Former county Supervisor Linn Davis dies

Former Merced County Supervisor Linn Davis was a man who knew how to work through disagreements and hear others out, his former colleagues said.

“He was always willing to listen to my concerns. We didn’t have to agree to work together,” said Lesa Rasmussen, a former Atwater city councilwoman who also served on the planning commission.

Davis died on Saturday morning. He was 73.

The cause of death was not released Monday, but friends said he had been fighting an illness recently.

Ivers & Alcorn Funeral Home in Atwater confirmed that the funeral home is handling the services, which were not yet determined by the Sun-Star’s deadline on Monday.

Davis served one term on the board from 2010-2014 representing District 3, which at the time covered Atwater, McSwain, Franklin-Beachwood, Castle Airport and parts of north Merced.

His former board colleagues said Davis was plugged in to the happenings at the former Castle Air Force Base, helping lay plans in line with the board’s vision for what is now Castle Commerce Center.

“We’re starting to see things happen now on what Linn put his fingerprints on,” District 4 Supervisor Deidre Kelsey said of Castle.

Davis was a 22-year Air Force veteran who retired in 1989, according to Sun-Star archives. He was born and raised in West Virginia and earned degrees from Salem College and the University of Arkansas. He was active with California’s District 13 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, with his most recent position being inspector.

He lived in Merced County with his wife, Mary, for nearly 40 years.

Before becoming supervisor, Davis led the group Concerned Citizens for Sensible Growth in fighting against the Atwater Ranch development, a housing project that was eventually abandoned by a Stockton developer after a judge found that the city had broken the law when it approved the subdivision.

In his first supervisorial race, Davis campaigned on job creation, streamlining county government operations, community safety and beautification, land use and water rights.

“I was very saddened to hear of Mr. Linn Davis’ passing over the weekend,” said Jim Brown, Merced County’s CEO. “I had the pleasure of working with and getting to know Mr. Davis during his time as a county supervisor, and it was clear that he was a community-oriented individual who had a lifelong passion for public service. My prayers are with his family during this difficult time.”

Davis came under fire during his re-election bid when during a debate he criticized the way the district attorney dealt with marijuana cases.

He strongly supported the county’s action in passing a groundwater ordinance and encouraged the board to act more quickly.

“Sometimes you come across something that’s not completely black and white, and you have to use your discretion,” Kelsey said. “He made thoughtful decisions.”

This story was originally published August 22, 2016 at 6:11 PM with the headline "Former county Supervisor Linn Davis dies."