Ly Wins Elk Grove City Council District 4 Seat

November 4, 2014 | With all precincts reporting, Steve Ly has won the District 4 seat of the Elk Grove City Council. Ly won w...


November 4, 2014 |

With all precincts reporting, Steve Ly has won the District 4 seat of the Elk Grove City Council.

Ly won with 42.78-percent and 7,797 votes. Coming in second place was Nancy Chaires with 36.92- percent and 6,730 votes; Daniel Jimenez received 3,012 votes and 16.52-percent, and Nayyar Sarfaraz 627 votes which was 3.44-percent.

Ly's victory is his second in a two period. In 2012 he won a landslide victory for a seat on the Elk Grove Unified School District board.

With this victory, Ly will resign his seat on the EGUSD. Additionally with the presumed victory of Elk Grove Vice Mayor Jim Cooper in the California Assembly Ninth District race, the Elk Grove City Council will once again be facing the question of how to fill a vacancy once Cooper resigns. 



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47 comments

Anonymous said...

With a population of about 160,000 residents, does anyone know how many registered voters there are?

To win a council seat with only +/- 7800 votes means Elk Grove had a deplorable voter turnout. Do the math.

What apathy! Little wonder the council can get away with riding roughshod over its constituents. How sad.

Anonymous said...

It looks like Plant-Gate worked!

Anonymous said...

From henceforth, this win shall be known as "Plant-Gate." Let it be written, let it be done.

Anonymous said...

Nancy was on the planning commission during the years of rampant development.

It might have been a case of being associated with an unpopular entity.

My gut feeling is that residents are tired of the city getting run over by the developers.

Just like the Republican landslide, people are pissed at Obama and took it out on the other Democratic candidates.

Anonymous said...

According to Sac County, there are 77,258 registered voters in Elk Grove. We had about a 20% turnout.

Anonymous said...

Sad night for Elk Grove... voter APATHY won the night!

Anonymous said...

I think Nancy running on her record as a Planning Commissioner was the difference. Perhaps this was an incitement on the planning we have had here in Elk Grove. Homes, homes, homes...

Anonymous said...

Davis was successful in getting his hand-picked protege elected to the city council.

I don't know what will be worse, hearing Trigg continuously say, "I agree with staff," or Ly saying, with eyes glossed over in awe, right on cue, "I agree with Mayor Davis."

Warren Buffet said...

In hindsight, maybe she should have played the "Espinoza" card.

Anonymous said...

What does it say about the sanctity of voting, when you have to give someone a gift in order to garner their vote?

Sad day for democracy!

Anonymous said...

Hardly anything for the voters of Elk Grove to be proud of. Davis got 22% and LY got 10% of the votes of registered voters for EG. Plus we now have to pay for an election for District 1...Coopers seat, $500,000.

As for Ms. Chaires...she's one seat on Planning and Planning does not make the final decisions anyway...that's the City Council.

Anonymous said...

For me, I voted for Steve Ly not because I supported him, I really did not support anyone in the race, but because I thought Nancy acted like she was entitled to the seat. Her lack of humility and ability to convince me she would be part of a solution and not be another cog in the problem made me cast a vote against her.

I voted for Ly not to support him but as a vote against Nancy.

Anonymous said...

I don't think this was anything more than the Hmong citizens coming out in mass to elect one of their own. My sense is he won on his heritage; not on any political platform. Davis hand picked him because (I believe) Ly is a pansy; he will follow Davis like a puppy. Ly has little knowledge of the city or its workings; has appeared at only 2-3 meetings (I go to most) so I know this for a fact. He cares little about the job and more about the publicity. His Hmong contention was very obvious. Just check out his 460's. 94% from ethnic names and almost 90% from out of the area/state. We are in for a difficult two years..with Cooper's exit, it is now 2-2 (dems vs rep) and so we now spend 100,000 or more on a special election or endure another "appointment" process that Davis won't let Hume control. Sad day for Elk Grove. Apathy reigns and developers shine. Get ready for the SOI and another 8,000 homes. Davis can't wait to please his developer friends. Ly will be a quick study and he too will load up on special interest money. Only question mark is, how long until Ly's 460's turn from ethnic names to developer names?

Anonymous said...

I don't think this was anything more than the Hmong citizens coming out in mass to elect one of their own. My sense is he won on his heritage; not on any political platform. Davis hand picked him because (I believe) Ly is a pansy; he will follow Davis like a puppy. Ly has little knowledge of the city or its workings; has appeared at only 2-3 meetings (I go to most) so I know this for a fact. He cares little about the job and more about the publicity. His Hmong contention was very obvious. Just check out his 460's. 94% from ethnic names and almost 90% from out of the area/state. We are in for a difficult two years..with Cooper's exit, it is now 2-2 (dems vs rep) and so we now spend 100,000 or more on a special election or endure another "appointment" process that Davis won't let Hume control. Sad day for Elk Grove. Apathy reigns and developers shine. Get ready for the SOI and another 8,000 homes. Davis can't wait to please his developer friends. Ly will be a quick study and he too will load up on special interest money. Only question mark is, how long until Ly's 460's turn from ethnic names to developer names?

Lynn said...

My friends be prepared for a sales tax increase, revenue bonds....and more spending by the 5. This is a sad day on so many levels. Guess what? School district is now going to have to address a vacated seat. We are losing our democracy!
Greed and self interests are winning! But for all the apathetic who do not participate....remember it takes a lot of money to run a campaign. The proof is there; plants signs! Lots of mail flyers and better sound bites made it happen.

Anonymous said...

Anon 11:29 ~ I can't help but wonder if you are correct about the ethnicity factor. Look around Elk Grove and there are many more Asians than Hispanics. Unfortunately, even talking about it being a factor somehow will paint you as a racist.

Paul said...

Ms. Chaires may have no one but herself to blame for her loss.

Had she stood by the citizens of east Elk Grove and demanded a better project than the cookie cutter 680 homes that are approved for Waterman and Bond, she may have been able to rally the 1,000 votes she needed for victory from the 7,000 voters in this area.

Instead, she caved to the developers whose plan the PC originally was set to deny, yet later approved with no noticeable improvements.
She was the Chairperson, she had the opportunity to get a better plan. She failed the citizens and in return, the citizens failed her.

Yes, she has seemed to have an air of entitlement that was troublesome as well.

Anonymous said...

Nancy a great candidate but I didn't vote for her because of her hit sendout on Steve. I hate politicians who plays dirty. Elk grove only welcomes good hearted people. Goodbye Nancy.

Anonymous said...

PLANT GATE vs A HIT PIECE ?

PLANT GATE WON. Flower and love is in the air.

Anonymous said...

@Anon at 11:29

You are largely correct about the Hmong vote. We saw that earlier this year at the Democratic Club meetings as they were preparing to endorse a candidate for council. I was at the meeting prior to the endorsement vote and there was a very large group of Hmong signing up to be Democratic Club members so that they could vote at the next meeting to endorse Ly. It was very apparent what Ly's strategy was - to manipulate the vote.

As for 'democracy by appointment' - it is time to put an end to the terrible precedent set when Davis did not resign prior to the mayoral election.

Now, Cooper has done the same thing.

We must put a stop to this and insist on an election. If we don't, this practice will go on forever. It may be legal, but it is definitely not ethical.

Anonymous said...

Lmao.. cry a river who cares. The better campaign won.

Anonymous said...

The "Espinoza" card hurt more than helped as evidenced by the hit piece.

Anonymous said...

From the song, "The Gambler," "If you're going to play the game, you're going learn to play it right."

Anonymous said...

It's ironic that the Chaires camp singled out the issue of Mr. Ly advancing his political career on the backs of students, however, it is these same students that helped him to defeat her as 90% of his phone bankers were high school students. So obviously these students did not feel that they were been unfairly used. That speaks volume to the truth.

Anonymous said...

Just imagine what this kid can do when he learns to play the real game rather than just pennies from his Hmong community. Watch out!!!! The Hmongs are here to stay and their "sticks" are about to get much bigger.

Anonymous said...

Chicago & New Orleans ain't got nothing on Elk Grove. Heck, Davis & Ly even had matching t-shirts and from what I was told, Davis even gave Ly his mailing addresses.

Now we have the Cooper seat to deal with, but have no fear...that deal has already been made behind closed doors. We don't need the peoples voice, heck with thing they call "a democracy", just follow their lead. History shows our remaining electeds know what is best for us. Most likely Mr. Trigg, the appointed volunteer, will get a vote. That's after he asks staff for guidance.

At the rate we're going, we need to do as the School District does and have some substitute council members on standby to take the empty council seat when they go to big & better things or have some other personal obligation to take care of. Have residents from all walks of life and even pay them the going rate.

Anonymous said...

Glad that negative campaigning and mudslinging didn't win out.

Anonymous said...

Davis is probably strutting around town like a peacock that his handpicked guy got elected.

But what is Davis going to do in two years when Ly’s ego kicks in and he doesn't like just standing next to our esteemed mayor waiting to be introduced, never getting an opportunity to speak; only relegated to being Davis’ sidekick. Just wave to the crowd boys, I am the super star Mayor here!

It appears Ly likes to run every two years. And what’s to stop him and his campaign people from deciding that Ly should be Elk Grove’s first Hmong mayor and run again in 2016, this time for mayor? After all, it would be a safe bet.

Whatever will Davis do then?

Eastside Betty said...

Related to comments by Anon 12:30, very interesting scenario.

Gary Davis may have just sealed his own fate politicking for a man that is likely to be his nemesis in the next mayoral election. Those Hmongs get the vote out and have money coming in from all over the country, not just locally.

The Hmong train is taking on passengers, either get on board of get out of the way.

Nice knowing you Mr. Davis, but my bet is you just set yourself up for political suicide.

As usual, EG electeds can't see in front of their faces, fail to see the long term effects of the short sighted decisions.

Bye-bye Mr. mayor, long live the mayor.

Anonymous said...

I think it is more realistic that Ly runs for Congress in 2-years. If Ose holds his lead over Bera, Ly would be perfectly positioned for a run for Congress.

Anonymous said...

This city is a big joke!

Proud Heritage, Bright Future?

Elk Grove Thriving?

http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2014/09/25/elk-grove-may-be-paying-more-than-double-value-of-land-for-proposed-soccer-stadium/


A City by the developers, of the developers and FOR the developers!

Increase in armed robberies, assaults and various street crimes

More sprawl, horrendous congestion and smog.

$100 million soccer stadium

Paid $6 MILLION for a piece of land that sold for $700,000 three years prior.

Garish 70 - 100 foot tall lighted freeway monument signs

Sister city to the Kingdom of Zamunda

Octopus Civic Center

Amusement park right across from single family homes in Madeira "the Jewel of Elk Grove".

Visions of the Olympic Trials.

3,600 units of high density very low and low income housing on the way to "Meridian" (the Southeast Plan Area) - Hood of the future to be known as Mack Road South.

Trash blowing in the wind,flat, bland, hot, windy sprawling, fast food joints, nail salons, gun stores, smoke shops, vape palaces, strip malls, cheap looking high density low income apartment projects, lack of symphony light opera and ballet, very few upscale restaurants, dollar stores, cookie cutter houses.

Texas?

No, Elk Grove brought to you by the rubber stampers.

Stockton and Modesto have performing arts centers, orchestras and other cultural amenities.

Stockton and Modesto have high quality local restaurants.

Elk Grove has fast food joints, chain restaurants and convenience store cuisine.

Bring on more garish 100 foot tall freeway signs, low income housing projects, liquor stores, fast food joints, shooting ranges, gun stores, smoke shops and nail salons.

Elk Grove Thriving!

Proud Heritage, Bright Future?

Anonymous said...

To everyone here, the reality is that Elk Grove completely lost with Steve.

It would have been best to go with someone that can express and defend their own views, someone that is not gonna applaud the Mayor's every move.

I know most of us didn't like the choices we were given and I can understand why so many people voted for Jimenez.

In reality, every vote for him was a vote for Gary Davis.

For all of you that thought you were standing up to the candidates by voting not voting, writing in your own person, etc. you basically voted for Gary.

It's funny how so many people think they know politics but don't really understand how politicians play the game.

When Gary Twinkle Eyes saw all of those votes for Jimenez, he was happy as a clam. He was happy that votes were going to someone else other than Nancy.

I bet Twinkle eyes opened up a bottle of Patron with Stevie and thanked Jimenez with all of his heart.

It's a shame that people don't understand the consequences of their decisions.

I voted for Nancy not because she won me over or because she was the best candidate, by far no way.

I voted for her because it would have been better to have someone that would have a different opinion, someone who can at least do something different.

What's the point of having Gary Davis the Mayor and his son Gary Davis Jr. on the board?

funny said...

Steve had a stampede of Hmong volunteers. Nancy had ADs on craiglist needing volunteers and willing to pay $10-$15. But since Nancy is paying Im guessing their no longer volunteers (more like employees).

Whats worse a stampede of Hmong people or desperately paying strangers online to jump on your campaign?

Mayor Davis must have endorse Steve because Mr. Ly came in a wolfpack of Hmongs and Mrs. Chaires came with a wolfpack on craiglist. Elk grove what has this city become.

Eastside Betty said...

Instead of the negative campaigning Ms. Chaires had plenty of factual ammunition to use against Mr. Ly but failed to use it. Maybe she's not as smart as her diplomas lead us to believe.

Most of Ly's money came from outside the area, much of it from outside the sate, needed to be exposed. Most from the Hmong political machine, not locally.

None of the educational unions, teachers, administrators, even his own board members for the local district in which he is a board member supported him. Wouldn't they know him best?

His record from the school board is circumspect at best, not exposed.

He's leaving at mid-term, not capitialized on.

Ms. Chaires, next time find a campaign manager with some actual political acumen.

So close, yet so far.

Anonymous said...

I think in 2 years Ly will run for Governor or even president. LOL ... All of these comments are ludicrous. Every one in here talks like they represent Elk Grove. PLEASE! You guys can't even beat Mr Ly on a straw poll. So Pathetic!

Phil Meeker said...

Steve Ly campaign was one run with money from outside of Elk Grove. If you look at the money Mr. Ly received it came from the Hmong political machine that was able to raise money from outside the district. This is a show of the political influence and weight of his key piece endorsement, The California Hmong PAC. Let me remind you that earlier in the year Mr. Ly was able to lure Hmong membership from outside Elk Grove area and manipulate the South Dem County Club endorsement. The writing was on the wall from the gates. I am not surprise now that we will have a drone of Hmong residents moving in to Elk Grove.

Anonymous said...

I'm a student at CRC. A friend of mine worked on Nancy's campaign. One day on campus a guy with some company talked to him about being a paid canvasser for Steve Ly. He told him, he was working for Nancy. They said whatever she is paying you we'll pay you more.
Guess there was no Hmong army.

Anonymous said...

The same Hmong PAC that appeared on Nancy's mailers as one of her endorsers?

Gene Debbie said...

A friend of mine actually worked on Nancy campaign. One day this friend told me Nancy is willing to pay money and posted her campaign ad on craiglist. I needed a job since balancing school and bills was not so easy. I went to look for her Ad and it was taken down. But good thing it was still on google and I was able to snap shot it. Is there any way we can share it on here?

$15 is a good pay for many of us college students. Kudos to you Nancy and your army of craiglists.



Anonymous said...

Yeah, right on Phil. Last thing we want is a bunch of them Hmongs moving in and ruining our beautiful city!

Capt. Renault said...

Paid sign wavers for a candidate? I'm shocked, shocked!

Anonymous said...

First a Black president now a Black assembly man what's next an Asian council members? Maybe South Democratic can reinstate some Jim crow laws and keep them yellow people out. Lol..

OJ said...

Anon 15:09

Nice butchering of the English language. Go back to county lock-up and get your GED, then come back with a thought that if not at least thought provoking, may at least be coherent and grammatically correct.

Perhaps your one of Mr. Ly's juve hall minions?

Anonymous said...

From what you saying it sounds like it would be wrong that Ly was elected by people who shared the same heritage with him or look like him. I have never found that to be a problem mentioned when a white candidate wins. I have had the opportunity to be the lead strategist for three Hmong-American candidates in Minnesota. We won two races, both with the support of the Hmong American community, but we would have handily lost both if these contests if my candidates would not have reached out beyond their community.
To try to invalidate the election by pointing to "ethnic names" does not only smell of racism, it also misses the larger point: I guess Ly's opponent, having a far greater pool of potential voters, did a lousy job mobilizing her base. If you haven't noticed, in sports, even an ugly win is a win. A loss because you did not play to your full potential is still a loss. You can't blame the other guy for your own lack of performance. Your comments seem to be just that, blaming the other guy for your candidate's loss. If you want to get better at this, I would take a hart look at where your candidate could have done better, that may help you next time around. That's why sports teams analyze their play after the game, not their last opponents'.

OJ again said...

OJ here again,

I inadvertently used "your" when it should read "you're."

Life's tough here in lock up, I only get access to the interweb 6 hours a day. Spend most days with Dr. Phil and Sally Jessie. Gotta love cable in the prisons, 3 meals and a bed all on taxpayer's dollar.

Anonymous said...

OJ 10:10

Haven't you heard South Democratic are one tone color "White".

Anonymous said...

OJ Go back to Sacramento we don't need different color people in Elk Grove also learn how to spell.

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