Joshua Wood, a 31-year-old political strategist with a reputation as the “smiling assassin,” has quickly risen to prominence as a polarizing figure in Sacramento’s development debates, despite his unassuming demeanor at a downtown coffeehouse. As head of Region Builders Inc., formed in 2012 as a political arm of the Sacramento Builders Exchange, Wood has championed suburban sprawl near Rancho Cordova, lobbied for Walmart locations, and led the campaign to secure public funding for the Golden 1 Center arena, using tactics like video surveillance and robocalls to expose Seattle investor Chris Hansen’s anti-arena funding, shifting public focus and gathering 1,700 petition withdrawals. His efforts also include streamlining building permits and zoning codes in Sacramento, Elk Grove, and Rancho Cordova, and opposing council call-ups to boost development. Wood’s advocacy extends to contentious projects like Cordova Hills, clashing with West Sacramento Mayor Christopher Cabaldon over growth policies, and supporting Mayor Kevin Johnson’s initiatives, though he distances Region Builders from direct involvement in a strong-mayor push. Raised in foster care and adopted in Siskiyou County, Wood’s political journey began at Sacramento State, where he won student body president, later leveraging alliances from labor unions to conservative fellowships. Despite criticism over transparency and alleged developer influence, board members Cathy Skeen and Randy Hudson praise his thought-provoking leadership, while Wood focuses on practical wins like lowering remodel fees, maintaining a collaborative stance amid his growing profile.
Read the Original Article from: Sacramento News & Review