Lucas Frerichs Joins Race for City Council

A fifth candidate has entered the race for the Davis City Council. That candidate is Lucas Frerichs – the current chair of the City of Davis Planning Commission.

Stephen Souza, Sue Greenwald and Dan Wolk are all up for reelection this June. Frerichs joins Brett Lee in challenging for those three council seats.

The Davis Vanguard reports that Frerichs supports the surface water project, but feels it can be done differently, and not necessarily with such drastic rate hikes. He also discussed land use and budget issues with the Vanguard. 

Frerichs has been endorsed, according to his press release, by Don Saylor, Susan Lovenburg, Kristin Stoneking, and others. . 

He will hold a kickoff event in March. Here's his full release: 

Lucas Frerichs, Chair of the City of Davis Planning Commission and community leader announced his candidacy for Davis City Council today.

“I have served our community for more than 12 years in volunteer leadership capacities,” said Lucas. “Now is the time for new vision, experience, and direction for the City of Davis. We stand at the threshold of a new era in city-state financing, investment in city infrastructure, sustainable budgeting, environmental planning and community caring. I want to lead us into that era prepared and ahead of the game.”

Frerichs currently serves on both the Planning Commission (2008-current-Chair/2012) as well as the Innovation Park Task Force (2011-current). Previously he served on the Social Services Commission for four years (2004-2008- Chair/2008), as well on the city’s General Plan Housing Element Update Steering Committee for two years (2007-08).

Frerichs’ extensive community service also includes membership on the board of Directors of Yolo Basin Foundation, Davis Media Access, Saving California Communities, California Center for Cooperative Development, Acme Theatre Company and serving as the elected Treasurer of the Yolo County Democratic Party.

“Davis is one of the most livable and environmentally aware communities in California,” said Frerichs, “but we can do better. I know I can play a role in ensuring that we preserve what is best about Davis and lead us into the future with new, cutting edge practical policies."

 “Davis has a quality of life which is sought after by other cities throughout the nation, and many key attributes such as the vibrant downtown, US Bicycling Hall of Fame, a world-class Farmers Market, a nationally recognized Food Co-op, protected open space, and countless recreational opportunities for all ages, make this an unparalleled place to live and work. Moreover, Davis is an excellent community in which to raise a family.”

“Additionally, I will work in a collaborative way to strengthen the city’s ties with the university.  There are many common goals that both institutions share and by working together, we can ensure they become a reality.”

In his professional life, Frerichs, 32, is a Senior Policy Consultant for the California State Assembly, and works on natural resources issues, including water, agriculture, recycling, and renewable energy policy.

Frerichs served on the Board of Directors of the Davis Food Co-op, one of the city’s largest private employers, for nine years, from 1999-2008. He served as Board President from 2003-2005 and helped guide the Co-op, the downtown’s anchor grocery store, through the approval and financing of a $4 million re-model and expansion.

A long time affordable housing advocate, Frerichs served on the Board of Directors of the Yolo Mutual Housing Association from 2000-2008. As Board Chairman from 2005 to 2008, Frerichs led the effort to build over 200 units of much needed permanently affordable housing throughout Davis and Yolo County.

“My service and experience on both the Davis Food Co-op and the Yolo Mutual Housing Association board of directors has given me useful tools to guide Davis into a new era,” Frerichs said, “including hands-on budgeting, and employee contract negotiation skills, as well as project management experience. These skills, together with years of city commission experience, shape the core of the vision I have for the city.

Lucas, and his wife Stacie Frerichs, along with several friends, including former Mayor Mike Corbett, co-built an infill project in Central Davis in 2008. “The Davis community has regularly engaged in a discussion about creating housing through infill projects. My wife and I have put words into action, and we’re making our best attempt to live the principles we strongly believe.”

Born in upstate New York, and raised in Anchorage, Alaska, Frerichs moved to Davis in 1996. He graduated from Davis High School in 1997, where he was a member of the DHS Jazz Choir and Acme Theatre Company.

Frerichs holds a degree in Government from California State University, Sacramento and a certificate in Land Use and Environmental Planning from UC Davis.

In his spare time, Lucas enjoys hiking/biking, gardening, tending to his backyard chicken flock, and walking his dog, Poppy.

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