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Second spin: Vergis enters City Council race after finishing as first runner-up in 2008 Sydney Vergis has announced her candidacy in the 2010 Davis City Council race. Vergis, 27, is making economic and environmental sustainability her top priorities in shaping the future of Davis. It's a fitting choice, considering Vergis' extensive résumé showing her academic and professional achievements in both economics and environmental policy. Vergis also is a former senior land use planner for Sutter County. Last fall, she returned to school at UC Davis for her master's degree in transportation, technology and policy. Despite working with private and public agencies in Sacramento, Sutter County and Humboldt County, Vergis has been a resident of Davis since enrolling at the university for her undergraduate studies. She graduated in 2004 with degrees in economics and environmental policy, analysis and planning. Vergis' name might sound familiar to those who witnessed the 2008 council election. She was first runner-up in the three-seat race, less than 750 votes away from serving on the council. During her first campaign, she won endorsements from several local politicians and activists, including Mayor Ruth Asmundson, who was mayor pro tem at the time, and Bicycle Advisory Commission Chairman Joe Krovoza. Krovoza, who announced his candidacy in November, and Vergis are the only candidates so far, vying for the two seats up for election this year. Councilman Lamar Heystek has said he will not be seeking re-election. Asmundson has not yet decided if she will run again. If elected, Vergis said, she will bring a unique combination of experience, passion and energy to the council. She said she believes her expertise and passion match well with the concerns that are currently high on the public's radar — the economy and the environment. “I hope to offer a fresh perspective and I hope that perspective will be grounded in professional experiences,” she said on a recent late afternoon break from studying. To demonstrate her support for local businesses, Vergis launched her campaign on Friday at Agave, a new restaurant downtown. To lower her campaign's carbon footprint, Vergis also plans on doing group bike rides to distribute pamphlets and is allowing residents to “opt-out” of receiving paper mailers by visiting her Web site. Aside from her professional and academic involvements, Vergis is active volunteering with various local organizations. She is vice president on the TREE Davis Board of Directors, vice chairwoman of the Davis Business and Economic Development Commission, a member of Rotary International Davis Sunrise Chapter, and serves on the UC Davis Chancellor's Graduate and Professional Student Advisory Board. —Reach Crystal Lee at clee@davisenterprise.net or (530) 747-8057. Comment on this story at www.davisenterprise.com |
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