Leadership Matters
Big choice awaits voters in North Sac
By Jeff Harris
October 2024
Do you feel good about Sacramento?
Consider the declining state of Downtown, the impact of homelessness, the degradation of parks and infrastructure, and lack of safety many residents feel.
The city needs a leadership change—a clearer vision about what makes the community livable.
Thankfully, Mayor Darrell Steinberg and Councilmember Katie Valenzuela will soon leave City Hall. Their policy decisions (with complicity by council colleagues) led to a record deficit during a period of all-time high revenue.
Another deficit involves the lack of fiscal responsibility within city leadership.
City Council needs a balance between ideological ambitions and the dollars available to implement those goals. Ambitions are fine, but the council must maintain robust services and safety for residents.
The way to achieve balance is by electing people to City Council with better sensibilities than those currently seated.
In East Sac District 4, there’s hope with incoming Councilmember Phil Pluckebaum. He’s moderate in policy and understands the dire financial situation. He replaces Valenzuela in December.
In North Sac District 2, there’s a November runoff between Stephen Walton, a community advocate and real estate professional, and Roger Dickinson, a former county supervisor and state assemblymember. Dickinson lost his last election bid in 2014.
Walton grew up in District 2, graduated from Grant High School and joined Forward Together, the city’s Marysville and Del Paso boulevards advisory committee. His family has been community anchors for more than 90 years. His father is a pastor.
I asked Walton about his knowledge of city functions, budgets, homelessness, parks and youth initiatives, and his desire for improvement.
I was impressed. Walton knew granular details about the city charter and budget. He stood with District Attorney Thien Ho when Ho announced his lawsuit against the city over Camp Resolution, a homeless camp on Colfax Avenue in North Sac.
Walton was eloquent about Camp Resolution. He spoke about balances between the needs of homeless people and the need to keep the community safe.
He recognized the campsite was untenable and understood occupants lacked a reasonable model for self-governance.
Camp Resolution was dismantled by police in August, a failed experiment. Crews collected 1,100 needles, 5 pounds of illegal drugs and a mountain of trash.
The camp was supported by Steinberg, Valenzuela and former Councilmember Sean Loloee, under federal indictment for fraud and employment violations at his grocery stores.
Walton supports Proposition 36, a state initiative to reinstate criminal penalties for theft offenders and drug sellers. It includes provisions for mandated rehab for repeat drug offenders. It’s an important measure on the November ballot, but Dickinson was undecided at press time.
I attended Walton’s campaign kickoff. Attendance was good, the spirits high. Walton knows success depends on energizing the community and getting out the vote.
His concern for North Sac, Del Paso Heights and Woodlake, and keen sense of fiscal reality set him up for success on City Council. Walton embodies the balance the city needs in leadership.
MAVIGLIO CAMPAIGN
Inside Sacramento contributor and political consultant Steve Maviglio is running for American River Flood Control District Board. Maviglio is endorsed by U.S. Rep. Doris Matsui, State Sen. Angelique Ashby, County Supervisors Phil Serna and Patrick Kennedy, and City Council Members Eric Guerra and Phil Pluckebaum. The flood district handles levee maintenance along the American River.
Jeff Harris represented District 3 on City Council from 2014 to 2022. He can be reached at cadence@mycci.net. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram: @insidesacramento.
