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The following editorial was authored by Clayton Councilmember Holly Tillman and published in the now-defunct Clayton Pioneer on August 14, 2025.
CLAYTON, CA (Aug. 14, 2025) — I often wonder what our town would be like if people worked together instead of against each other.
From the outside looking in, Clayton is a picturesque setting. We are a bedroom community with parks and trails, and events are held throughout the year that bring the community together. But when you peel back the curtain to see the inner workings you understand there is a lot of work to do.
Recently our City Council participated in a governance training session facilitated by a third party to help us be better leaders. There were two outcomes that concerned me about that session. We never touched on the main reason we needed the governance training to begin with, and some council members believe we are doing everything right and don’t need to improve upon anything. This comes across as an unserious city council.
While it is no secret that our council is divided, residents expect us to work together to do what’s best for the entire city. This is why we were elected. Clayton isn’t divided into districts, yet council members treat their responsibilities and the will of certain constituents as if we were. I feel these actions have led to increased hostility at council meetings over the past 9 years and dirty politics in general by a group who thrives on being in control and being perceived as a “trusted authority/voice” in Clayton. Much like our national government, bad actors have infiltrated the city council with a pipeline of sycophants and loyalists lying in wait in the wings.
The reality is we have had high staff turnover which led to a loss of institutional knowledge and project delays, and we need to raise revenue or cut expenses.
Did you know that our trails have not been maintained in years? Or that we have special districts for our streetlights, stormwater, trails and landscaping that are all running at a deficit? Did you know that we have over 4000 hours of deferred maintenance that needs to be done and we don’t have the resources for it unless we draw from our reserves? Our council has known this for years, and two previous city managers were badgered for saying the quiet part out loud and not falling in line with “the Clayton way.”
Pretending we are perfect and do not need to make changes or improvements is a slap in the face to every Clayton resident. It’s about time we get to work.
Holly Tillman
Clayton City Councilmember
CLAYTON, CA (Aug. 14, 2025) — I often wonder what our town would be like if people worked together instead of against each other.
From the outside looking in, Clayton is a picturesque setting. We are a bedroom community with parks and trails, and events are held throughout the year that bring the community together. But when you peel back the curtain to see the inner workings you understand there is a lot of work to do.
Recently our City Council participated in a governance training session facilitated by a third party to help us be better leaders. There were two outcomes that concerned me about that session. We never touched on the main reason we needed the governance training to begin with, and some council members believe we are doing everything right and don’t need to improve upon anything. This comes across as an unserious city council.
While it is no secret that our council is divided, residents expect us to work together to do what’s best for the entire city. This is why we were elected. Clayton isn’t divided into districts, yet council members treat their responsibilities and the will of certain constituents as if we were. I feel these actions have led to increased hostility at council meetings over the past 9 years and dirty politics in general by a group who thrives on being in control and being perceived as a “trusted authority/voice” in Clayton. Much like our national government, bad actors have infiltrated the city council with a pipeline of sycophants and loyalists lying in wait in the wings.
The reality is we have had high staff turnover which led to a loss of institutional knowledge and project delays, and we need to raise revenue or cut expenses.
Did you know that our trails have not been maintained in years? Or that we have special districts for our streetlights, stormwater, trails and landscaping that are all running at a deficit? Did you know that we have over 4000 hours of deferred maintenance that needs to be done and we don’t have the resources for it unless we draw from our reserves? Our council has known this for years, and two previous city managers were badgered for saying the quiet part out loud and not falling in line with “the Clayton way.”
Pretending we are perfect and do not need to make changes or improvements is a slap in the face to every Clayton resident. It’s about time we get to work.
Holly Tillman
Clayton City Councilmember
The Comical Holly raises concerns regarding unethical political practices. Holly, the CBCA, and her supporters appear to engage in tactics characterized by misinformation and attempts at control. Their current behavior suggests a reaction to a loss of power. Holly criticizes the opposing side for purportedly cultivating a network of sycophants and loyalists, reflecting strategies reminiscent of the Tillman playbook. It is apparent that Tillman exhibits a lack of awareness regarding the dissatisfaction among Clayton residents, who may be expressing a desire for her resignation. The community is growing weary of the deceptive and manipulative behaviors that have become associated with her leadership. Holly, it is essential to recognize that your persistent discontent, predominantly directed at yourself, is evident to those around you.
ReplyDeleteShe doesn't know when to quit.
ReplyDeleteIt’s apparent she took one last shot at the city. Now with the pioneer gone, what will she do? Hopefully nothing - but do her job.
ReplyDelete