland does not have a voice on the Board of Supervisors. I am sorry that you are disappointed that you will miss having Thomson, Yamada, and Sieferman speaking for Davis but the people of Woodland deserve a voice. I will provide that voice.

Please call me at home if you have any questions. My home number is 662-5184.

Matt Rexroad

P.S. Nice site. The more information the better.

Greeting Matt Rexroad.

I noticed Mr. Rexroad was kind enough to comment on this site on his blog:

http://www.rexroad.com/Blog/tabid/78/EntryID/1368/Default.aspx

I always like the publicity, of course, I could have done without him calling me a “rocket scientiest.” As Goerge Will was to Tony La Russa, so will Matt Rexroad be to Doug Paul Davis. Okay, probably not.

While I certainly would not vote for Matt Rexroad if I lived in his district, in all fairness he was a target of opportunity. The real target of this blog was the continuing behavior of the Davis Enterprise–to the point where I think all of us would be stunned if Matt Rexroad was not the endorsed candidate. Second, the Democrats in this town that have no compunctions about supporting Republicans. Less so, Rexroad than Reisig. At some point, Democrats are going to realize that when they support Republicans for DA or County Supervisor, they are starting the career of a promising young politician.

Rexroad is a young guy, barely older than me, and he has a very bright future ahead of him. At some point, Democrats like Howard Dean realized that Republicans are better at this stuff than we are and we need to start emulating them.

Greeting Matt Rexroad.

I noticed Mr. Rexroad was kind enough to comment on this site on his blog:

http://www.rexroad.com/Blog/tabid/78/EntryID/1368/Default.aspx

I always like the publicity, of course, I could have done without him calling me a “rocket scientiest.” As Goerge Will was to Tony La Russa, so will Matt Rexroad be to Doug Paul Davis. Okay, probably not.

While I certainly would not vote for Matt Rexroad if I lived in his district, in all fairness he was a target of opportunity. The real target of this blog was the continuing behavior of the Davis Enterprise–to the point where I think all of us would be stunned if Matt Rexroad was not the endorsed candidate. Second, the Democrats in this town that have no compunctions about supporting Republicans. Less so, Rexroad than Reisig. At some point, Democrats are going to realize that when they support Republicans for DA or County Supervisor, they are starting the career of a promising young politician.

Rexroad is a young guy, barely older than me, and he has a very bright future ahead of him. At some point, Democrats like Howard Dean realized that Republicans are better at this stuff than we are and we need to start emulating them.

Doug… Rexroad is a slick Republican political operative,a la Karl Rove -Yolo County edition. Keep a hand over your jugular as you play cat and mouse with him.

Doug… Rexroad is a slick Republican political operative,a la Karl Rove -Yolo County edition. Keep a hand over your jugular as you play cat and mouse with him.

Vanguard, I think you have this partisanship issue completely mixed up.

The way I read what The Enterprise was saying about partisanship in the Rexroad/Sieferman race was that the people of the Third District ought to vote for the best person for the job, regardless of party. Matt Rexroad is an intelligent, thoughtful, hard working and effective public servant. Frank Sieferman is a boob.

If you followed the Conaway Ranch eminent domain debacle, for example, you would know this. Sieferman not only went along like a lemming with his misguided colleagues on that issue, but he couldn’t for his life explain why he voted the way he did. It’s not obvious, when you listen to Frank Sieferman speak, that he’s playing with a full deck.

If the issues that divided Rexroad and Sieferman fell along partisan or philosophical lines, then a partisan approach by the Democratic Party might make sense. But Matt and Frank’s philosophical differences pale in comparison to their differences of competency.

That is not to say that they don’t disagree on how to approach and solve problems. They do. Matt is a problem solver. Frank is a problem.

Your characterization of Matt Rexroad as some kind of pro-growth robot is ridiculous. It is Rexroad, not Sieferman, who has taken the lead in reigning in sprawl in Woodland.

Vanguard, I think you have this partisanship issue completely mixed up.

The way I read what The Enterprise was saying about partisanship in the Rexroad/Sieferman race was that the people of the Third District ought to vote for the best person for the job, regardless of party. Matt Rexroad is an intelligent, thoughtful, hard working and effective public servant. Frank Sieferman is a boob.

If you followed the Conaway Ranch eminent domain debacle, for example, you would know this. Sieferman not only went along like a lemming with his misguided colleagues on that issue, but he couldn’t for his life explain why he voted the way he did. It’s not obvious, when you listen to Frank Sieferman speak, that he’s playing with a full deck.

If the issues that divided Rexroad and Sieferman fell along partisan or philosophical lines, then a partisan approach by the Democratic Party might make sense. But Matt and Frank’s philosophical differences pale in comparison to their differences of competency.

That is not to say that they don’t disagree on how to approach and solve problems. They do. Matt is a problem solver. Frank is a problem.

Your characterization of Matt Rexroad as some kind of pro-growth robot is ridiculous. It is Rexroad, not Sieferman, who has taken the lead in reigning in sprawl in Woodland.

Mr. Rifkin:

“The way I read what The Enterprise was saying about partisanship in the Rexroad/Sieferman race was that the people of the Third District ought to vote for the best person for the job, regardless of party.”

This is how I read it as well. I may disagree on your characterization of Sieferman and Rexroad, however, the major point I was making in this piece was essentially that there is no non-partisan race. Not these days.

Here’s an example–Lois Wolk. In 1990 she was elected as a City Council member, she served for two terms, eight years and was twice Mayor. Then she became a County Supervisor from 1998 to 2002. Then she was elected to the State Assembly. In 2008, she’ll be termed out and run for the State Senate.

So what started out as a career in non-partisan office became a stepping stone for partisan office down the line. That’s what Howard Dean is thinking when he talks about creating a farm system for future partisan officeholders and why partisanship matters even if the issues involved in the Supervisor’s race are more individualistic.

Democrats who choose to vote for a guy like Rexroad or who previously voted for a guy like Reisig, need to realize that they may be helping to pave the way for the next Assemblyman, State Senator, Congressman or even US Senator.

Republicans became successful in the 1990s by identifying and supporting candidates for city council, mayor, and county supervisor in 1970s and grooming them to become candidates for congress. That’s exactly what they are doing with Matt Rexroad.

I understand your point that there are issues aside from partisanship, but the point I was raising was the importance of recognizing partisanship at an early stage and realizing that at 38, Matt Rexroad is not going to likely retire from public life as a County Supervisor. There are issues bigger than that.

Mr. Rifkin:

“The way I read what The Enterprise was saying about partisanship in the Rexroad/Sieferman race was that the people of the Third District ought to vote for the best person for the job, regardless of party.”

This is how I read it as well. I may disagree on your characterization of Sieferman and Rexroad, however, the major point I was making in this piece was essentially that there is no non-partisan race. Not these days.

Here’s an example–Lois Wolk. In 1990 she was elected as a City Council member, she served for two terms, eight years and was twice Mayor. Then she became a County Supervisor from 1998 to 2002. Then she was elected to the State Assembly. In 2008, she’ll be termed out and run for the State Senate.

So what started out as a career in non-partisan office became a stepping stone for partisan office down the line. That’s what Howard Dean is thinking when he talks about creating a farm system for future partisan officeholders and why partisanship matters even if the issues involved in the Supervisor’s race are more individualistic.

Democrats who choose to vote for a guy like Rexroad or who previously voted for a guy like Reisig, need to realize that they may be helping to pave the way for the next Assemblyman, State Senator, Congressman or even US Senator.

Republicans became successful in the 1990s by identifying and supporting candidates for city council, mayor, and county supervisor in 1970s and grooming them to become candidates for congress. That’s exactly what they are doing with Matt Rexroad.

I understand your point that there are issues aside from partisanship, but the point I was raising was the importance of recognizing partisanship at an early stage and realizing that at 38, Matt Rexroad is not going to likely retire from public life as a County Supervisor. There are issues bigger than that.

Classic Rifkin… much heat but very little light.. Concerning Conway Ranch, as I read it, the final negotiated agreement that protected Yolo agricultural water rights from being raped by Sacramento development interests was possible only because of the threat of eminent domain by the County. The developers paid all the County’s legal fees so there was no negative impact on County funds. Rather than a debacle, it was the best deal that could be negotiated once the Rumsey tribe withdrew its financial support for the purchase of the property.

Classic Rifkin… much heat but very little light.. Concerning Conway Ranch, as I read it, the final negotiated agreement that protected Yolo agricultural water rights from being raped by Sacramento development interests was possible only because of the threat of eminent domain by the County. The developers paid all the County’s legal fees so there was no negative impact on County funds. Rather than a debacle, it was the best deal that could be negotiated once the Rumsey tribe withdrew its financial support for the purchase of the property.

Good point Davisite, and an illustration of why the Conway Ranch issue was indeed about development and the use of eminent domain to secure a deal to prevent development of agricultural land. But hey, we all know that Rexroad is not pro-development and pro-growth. In Davis, nobody wants the label of pro-growth, they all use the euphemism of slow-growth or sustainable growth, but there is a clear difference between the goals of Saylor-Souza-Asmundson and Greenwald-Heystek. We all know who Matt Rexroad will side with on future issues–the developers and the people who lined his campaign coffers.

Good point Davisite, and an illustration of why the Conway Ranch issue was indeed about development and the use of eminent domain to secure a deal to prevent development of agricultural land. But hey, we all know that Rexroad is not pro-development and pro-growth. In Davis, nobody wants the label of pro-growth, they all use the euphemism of slow-growth or sustainable growth, but there is a clear difference between the goals of Saylor-Souza-Asmundson and Greenwald-Heystek. We all know who Matt Rexroad will side with on future issues–the developers and the people who lined his campaign coffers.

Classic Rifkin… much heat but very little light..

I love an anonymous commentator who feels compelled to start with an ad hominem attack. Very classy.

Concerning Conway Ranch, as I read it, the final negotiated agreement that protected Yolo agricultural water rights from being raped by Sacramento development interests was possible only because of the threat of eminent domain by the County.

Did you read the agreement between the county and the CPG? (It’s on the county’s website.) If you read the full agreement, as I did, and wrote a column about, there is no way you can conclude that.

First, with or without e.d., the Conaway water would largely stay in Yolo County. In fact, no water has been sold off the ranch in almost 20 years. When it was sold, Helen Thomson, as a matter of fact, signed off on it as a member of the Board of Supervisors.

Second, nothing much changes with the water per the recent settlement. It is true that the CPG has a new, albeit small incentive to sell any excess water inside Yolo County. Ironically, however, the county has a strong incentive now to encourage outside water sales.

Third, it is costly to transport water long distances. Very costly. So no matter what outside interests might want, any water sales always would likely be made locally.

The developers paid all the County’s legal fees so there was no negative impact on County funds.

This is not quite true. If you read my column on this topic, you will understand that the CPG will pay the county’s legal fees in 10 annual installments with no interest. Thus, the present value of those payments is about 75% of what the county spent on lawyers. And I should add that the county got royally ripped off by their lawyers.

Rather than a debacle, it was the best deal that could be negotiated once the Rumsey tribe withdrew its financial support for the purchase of the property.

The Rumsey tribe never withdrew its support. You are misinformed on that.

What is true is that because the county was going to have to pay 2-3 times as much for Conaway Ranch as our misguided Board majority was led to believe by its overpaid lawyers, Yolo County could not afford to buy make its mortgage payments to the Rumsey Indians. Thus, had they complete the condemnation process, before long the Rumsey Indians would have foreclosed on them and owned the ranch outright. Either that, or the county would have had to rezone a lot of the ag land to industrial and commercial designations, and then sold that portion of Conaway to developers in order to maintain its mortgage with the tribe.

For a full accounting of the debacle, send me an email — lxartist@yahoo.com or rich1417@yahoo.com and I’ll send you a copy of the most recent column I wrote on this topic.

Finally, know this fact about Rexroad and Conaway: it is Matt Rexroad who would like the county to adopt an ag land preservation ordinance in which all lands zoned for agriculture which are a mile or more outside of urban areas in Yolo County could not be rezoned for non-ag uses without an 80% supermajority of the Board of Supervisors.

So far as I know, none of Board majority, including your man Sieferman, who put up a false front claiming that eminent domain was about preserving agriculture have signed on to this super-majority proposal. And because the law remains that a simple majority can always turn ag land into developed land, the threat remains that any three supervisors in the future can rezone Conaway or other farms or ranches for commercial, industrial or residential uses.

Classic Rifkin… much heat but very little light..

I love an anonymous commentator who feels compelled to start with an ad hominem attack. Very classy.

Concerning Conway Ranch, as I read it, the final negotiated agreement that protected Yolo agricultural water rights from being raped by Sacramento development interests was possible only because of the threat of eminent domain by the County.

Did you read the agreement between the county and the CPG? (It’s on the county’s website.) If you read the full agreement, as I did, and wrote a column about, there is no way you can conclude that.

First, with or without e.d., the Conaway water would largely stay in Yolo County. In fact, no water has been sold off the ranch in almost 20 years. When it was sold, Helen Thomson, as a matter of fact, signed off on it as a member of the Board of Supervisors.

Second, nothing much changes with the water per the recent settlement. It is true that the CPG has a new, albeit small incentive to sell any excess water inside Yolo County. Ironically, however, the county has a strong incentive now to encourage outside water sales.

Third, it is costly to transport water long distances. Very costly. So no matter what outside interests might want, any water sales always would likely be made locally.

The developers paid all the County’s legal fees so there was no negative impact on County funds.

This is not quite true. If you read my column on this topic, you will understand that the CPG will pay the county’s legal fees in 10 annual installments with no interest. Thus, the present value of those payments is about 75% of what the county spent on lawyers. And I should add that the county got royally ripped off by their lawyers.

Rather than a debacle, it was the best deal that could be negotiated once the Rumsey tribe withdrew its financial support for the purchase of the property.

The Rumsey tribe never withdrew its support. You are misinformed on that.

What is true is that because the county was going to have to pay 2-3 times as much for Conaway Ranch as our misguided Board majority was led to believe by its overpaid lawyers, Yolo County could not afford to buy make its mortgage payments to the Rumsey Indians. Thus, had they complete the condemnation process, before long the Rumsey Indians would have foreclosed on them and owned the ranch outright. Either that, or the county would have had to rezone a lot of the ag land to industrial and commercial designations, and then sold that portion of Conaway to developers in order to maintain its mortgage with the tribe.

For a full accounting of the debacle, send me an email — lxartist@yahoo.com or rich1417@yahoo.com and I’ll send you a copy of the most recent column I wrote on this topic.

Finally, know this fact about Rexroad and Conaway: it is Matt Rexroad who would like the county to adopt an ag land preservation ordinance in which all lands zoned for agriculture which are a mile or more outside of urban areas in Yolo County could not be rezoned for non-ag uses without an 80% supermajority of the Board of Supervisors.

So far as I know, none of Board majority, including your man Sieferman, who put up a false front claiming that eminent domain was about preserving agriculture have signed on to this super-majority proposal. And because the law remains that a simple majority can always turn ag land into developed land, the threat remains that any three supervisors in the future can rezone Conaway or other farms or ranches for commercial, industrial or residential uses.

Rich Rifkin…
With the exception of the no- interest payments to cover legal costs ,none of your statements invalidate anything that I have written, no matter how many derogatory adjectives you want to use. I’ll pass on your suggestion to read your column as its constant invective sours my day.

Rich Rifkin…
With the exception of the no- interest payments to cover legal costs ,none of your statements invalidate anything that I have written, no matter how many derogatory adjectives you want to use. I’ll pass on your suggestion to read your column as its constant invective sours my day.

“none of your statements invalidate anything that I have written …”

Davisite,

You based your comments on a complete falsehood: that the Rumsey band of Wintun Indians withdrew their financing for Conaway Ranch. That completely invalidates what you wrote.

It’s also funny that someone who employs and seemingly enjoys ad hominem attacks would then categorize a response as “invective.” Ain’t that the pot calling the kettle black?

“none of your statements invalidate anything that I have written …”

Davisite,

You based your comments on a complete falsehood: that the Rumsey band of Wintun Indians withdrew their financing for Conaway Ranch. That completely invalidates what you wrote.

It’s also funny that someone who employs and seemingly enjoys ad hominem attacks would then categorize a response as “invective.” Ain’t that the pot calling the kettle black?

…… interesting how those who are paid to publicly deride others seem to have a very thin skin when there is blowback .Unlike in the Enterprise, they do not have “control of the ink” here. As for my statement about the Rumsey tribe withdrawing their financial support,it is fair to assume that they found the County’s best possible financial arrangement offer unsatisfactory, for whatever reason.

…… interesting how those who are paid to publicly deride others seem to have a very thin skin when there is blowback .Unlike in the Enterprise, they do not have “control of the ink” here. As for my statement about the Rumsey tribe withdrawing their financial support,it is fair to assume that they found the County’s best possible financial arrangement offer unsatisfactory, for whatever reason.

“Unlike in the Enterprise, they do not have “control of the ink” here.”

Davisite:

Interesting that you should say that. Check out the new blog that I’m posting.

“Unlike in the Enterprise, they do not have “control of the ink” here.”

Davisite:

Interesting that you should say that. Check out the new blog that I’m posting.