Davis Retreats, Makes No Move to Replace Elk Grove Planning Commissioners

January 15, 2015 |

At last night's Elk Grove City Council meeting, Mayor Gary Davis decided to leave the Elk Grove Planning Commission intact.

Nancy Chaires and Frank Maita will continue serving

as Elk Grove Planning Commissioners. 

Within Elk Grove political circles there was widespread speculation that Davis would seek to replace Planning Commissioners Nancy Chaires and Frank Maita. When agenda item was discussed, Davis moved quickly to dispel the speculation noting he had heard from several constituents on the matter.

"I've certainly had a lot of conversations; there has been a lot of speculation about this item," Davis said, "I've had a lot of time to reflect, so from my perspective, tonight I am only going to be appoint people to the vacancies. I am not going to request that we vacate any seats."

Speaking during the public comment portion of the agenda item on behalf of a person seeking an appointment to the Youth Commission, Chaires said she was pleased to hear the mayor's decision.

"I welcome the mayor's news," Chaires said. "And if it be the will of the council, that all your planning commissioners get to serve again, I would certainly be grateful for the opportunity."

Chaires and Maita, who were appointed by former city council members Jim Cooper and Sophia Scherman respectively, will continue serving with fellow commissioners Sparky Harris, George Murphey and Kevin Spease. 

Although Davis did not make any changes to the planning commission, he made appointments, with the city council's concurrence, to several vacancies Those appointments included the Committee for the Arts (Liz Irons), Disability Advisory Committee (Steven Capps), Historic Preservation Committee (Daniel Feng and James White), Multicultural Committee (Jana Shober), Trail Committee (Aaron Silva) and Youth Commission (Joseph Abad).