Rubbish: Failed candidate for county commissioner spot has battled City of Olympia for 21 months

Refused to wear mask so was denied entry to court building, claims to have no Zoom capability, judge said

This is an image of the exterior of the house registered to C Davis showing some of the material that the city has cited him for in the yard. May 14, 2021.

JOLT staff photo

C Davis, aka C Davis Plover, from 2020 campaign materials.

Elect C Davis campaign

This is one of the vehicles parked outside of the house registered to C Davis showing some of the material that the city has cited him for. May 14, 2021.

Courtesy of City of Olympia

This image shows several of the vehicles and more of the debris outside of the house registered to C Davis. May 14, 2021.

Courtesy of City of Olympia

Posted Friday, May 14, 2021 5:21 pm

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By The JOLT Staff

A failed 2020 candidate for Thurston County Commissioner has claimed that the numerous City of Olympia rubbish citations written against him since August of 2019 are an act of reprisal for his campaign commitment to vote against a proposed new county courthouse.

C Shelley Frank Davis, 63, asked on February 17, 2021 that his City of Olympia Municipal Court case regarding the garbage, several broken down vehicles and overgrown lawns at the 1200 block of Bigelow Ave NE receive a change of venue to Lewis County.

On March 25, 2021 and April 29, 2021 Davis took advantage of pandemic-specific court rules to avoid "participating in the process" according to the municipal court judge who was prepared to hear Davis present his defense. [Court recordings are included below this story.]

Davis lost the Thurston County Commissioner, District 1 race to Carolina Mejia by 18%, losing 91,240 votes to 65,767 votes. Davis was also accused during the 2020 race by several young women of attempting to groom them at two local Olympia area churches over 20 years ago, looking for a “child bride” and being asked by both churches to stop participating in their activities. [See sidebar.]

Davis cited in a Feb. 15, 2021 change-of-venue request to the Olympia Municipal Court that he could not receive a fair trial in Olympia Municipal Court regarding “the courthouse, as well as personal attacks on me by members of the council.”

The various citations have listed the following: a white van; a red Mazda Miata with no back window; a cargo container with tarps draped on it; tree branches; unlicensed vehicles; a trailer; a truck-mounted camper and tractor; a table with garbage sitting on top of it; non-permitted outdoor storage still visible and trash/debris still present; trash in the back; and inside of the vehicles; political signs in piles; and doors leaning against house posts.

Olympia Code Enforcement (OCE) has filed several infractions toward Davis for rubbish and garbage, as well as inoperable/unlicensed vehicles parked along Bigelow Street in front of his home.

A courtesy notice was sent to Davis by OCE on Aug. 23, 2019.
A voicemail was left for Davis to contact OCE on Sept. 10, 2019.
Another voicemail was left for Davis to contact OCE on Sept. 13, 2019.
On Oct. 2, 2019, Davis was given an official notice of violation (NOV) by mail.
A voicemail was left for Davis asking to contact OCE on Oct. 18, 2019.
On Oct. 21, 2019, a 30-day notice was sent out (last attempt before actual infraction).
On Oct. 30, 2019, the NOV was returned, unopened.
A 30-day notice was returned, unopened by Davis on Nov. 21, 2019.
On Nov. 22, 2019, OCE internal discussions where held regarding Davis and the unopened infractions, as well as a last mailed attempt.
A voicemail was left for Davis on Dec. 4, 2019 asking to contact OCE regarding his property.

From Dec. 16, 2019 to Jan. 13, 2020, a legal review by the city was conducted on how to serve Davis.
On Jan. 14, 2020, City Legal had advised giving two weeks for Davis to receive another written “final two week notice” and taping the previous notices to the door, and taking a picture of the notices on the door.
A civil infraction was issued against Davis on Jan. 28, 2020 and found committed on Feb. 25, 2020.
Another civil infraction was issued on March 4, 2020. However, due to COVID-19, the infraction was postponed by Court Services and found committed in July 1, 2020.
On August 11, 2020, a third civil infraction was issued and found committed on Sept. 28, 2020. It was noted by OCE here were no changes made to the property during this time.
On Oct. 6, 2020, Davis was left another voicemail regarding the lack of compliance with the past three civil infractions to clean his property and that he would now receive daily OCE citations. Davis called OCE back, claiming that he had never received any notices of tickets and agreed to meet to discuss the case.
On Oct. 9, 2020, Davis met with OCE. Davis was not receptive. Davis was given all of the past documentations and civil infractions. Davis was given two additional weeks to clean up his property.
On Oct. 27, 2020, an OCE inspection of the property showed no changes had been made, nothing was cleaned up or removed.
7, 2020, a fourth citation was made.
14, 2020, a fifth citation was made.
On Dec. 15, 2020, a case in Olympia Municipal Court against Davis was filed.
On Jan. 6, 2021, Davis mailed in a request for a contested hearing.
On Feb. 17, 2021, Davis filed a motion for change of venue.
On March 25, 2021, Davis did not appear via Zoom call or to show in court. Davis refused to wear a mask, therefore the case was rescheduled for April 29, 2021. [Recording of the municipal court proceeding is available below.]
On April 29, 2021, Davis refused to enter the public court and wear a mask. Davis’ motion for change of venue was denied. [Recording of the municipal court proceeding is available below.]

The next contested hearing is May 28 in Olympia Municipal Court.

Courtesy of City of Olympia
This is a recording of the April 29, 2021 Olympia Municipal Court hearing that was unable to proceed in the city's code ordinance case against C Davis.
Courtesy of City of Olympia
This is a recording of the March 25, 2021 Olympia Municipal Court hearing that was unable to proceed in the city's code ordinance case against C Davis.