Full Biography for Linda M. Davis

Candidate for
Member of the State Assembly; District 5

Biography

Linda Davis is the negation of all stereotypes: Orphaned as young teenager and later, when Linda had three young children, abandoned by her husband. Despite these hardships she believed in achieving a successful life. While struggling to raise her young family alone and with little means as a restaurant worker, Linda broke her foot and had no way to care for her family. She was forced to go on welfare.

Alone and frightened, she immediately enrolled in college and eventually earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering. Linda realized that the community and taxpayers had taken care of her family when in need and believed in giving back to her community. She chose to work for the Sacramento Municipal Utilities District (SMUD). In her first year as a SMUD engineer she saw public money being poorly spent and became active in closing down unnecessary projects which saved taxpayers over $1 million.

In 1992 she was elected to the SMUD Board of Directors and was reelected to a second term in 1996. Linda has served as Vice President of the SMUD Board three times and chaired both the Resources and Finance committees. During her tenure, she made many important water, clean air, transportation and resource decisions that benefited the citizens of Sacramento County. Linda was responsible for budget developments resulting in a five-year rate freeze for SMUD, which included a plan for improved customer service.

While working for SMUD Linda went on to earn her Master of Science and in Computer Science and Business Administration at California State University at Sacramento. She currently works for the State of California, California Energy Commission. Linda resides in Fair Oaks, California and her SMUD ward covers communities of Fair Oaks, Citrus Heights and Orangevale.