Community Member Raises Concerns Over Missed Cal Cities Vote By Holly Tillman
Shared Correspondence from the Community
The following statement was submitted as public comment by a member of the Clayton community for the City Council meeting on Tuesday, September 16th.
Clayton Watch regularly shares excerpts of letters, emails, and posts received from residents and community forums to promote transparency and civic engagement.
Please note: The opinions expressed below are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of Clayton Watch.
The letter raises concerns that Councilmember Holly Tillman misled both the Council and the public regarding her participation in the 2024 League of California Cities Annual Conference.
UPDATE: Councilmember Holly Tillman was not selected to represent Clayton at the 2025 League of California Cities Annual Conference.
We invite readers to join the conversation by submitting respectful and concise comments that contribute to a constructive community dialogue.
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I agree with this letter, and it’s important to remember that Holly lied for an entire year about being present for a vote. Once again, Holly has prioritized her own desires over the needs of the city of Clayton. She does NOT represent what is best for Clayton.
ReplyDeleteWe are trying to rebuild trust in our local, state, and national politicians. Starting in our own backyard has shown to be long overdue. All of our council members have been questioned for their personal accountability on various issues for the past 6 years. The local paper now defunct, never allowed discernment of Holly's accountability. CW was open to doing so along with reporting on budget concerns and basic Clayton news. What I can't understand is, not explaining immediately afterwards what had happened. The why she couldn't attend the vote was certainly with good reason. Dissapointing and bewildering
DeleteCatV
The issue is this: If you go back and watch the council meeting video where Holly was appointed, she clearly states that she will be present for the vote. What's interesting is that she made this statement knowing she would be attending her friend's funeral on Friday morning. So once again, thank you—she lied. Why couldn't she simply have said, “I have a funeral to attend on Friday morning during the vote; could the alternate cover for me?” It seems straightforward enough.
DeleteMultiple residents and council members confronted her about this lie regarding the vote, and she continued to deceive for an entire year. Do we really want Holly to represent Clayton in any capacity? She has repeatedly demonstrated that she lies and is in her position for self-promotion, to socialize with people in power, and for photo opportunities. Holly knows absolutely nothing about hard work and honesty. Deceit, lies, and manipulation are the games she plays.
Also, if I remember correctly, a vote on that Friday morning at League of Cal Cities failed to happen because they did not have a quorum, something the City of Clayton contributed to. Shameful!
DeleteHow embarrassing. Just another two faced politician.
ReplyDeleteSpot on!
DeleteI’m so glad this responsibility was taken away from her. On the surface she seems like a nice person, but when you get to know her look out. I think Clayton can do better.
ReplyDeleteHolly is not a nice person; it's just a facade.
DeleteI noticed this letter on the table last night as you checked in for the City Council meeting. It was nice that our new city clerk, Leticia, made it available for everyone. Transparency is important, and it's great to see that being prioritized.
ReplyDeleteI didn’t see any letters when I arrived at the meeting, but I came in late, so they may have already been taken by the time I got there. Thanks for sharing the letter, Clayton Watch. You all are really on top of things, keeping us informed and safe, and as a resident of Clayton, I truly appreciate your dedication and efforts to support our community.
DeleteIt looks like this website is making it personal and she’s the victim. Please stop.
ReplyDeleteSome of you have said this makes her out to be a victim. That’s not what this is about. This is about holding city leadership accountable, making sure taxpayer money is used responsibly, and ensuring Clayton is represented when it matters most. Truth and transparency matter for our entire community. Her politics stinks to high heaven.
DeleteThis website does NOT make Holly a victim; it EXPOSES her deceit and lack of transparency. Holly and her supporters may claim that she is transparent, truthful, and acts with integrity, but NOTHING could be further from the truth. Her own words and actions have repeatedly demonstrated otherwise. She is intentional in her behavior, and there is ALWAYS an agenda behind her actions.
DeleteThe only person who portrays themselves as a victim is Holly. She has exploited issues of race and gender, and let’s not forget how, in previous years, she has filled the audience with supporters from outside Clayton. She has also used her influence to secure representation in the now-defunct Pioneer paper for over five years in every issue.
DeleteHolly attempted to paint Clayton as a racist, sundown town that people were afraid to visit, and she has spread rumors that Clayton is financially struggling—I've had council members from other cities ask me about this. While she claims our police department engages in profiling, she conveniently calls her favorite sergeant in the Clayton police department for assistance whenever she gets drunk.
So who is the real victim here? It’s certainly not Holly. I believe Clayton has been a victim of Holly's actions. She needs to go; Holly is toxic for our community!
Hey victim maker, this is your opportunity to hit us with the facts.
Delete1) Did Holly misrepresent to the council at the October 15, 2024 city council meeting that she would attend the League of California Cities Annual Conference held October 16th-18th as Clayton’s voting delegate?
2) Did Holly attend the League’s voting session on Friday October 18th and cast votes on the League’s initiatives as Clayton’s delegate?
3) If Holly was not going to attend the voting session as Clayton’s delegate on Friday did she notify the council so they could find a replacement.
4) When did Holly know see was not going to attend the voting session as Clayton’s delegate?
5) Did Clayton taxpayers reimbursed Holly for her expenses?
Facts matter. Holly is not a victim, our elected officials need to be held accountable
Great letter Monica and John. Hope all is well.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like many Clayton residents are awakening to Holly's games and lies. She should just step down.
ReplyDeleteMy mother once told me that if you tell the truth the first time, you don't have to worry about what you say the second time. So true. Tim and Sandi, Oakhurst
ReplyDeleteLife is hard, but it’s harder when you’re stupid. A certain politician needs to wake up
DeleteSo true
DeleteHuh? “Truth? Oh, it’s not about what you do… just what you say, right??”
ReplyDeleteIf we are speaking about Holly; she doesn't do anything for Clayton. Holly only does self promotion.
DeleteThis is my first time commenting. Great information on Clayton and local politics! Both my wife and I really enjoy digging through all the details. Keep the information coming—thanks, Tom and Beth!
ReplyDeleteSomeone asked me the day while at the park downtown why Tillman was always the center of attention. I clearly explained that all of her actions seemed to point to her hating the city of Clayton. I recommended that they visit this website, where they could get more context on Tillman’s behavior and maybe gain some insights into why she acts the way she does. Hopefully, they did!
ReplyDeleteFor those questioning the public comment letter, I strongly recommend watching the city council meeting where Tillman essentially sold the council on why she needed to attend. She positioned herself as the ideal representative and fully committed to voting. She also made it clear that she had other personal/political reasons for attending.
ReplyDeleteWhat’s especially telling is that she did all of this while fully aware of the date and time of her friend’s celebration of life. I’d bet my bottom dollar she still made time to attend the other swearing-in ceremonies she mentioned, those “other reasons” she used to justify being there.
Don’t fall for any of her spin, she’s great at twisting the narrative. The video tells the full story. Watch it for yourself:
🔗 City Council Meeting – October 15, 2024. https://claytonca.gov/government/city-council/city-council-meeting-10-15-24/
🕒 Start at 0:47:01.
Thanks for providing the link to the video. Typical politician lying. It’s obvious she knew in advance she wasn’t staying for the whole meeting, and was more concerned about attending some other swearing in ceremony at the same event in Long Beach.
DeleteGreat video. Now I understand why everyone is so upset. She should pay the money back to the city and resign.
ReplyDeleteIt is absolutely infuriating that Tillman sat at the dais and lied. She knew she would not be present for the vote and publicly stated that she expected reimbursement. I sincerely hope our city funds were not used to cover reimbursement for her dishonesty. Tillman lacks class and integrity! She has the audacity to condemn others on social media, yet her behavior is truly reprehensible. She needs to be removed from the council. Lauren H.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Clayton Watch I just got your email last night. Keep them coming.
ReplyDeleteI watched the council meeting, and as Tillman read the letter that conveyed the truth, she shrugged her shoulders as if lying and manipulating were no big deal. Right there on video, she showed her true feelings about the residents of Clayton. She must be removed from her position! Tillman lacks honesty, integrity, and ethical behavior.
ReplyDeleteNo other council member was even interested in attending last year
ReplyDeleteYou don’t need to make excuses for Holly. She lied and got caught.
DeleteInteresting comment, but I'm not sure I fully understand your point. Like the rest of us, everyone has a busy life and family commitments. Holly had said she would go and vote, but then left early. When she made that commitment, she knew she wasn’t staying for the entire meeting. Her actions misled both the council and the community.
DeleteSo you are saying it gave Holly the right to lie and deceive the council and residents of Clayton? I don't follow that logic. I am sure if Holly had clearly stated she could not be at the meeting for the vote for a funeral, one of the council members would have stepped up. We will never know. Holly chose to LIE AND DECEIVE.
DeleteMost people have moved on about Holly Tillman. It’s kind of pointless now since this was a year ago. 4 Council Members are working hard to move the city forward. Why are we even talking about Holly Tillman? She had her moment years ago. Now, she just another politician.
ReplyDeleteI will explain why. Holly frequently attends events with local and state officials, where she continues to mislead them about what is happening in Clayton. It's important for our officials to prioritize truth, transparency, and accurate representation, rather than pursuing their personal agendas, as is the case with Holly.
DeleteIt's. It's clear she hates Clayton a shame Holly hasn't moved on from Clayton
DeleteThank you for this letter and making this decision Holly made very public. Why did she attend? Was the City of Clayton reimbursed by her for this? We all could understand not staying to vote if a family emergency occurred. This was not the case, the celebration of like was known in advance.
ReplyDeleteEveryone in town knew exactly when her friend's celebration of life event was happening. Holly isn't fooling anyone but herself. She only showed up to the Long Beach meeting because she was getting sworn in on Thursday for another committee she was desperate to join. She had zero intention of casting a vote for Clayton on Friday. It's always about Holly, and no one else. End of story.
ReplyDeleteIf everyone knew...why didn't the council ask her about it when selecting her to go.
DeleteHer actions were misleading and underhanded. She knew she wouldn’t be voting on behalf of the city, yet used her commitment to attend as a way to get appointed and sworn in to another committee. Despite the council clarifying her role and agreeing unanimously, it’s clear her real intention was never to fulfill her commitment to vote for the city. This kind of behavior shows a lack of integrity, and it’s clear she can’t be trusted.
DeleteAgree. It can’t be spun any other way. She can’t be trusted.
DeleteSo many good things happening in Clayton right now, why waste time with one council member who doesn’t matter anymore? The 4-1 civil grand jury response showed how out of touch Holly Tillman is and how misinformed her supporters are. Every city has one like this because there are crazy progressives with outrageous ideas who elect people like Tillman. These people can’t be reasoned with. However, Holly Tillman is an island unto herself. It’s clear her colleagues don’t trust her at all. It’s time to move past her. While this letter from a concerned citizen is noteworthy, it doesn’t really matter since Holly Tillman doesn’t really matter. Clayton has moved on.
ReplyDeleteThere are those with wisdom and integrity that form their opinions and make decisions based on the facts, and the fools that lack integrity, choose to ignore the facts, and push their self-serving false narrative. Do we see a pattern here?
ReplyDeleteAnd the fact is that the city has needed to increase revenues for quite some time. And appeared to be rejected because we did not like the messenger. Now, the same is needed and we are seriously looking to add a tax, or whatever. Nothing is different except who is delivering the message.
DeleteThe Issue Was Bad Facts - and Bad Messengers
DeleteThe truth is, the prior messengers were unprepared and wrong. Their claims about the City’s finances were not based on accurate information; they didn’t even know what was in the City’s checkbook or its investment accounts.
Like many government agencies, they simply assumed the City needed more money. Their guess was not supported by facts, and their lack of credibility made it easy for the community to reject their message.
Today, we still face the same financial reality: the City needs to increase revenues. However, this time, we’re looking at the numbers honestly and considering solutions such as a tax or other revenue measures. The difference isn’t the need; it’s that the facts are finally right, and the messenger is credible
Well...the prior messengers were not wrong as it is the same today, more revenue is needed. For whatever reason Prebula was not trusted even though he had a strong finance background. The small city of Clayton is reflective of the national political divide. It seems to matter who is delivering the messages not what the message is.
DeletePrebula did not have a strong finance background. He had no clue how to manage the city’s reserves and couldn’t take simple direction on how to do so. He claimed to have managed a large portfolio but when questioned on simple issues he didn’t know the answers. Look at the mess Suisun City is in right now, it’s all his doing. The only reason some like Prebula so much was his progressive politics and that he had aligned with CBCA. He was not a good city manager. He hid the facts from the council. Look at all the accounting errors that have been uncovered since he left! A good city manager is not political. Thankfully he is gone and another city’s problem. His goal was to tax us as much as possible and to grow city government. It had nothing to do with the “messenger.” It was all about who is willing to be honest.
DeleteThe numbers we were fed before were way off; the real deficit was under $90,000, not the $730,000 some were pushing. Let’s not rewrite history: Pribula didn’t have a solid finance background; his degree came from a mail-in online program in Arizona. And now we have Tillman, whose only experience is in customer relations at a local bank, yet we’re expected to take her financial advice as gospel?
ReplyDeleteThe message hasn’t changed; more revenue is needed, but the reaction sure has. In Clayton, just like on the national stage, it seems people care more about who is speaking than what is being said.
And let’s be honest, this is starting to sound like the same kind of misinformation we saw with Russiagate. We were also told Biden was totally sharp and in control. Sure.
As for accusations about racism or profiling, let’s shut that down right now. We can all agree racism does exist in the world, but it doesn't define Clayton. (Not even close) We are not, and have never been, a sundown town. Our police do not profile, and our community treats people with respect, period.
No matter who’s driving the boat, the truth matters. Let’s cut through the spin, lead with facts, and focus on making things better, not more divided.
I’m so glad Clayton Watch exists. We finally have a place to speak the truth, free from the censorship of the now-defunct Pioneer and the over-moderation of Nextdoor. Their grip on the conversation is gone, and our voices can finally be heard.
Your statement "it seems people care more about who is speaking than what is being said." is spot on. You did not care what Prebula said but now are good with the same message. Very early in his tenure Lofthus stated that the city had a revenue problem and that was OK. I guess everyone that has a degree from Univ of Phoenix, just gets mailed a diploma. Prebula had years of real experience in finance in Benecia and Napa. And the projected shortfall for the 2026-7 is over $700K. Where is the financial background of the current Council? Wan is a CPA. Enea has a criminal justice background. Trupiano has an English degree. And Diaz...who knows?
ReplyDeleteYou might want to wait on your statement about the projected deficit. Because so far every one of Prebula's forecasts have turned out to be grossly incorrect.t
DeleteHow about the financial acumen of prior councils! Julie Pierce? A seamstress! Holly Tillman, Sociology major who claims to have been in a finance position but when you look at what job was it looks more like admin. Peter Cloven? Architect who didn't know how to even read a balance sheet. We had a slew of real estate agents on council at one time. There's a group of people with financial acumen! 2008 ring a bell? The current council majority is being methodical. Prebula made the claim we were in crisis and our now defunct newspaper editor (another finance genius, right? That's why she's out of business!) spun the lie the city was in grave trouble and it just wasn't true. I don't want people who are so fixated on partying with CBCA that they just accept what a poor city manager says. I want a council that looks under the hood. That's what has been happening. But some want Prebula back so the CBCA doesn't have to pay the master fee schedule. Will we ever be free of the yoke of the CBCA?
DeleteYour statement: "Taradiddle"
DeleteThe current projected deficit of $700+ is not Prebula's. It is in the budget adopted by the current council.
DeleteDid a CBCA loyalist make that ridiculous response (taradiddle)? Facts are facts.
DeletePrebula, Schwartz, Tillman, and Cloven used feelings and wish lists, not reality-based facts. None of them went through the city's financials to accurately understand its standing. The current council, sans Tillman, have done the hard work and can make informed decisions
Delete