2008 Sacramento Mayoral Race

Capital Public Radio Coverage

The best defense of democracy is an informed electorate. ~ Thomas Jefferson

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Johnson with fmr. Assembly speaker Nunez
Johnson Will Meet with City Staff, Won't Attend Council Meetings
Sacramento mayoral candidate Kevin Johnson says he’ll do everything he can to prepare to take office in November if he wins a runoff against Mayor Heather Fargo.
Friday, June 13, 2008
KXJZ file photos/Ben Adler
Johnson, Fargo Debate Crime and Debates
Sacramento Mayor Heather Fargo and fellow candidate Kevin Johnson traded barbs about the city’s crime problem Tuesday. The comments came hours before the city council will debate whether to place an anti-gang tax measure on the November ballot.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Sac City Council member Lauren Hammond
Anti-Gang Sales Tax Measure's Future Uncertain
The Sacramento city council has taken a very tentative step towards placing an anti-gang sales tax on the November ballot.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
KXJZ file photos
Johnson Vastly Outraises Fargo...Again
The latest campaign finance reports in the Sacramento mayor’s race are due today, and challenger Kevin Johnson continues his fundraising dominance over Mayor Heather Fargo.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
KXJZ file photos/Ben Adler
Johnson, Fargo Differ on Natomas Building
Should Sacramento continue to allow new residential development in Natomas? Federal officials says the flood risk is so high that they’re barring all new growth from December until the levees are fixed. The two Sacramento mayoral candidates disagree.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
KXJZ photo/Ben Adler
Johnson's St. HOPE Expands to Harlem
Kevin Johnson’s non-profit, St. HOPE, opened its first charter school outside Sacramento last month – in New York City. But that 3,000 mile journey wasn’t always a smooth ride.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
KXJZ photo/Ben Adler
Johnson Wins Fire Union's Nod
Sacramento mayoral candidate Kevin Johnson has won the support of the union that represents Sacramento city fire fighters by promising to reverse the city’s recent budget cuts.
Monday, September 15, 2008
KXJZ file photo/Ben Adler
Johnson, St. HOPE Academy Banned from Receiving Federal Funds
Sacramento mayoral candidate Kevin Johnson and one of the non-profit organizations he founded have been temporarily banned from receiving federal funds. But St. HOPE officials say their charter schools and redevelopment projects won’t be affected.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
KXJZ file photo/Ben Adler
Feds Reveal Potential St. HOPE Violations
The federal government says it’s found evidence that suggests Sacramento mayoral candidate Kevin Johnson and one of the St. HOPE non-profits he founded severely misused federal funds.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
KXJZ file photo/Ben Adler
Johnson: St. HOPE Allegations Aren't Severe
Sacramento mayoral candidate Kevin Johnson says the St. HOPE non-profit he founded that’s under investigation by the federal government might have committed administrative errors. But he denies the specific allegations the feds released Thursday.
Friday, September 26, 2008
KXJZ file photo/Ben Adler
New Mayoral Fundraising Totals: Fargo Surprisingly Strong
Today’s the last day of the current fundraising period for the Sacramento mayoral race, and for the first time, Mayor Heather Fargo is holding her own against former NBA star Kevin Johnson.
Friday, October 3, 2008
KXJZ file photo/Ben Adler
Johnson, Fargo to Debate Tonight on KXJZ
The first Sacramento mayoral debate of the general election campaign is tonight, and it’s hosted by KXJZ, KCRA and Sacramento State. Mayor Heather Fargo will face her runoff opponent, former NBA star Kevin Johnson, from 6:30 to 8pm.
Monday, October 6, 2008
KXJZ photo/Jen Picard
No Shortage of Fireworks at Sac Mayor's Debate
Mayor Heather Fargo and challenger Kevin Johnson sparred on development, public safety, the city’s budget situation and leadership, to name just a few.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
KXJZ file photo/Ben Adler
Outside Groups Attack Johnson, Fargo
With less than two weeks to go before Election Day, the Sacramento mayor’s race is heating up with outside groups attacking both Mayor Heather Fargo and her runoff opponent, Kevin Johnson. KXJZ fact-checks the claims from the two sides.
Friday, October 24, 2008
KXJZ file photo/Jen Picard
No Fireworks in Final Mayoral Debate
Sacramento Mayor Heather Fargo and her runoff opponent, Kevin Johnson, squared off for their third and final debate last night – just over a week before Election Day. They focused on the budget, crime and even abortion.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
KXJZ photos/Ben Adler
In Challenging Times, Lots of Drama in Mayor's Race
California’s capital city has always been known for its state politics. But as Sacramento faces a challenging future, the city is finishing up what could be its most bizarre local campaign ever.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Fargo volunteers calling voters Monday
Mayoral Campaigns Work to Get Out the Vote
You can run the best strategic campaign in the world, but if you don’t get your voters to the polls, you’ll lose. So yesterday afternoon, the Sacramento mayoral campaigns were hardly sitting around waiting for the rain to stop.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Ben Adler/KXJZ
COMPLETE AUDIO: Heather Fargo's Concession Speech
Sacramento mayor Heather Fargo thanks her supporters and congratulates mayor-elect Kevin Johnson at the Capitol Garage in downtown Sacramento.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Ben Adler/KXJZ
COMPLETE AUDIO: Kevin Johnson's Victory Speech
Mayor-elect Kevin Johnson addresses his supporters at Zocalo restaurant in midtown Sacramento.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
KXJZ photo/Ben Adler
Johnson Ousts Fargo in Sacramento Mayor's Race
Former NBA star and Sacramento native Kevin Johnson will be the city’s first African-American mayor. He defeated two-term incumbent Heather Fargo after a dramatic eight-month campaign.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
KXJZ file photo/Ben Adler
Johnson Faces Rushed Transition to City Hall
Sacramento mayor-elect Kevin Johnson will only get three weeks to transition before getting sworn in November 25th. KXJZ looks at what Johnson has to do before then – and what he’s doing so far.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Fargo at her reception Tuesday
Fargo Still Feeling her Way Forward
As she prepares to leave office and accepts all the thank-yous and condolences, Sacramento Mayor Fargo is both looking back – and looking ahead.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Johnson with 13 area mayors Thursday
Johnson's Party Set for Tuesday, Even Without Inauguration
Sacramento Mayor-elect Kevin Johnson is planning a big inauguration party Tuesday night at the Memorial Auditorium. But Johnson will have to wait an extra week to take office.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
KXJZ file photo/Ben Adler
Dear Kevin: Advice from Two Former Sacramento Mayors
As Sacramento Mayor-elect Kevin Johnson gets set for his inauguration party Tuesday night, KXJZ asked two former mayors to offer him some advice.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Johnson takes oath as his mother watches
Johnson Has His Inauguration Day ... Sort Of
Sacramento Mayor-elect Kevin Johnson threw a huge party Tuesday night to celebrate his inauguration. There’s only one problem: He’s … not officially in charge yet. It all capped off an unusual day in city politics.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
KXJZ file photo/Ben Adler
Behind the Scenes: How Heather Fargo Lost
At the start of the year, Sacramento Mayor Heather Fargo had a clear path to a third term, with no serious challengers. But she’ll leave office Tuesday after losing to Mayor-elect Kevin Johnson by 15 points. So what went wrong?
Monday, December 1, 2008
KXJZ file photo/Ben Adler
Behind the Scenes: How Kevin Johnson Won
Kevin Johnson was officially sworn in as mayor of Sacramento Tuesday after one of the most riveting – and unusual – campaigns the city has ever seen. So how did a political novice defeat the two-term incumbent mayor, Heather Fargo?
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
KXJZ photo/Ben Adler
Johnson Officially Becomes Sacramento's 55th Mayor
Kevin Johnson presided over his first council meeting as mayor of Sacramento Tuesday night – after signing the oath of office earlier in the day.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Mayors of Sacramento-area cities
The Year Ahead: Sacramento's Local Political Scene
After a busy 2008 – with a new mayor, more promises of a new basketball arena and new optimism about K Street’s future – what does 2009 hold? Capital Public Radio asked Sac State public policy professor Bob Waste for a few predictions.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009