Maria Shulman Delivers a Heart-Felt Concession to the Clayton Community

Facing a competitive field and a tight race at every turn, Maria Shulman has officially conceded her campaign for a position on the Clayton City Council. She was short by 52 votes in her attempt to secure one of the three available seats.

The 2024 election will be notable, as voter turnout from the Clayton community was highest among all cities in Contra Costa County, with a participation rate of 83.95% of the 8,638 registered voters.

Clayton Watch extends its gratitude to Maria for her commitment to serving our community. Based on our conversations with her, we are confident that she will pursue another opportunity in the future.

Additionally, Clayton Watch would like to express appreciation to all the volunteers who dedicated countless hours to writing articles, editing videos, and preparing content for publication. 

The Clayton Watch Team will continue to monitor future council meetings and report on important community events. If you would like to join the team, contact us.

Maria's full written concession is included below.
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From Maria Shulman

Congratulations to Rich Enea, Holly Tillman, and Jim Diaz. I sincerely hope the Clayton City Council's tenor will be cooperative and beneficial for all residents.

I want to express my sincerest gratitude to everyone who supported my candidacy for Clayton City Council. I am humbled and thankful for my campaign's support, guidance, volunteers, and contributions. The community's belief in me is fantastic, and although I didn’t make it on council this time, rest assured that I will continue to be present in the community through volunteer opportunities as Chair of the Planning Commission, your neighbor, and your friend. 

The residents of Clayton and surrounding areas, family, and friends from afar are exceptional heroes, never ceasing on encouragement and advice. I could not have asked for a better group of people for support. I would have never made it this far without all of you!

With gratitude and humility,

Maria Shulman

General Election Results - Final!

Contra Costa County General Election

Tuesday, November 5, 2024

Official Results - Final!

The last update from Contra Costa County came out at 1:59 PM on Monday, December 2, 2024, instead of the expected 2:00 PM December 3rd date. (Refer to the details below.)

Congratulations to Rich Enea, Holly Tillman, and Jim Diaz! A big shoutout to Maria Shulman for her impressive showing in her first bid for a seat on our City Council. We look forward to seeing everyone at the upcoming City Council meeting on Tuesday, December 17th at 7:00 p.m.

With the elections behind us, it's time for the Clayton City Council to roll up its sleeves, focus on city matters, and leave the divisiveness behind.

Counting One Ballot at a Time

Election Update! 

The most recent update from Contra Costa County was released at 3:57 PM on Wednesday, November 27, 2024. (See below.)

The overall net gain of 73 votes was distributed as follows: Enea +16, Tillman +18, Diaz +20, and Shulman +19. 

With 83.95% of the votes counted, it seems the county is getting down to the bottom of the barrel. (See below.)

We'll keep you updated with the latest results from the county as they come in. The next update is anticipated on Tuesady, December 3rd.

Just a quick update: If you were looking forward to the City Council Meeting on December 3rd, please note that it has been cancelled. The next meeting will take place on Tuesday, December 17th at 7:00 PM.

Breaking News! – Clayton Chief of Police Richard McEachin is Moving On!

News Release 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Thursday, November 21, 2024

Contact: Janell Martin, Assistant City Clerk (209) 357-6241

City of Atwater Announces the Expected Appointment of Police Chief

Chief of Police Richard McEachin

Atwater, CA - The City of Atwater is pleased to announce the expected appointment of Richard McEachin as the city's next Police Chief. The City Council will consider and vote on his appointment at its next regular City Council meeting on Monday, December 9, 2024. McEachin's tentative start date is Thursday, December 19, 2024.

Chief McEachin brings considerable experience to the role, having served as the Police Chief for the City of Dos Palos from January 2018 to November 2022 and the City of Clayton from November 2022 to the present. Chief McEachin has been in law enforcement since 2004, following in his father's footsteps.

Chief McEachin holds a bachelors degree and masters degree in criminal justice from California Coast University in Santa Ana. He attended and graduated from the Napa Valley Police Academy in 2003.

City Manager Chris Hoem expressed his enthusiasm for the anticipated appointment. saying. "Chief McEachin is an outstanding leader with the vision and experience to build strong community connections and ensure public safety. I'm confident in his ability to uphold our city's values while addressing the challenges of modem policing."

Chief McEachin grew up in the Bay Area and has called the Central Valley home since he was appointed Chief in Dos Palos in 2018. He commented on moving forward with the City of Atwater, saying, "It is truly an honor to be selected as the next Police Chief of the City of Atwater. Atwater is an outstanding community, and I look forward to working with the residents, businesses, visitors, and staff to continue to move forward in a positive direction. I would like to thank City Manager Chris Hoem and the Atwater City Council for putting their trust in me, and I am excited for this opportunity."

Election Update! 

The most recent update from Contra Costa County was released at 2:29 PM on Friday, November 22, 2024. (See below.)

The overall net gain of 93 votes was distributed as follows: Enea +41, Tillman +48, Diaz +51, and Shulman +53. 

With 83.50% of the votes counted, it seems there might still be a handful of votes left to tally. (See below.) 

Clayton has every reason to feel proud, as it currently boasts the highest turnout in Contra Costa County.

We'll keep you updated with the latest results from the county as they come in. The next update is anticipated on Wednesday, November 27th.

While you wait, we encourage you to check out our wide range of articles. You can use the “Search Queries” feature on the right to find a specific keyword or topic that interests you.

Good Day, Clayton Community Readers!

We've Assembled some of the most share-worth stories from the area. The most recent election update from Contra Costa County was released at 3:04 PM on Friday, November 15, 2024. (See below.)

There is still a possibility that the results are not final. Historically, voter turnout in Clayton has been remarkable. At present, with 82.09% of the votes counted, it seems there are additional ballots yet to be processed. We will keep you updated with the most recent results from the county as they are released, likely by next week. Please note that California State law mandates that elections must be certified within 30 days following election day.

C.C. County Election Update! 

The most recent update from Contra Costa County was released at 4:00 PM on Wednesday, November 13, 2024. (See below.)

Traditionally, Clayton experiences a voter turnout ranging from 80% to 87% during elections. Currently, with 81.94% of the votes tallied, it appears there are still approximately 200 to 300 votes left to be counted.  We will continue to provide you with the latest results from the county as they become available. Next update is expected Friday, November 15th.

In the meantime, we invite you to explore our extensive collection of articles. Utilize the “Search Queries” feature on the right to enter a keyword or phrase of interest.

Breaking News: C.C. County
Reports Thousands of Ballots Awaiting Count!

Given the tight competition for three seats on the Clayton City Council, we will refrain from discussing the election results until we have more information.

The most recent update from Contra Costa County was released at 4:00 PM today.  (See below.)

Traditionally, Clayton experiences a voter turnout ranging from 80% to 87% during elections.  Currently, with only 73% of the votes tallied, it appears there are still approximately 800 to 1200 votes left to be counted according to today’s report.  We’ll continue to provide you with the latest results from the county.  The next update is anticipated next Wednesday.  Wishing you a fantastic weekend! And remember to honor Veterans Day on Monday, November 11th.

In the meantime, we invite you to explore our extensive collection of articles. Utilize the “Search Queries” feature on the right to enter a keyword or phrase of interest.

Holly Tillman in 2020 - Who is the Real Holly in 2024?

Top Story of the Week!    

Toby the Watchdog

Concerns Mount Over Holly Tillman's Truthfulness as Election Day Approaches! (Video 8 Released.)

On social media Holly states that Clayton Watch is lying about her not voting for the budget two years in a row. However, a recently released video tells a different story.

Who is the Real Holly Tillman? 

Holly Tillman in 2020 - Who is the Real Holly in 2024?

Take a moment to view the videos below and decide for yourself whether she deserves another term in office. We think not!

To view the Stunning Four-Color Postcard mailed to all registered voters this past week, click here.

V I D E O  8   (Just Released)
Holly's Mis-Information and Lies About Her Voting Record! 

Click to Play

In this video, you will observe Holly's decision to abstain from voting on the annual budget, as mandated by law. On two separate occasions: once in 2023 and again in 2024 her actions suggest a concerning disregard for state law and one of her core council duties. Her assertion on social media that this is a falsehood propagated by Clayton Watch is, in fact, a lie. 

Video Length = 152 seconds.

V I D E O  1
Segregation, White Washing, Sundown Town and More!
 

Click to Play

In this video you will see Holly Tillman make false statements about the town being racist and so much more. 

Video Length = 71 seconds.

V I D E O  2

Investigations, Toxic Hostile Work Environment, and Censure Policy!

Click to Play

In this video you will see Holly Tillman demonstrate her divisive, contentious, polarizing and disruptive personality. 

Video Length = 23 seconds.

V I D E O  3

Bridging the Divide - Nobody Likes Me!

Click to Play

In this video you will see Holly Tillman try and force a conversation with the full council about why nobody likes her and claims that the council must bridge the divide before they can move forward. 

Video Length = 37 seconds.

V I D E O  4

Holly Out of Control - Spouses & It's a Done Deal!

Click to Play

This video is unbelievable. At city council meeting, Holly Tillman accuses council member Kim Trupiano's husband of saying the city's new fee schedule is a done deal. 

Video Length = 83 seconds. 

V I D E O  5

13 Minutes of Unfiltered Chaos - Starring Holly Tillman!

Click to Play

Get ready for 13 minutes of unfiltered chaos with Holly Tillman. Watch her engage in filibusters, heated debates, and attacks on council members while disrespecting Mayor Jeff Wan. Captivating and intense. 

Video Length = 13 minutes.

V I D E O  6

Special Event Fee Schedule - Insulting the Consultant and Jeff Wan!

Click to Play

In this video, Holly Tillman takes aim at the consultant regarding the special event fees. She confronts him and Mayor Jeff Wan with harsh accusations, suggesting they are in cahoots over the fee structure. 

Video Length = 35 seconds.

V I D E O  7

Organized Protests Downtown - Fear of Violence and Vandalism!

Click to Play

Relax and take it all in. We were all curious about who brought these protesters to our quaint town, and now we have some clarity. In this video, Holly Tillman reveals her role in the downtown protests. 

Video Length = 32 seconds.

To view the Stunning Four-Color Postcard mailed to all registered voters this past week, click here. 

The Political Mailer “Featuring Holly Tillman” Has Arrived!

By Clayton Watch

We are pleased to announce some important news for the Clayton community. The Post Office has confirmed that the political mailer created by our consultants and supporters at Clayton Watch will soon be arriving in your mailbox.

This 6x11, double-sided postcard contains factual information supported by substantial evidence regarding Holly Tillman’s actions and statements over the past three and a half years. The content you will see and read reflects her own words.

After reviewing the postcard (both front and back), click here to see several videos featuring Holly in action. 

Many residents have expressed concerns about the divisions within our community, and the situation is indeed complex. However, the past actions of council members Holly Tillman and Peter Cloven are crucial to understanding the context. Peter opted not to seek reelection, fully aware that his lack of leadership and divisive behavior would come to light. The self-styled Mr. Nice Guy spent more time creating "Who I Am" videos than addressing the pressing issues facing our town.

It is time for the community to move on from Holly Tillman and free our city from her disruptive and polarizing conduct.

We must allow our city council and staff to focus on their work and let Clayton remain the safe and welcoming small town it has always been.

Warm regards,

The Clayton Watch Team

P.S. Please remember to cast your vote on or before Tuesday, November 5th.

Mount Diablo State Park Receives $2.6 Million for New Education Center

By Clayton Watch

The Mount Diablo Interpretive Association (MDIA) has secured a significant boost for its educational efforts at Mount Diablo State Park. The California Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) has awarded a $2.6 million grant to support the construction of the Mitchell Canyon Education Center.

Grant Approved

The new facility will replace an outdated trailer, providing a modern and accessible space for visitors and students. It will offer expanded educational programs, including nature walks, workshops, and exhibits, enhancing the overall park experience.

The project has garnered widespread support from the community, with contributions from local organizations, foundations, and elected officials. Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan secured a $1 million state allocation to help fund the center, recognizing its importance for serving the region's schools.

Construction is expected to begin in late 2025, bringing a much-needed upgrade to Mount Diablo State Park's educational infrastructure.

We appreciate you for reading this article.

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California Scoops Up $95 Million for 15 Neighborhood Parks

By Clayton Watch

California just got a major cash infusion for some much-needed park upgrades! The state snagged a whopping $95 million in federal grants to spruce up 15 neighborhood parks. This is a big win for underserved communities that haven't had easy access to green spaces.

Mt. Diablo Summit

The money will go towards creating or renovating parks in areas where residents currently have limited outdoor recreation options. It's part of Governor Gavin Newsom's Outdoors for All initiative, which aims to make parks more accessible to everyone.

This investment is a major step towards addressing disparities in outdoor recreation opportunities. It's great news for anyone who wants to enjoy the benefits of nature, like fresh air, exercise, and a little peace and quiet.

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Answers to Candidate Questionnaire

By Clayton Watch

Dear Clayton Community,

The Clayton Watch Team is thrilled to share with you the answers to the Candidate Questionnaire that was sent out to four candidates vying for three spots on the city council this year: Rich Enea Sr, Maria Shulman, Mayor Jim Diaz, and council member Holly Tillman.

Recognizing the challenges and costs candidates face in reaching voters in Clayton, the Clayton Watch Team has stepped in to assist by providing a platform for them to share their answers to important campaign questions submitted by the community.

We reached out to each candidate via email inviting them to participate in our Candidate Questionnnaire. (The letter has been provided below for your review.)

Three candidates took the opportunity to respond: Rich Enea Sr, Maria Shulman, and Mayor Jim Diaz. Unfortunately, Councilmember Holly Tillman sent us a message that she would not be participating.

You can access their candidate questionnaires and responses by clicking here.

Currently, Clayton Watch is averaging 1,200 views a day and growing.

Thank you for your support!
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August 26, 2024

Dear Clayton City Council Candidate,

On behalf of a partnership between Clayton Watch and the community, we extend an invitation for you to engage in our City Council Candidate Questionnaire, as well as a potential live Candidates Forum planned for late September. Further details regarding the live forum will be provided at a later date.

In the meantime, we would greatly appreciate your participation in our Candidate Questionnaire, which involves responding to five significant questions posed by the community. (See attached)

Kindly email your completed questionnaire to claytonwatch94517@gmail.com by Saturday, August 31st, at 4:00 p.m. Your responses will be publicly accessible through various local media outlets, including Claytonwatch.org.

Should you have any inquiries, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at Claytonwatch94517@gmail.com. If you prefer a phone call instead of an email response, please provide your contact information and indicate the most convenient time for us to call.

Thank you in advance for your participation,

Clayton Watch
Political Action Committee
FPPC ID #1471612

Attachment: Candidate Questionnaire.docx. This is a fillable Microsoft Word document. Upon completing the questions, please save this form and submit it to claytonwatch94517@gmail.com by Saturday, August 31st, at 4:00 p.m.

Hello Clayton! It's That Time Again—City Council Elections Are Here!

By Clayton Watch

The Clayton Watch Team is thrilled to share that there are four candidates vying for three spots on the city council this year: Rich Enea Sr, Maria Shulman, Councilmember Holly Tillman, and Mayor Jim Diaz.

Recognizing the challenges and costs candidates face in reaching voters in Clayton, the Clayton Watch Team has stepped in to assist by providing a platform for them to share their campaign messages on our website. We reached out to each candidate via email to request their statements for posting. 

Three candidates took the opportunity to respond: Rich Enea Sr, Maria Shulman, and Mayor Jim Diaz. Unfortunately, Councilmember Holly Tillman was a no show. 

To read their candidate statements, click here.

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Fourth Clayton Post Office Update - Things Are Improving - Thanks to Mayor Diaz!

By Clayton Watch

We received another update from Mayor Diaz yesterday on the Clayton Post Office. He continues to work with Acting Post Master, Jim Mahan, to address all the deferred maintenance issues that have been ongoing for years.

Here is a partial list:

1. The weeds have been removed.
2. The building and sidewalks have been pressure washed.
3. The floor inside the post office has been cleaned.
4. The parking lot that is used for postal vehicles has been resurfaced and re-striped.
5. The building is being painted.

Next up:

- the replacement of the bark in the planter boxes.
- hiring a permanent on-site maintenance person next month.

A big think you to Mayor Diaz and Acting Post Master Jim Mahan for their hard work to address all these important issues. Stop by the post office and see for yourself. This is what leadership looks like.

Bill Walcutt

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Parking Permit Program Update - Holly Tillman Has Finally Reappeared After 8 Weeks of Silence

By Clayton Watch

So, after we dropped an update about the Parking Permit Program on Next Door and Clayton Watch yesterday, Holly Tillman finally popped back up after being MIA for about 8 weeks. It seems like she’s putting the blame for the radio silence on Jeff Wan. You’d think if she noticed he hadn’t responded, she would’ve reached out to him. Maybe it’s just campaign season that got her to finally check in... after 11:30 p.m.

To read our prior correspondence with Jeff Wan and Holly Tillman, click on the following link. https://www.claytonwatch.org/search/label/Parking%20Permit

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Letecia “Holly” Tillman Mon, Aug 19, 11:30 PM (9 hours ago) to Jeff, William, me

Good evening, All.

Jeff, thank you for responding. I recall you wanted to take the lead and take the first attempt of a draft proposal and share with me for feedback. After we agree on a draft we would then bring back to council.

I completely agree with your explanation regarding our priority of finding a permanent city manager. That’s such a vital first priority to finalize so Clayton can be managed efficiently.

I hope we can work to have a functioning council that supports our new city manager — the Clayton residents and staff deserve stability in City Hall.

Holly

Holly Tillman
Council Member
City of Clayton
925-673-7321
925-302-6261 (cell)
hollyt@claytonca.gov

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Parking Permit Program Update - After a Few Weeks, We Finally Heard Back From Council Member Jeff Wan, but Still No Word From Holly Tillman.

By Clayton Watch

To read our prior correspondence with Jeff Wan and Holly Tillman, click on the following link. https://www.claytonwatch.org/search/label/Parking%20Permit

Hi, Bill -

I've pulled Jim Diaz off of this email thread so as to not create a communication with a majority of the Council.

The Council and City have been focusing quite a bit on finding and onboarding a permanent City Manager. While Adam Politzer as our Interim City Manager has been doing excellent work, as a retiree his time is limited and he is not able to continue with the City past a certain point. It has been my primary goal to find a permanent replacement.

There will likely be a period of time after we hire a permanent replacement to properly onboard the individual. After that point we'll be able to take up the issue of a parking permit program again.

Thank you for your patience.

-Jeff Wan

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Good News - The Largest Housing Bond in California History is Axed Before it Even Reaches Voters!

By Clayton Watch

$20 Billion Housing Bond Pulled From Ballots - Leaving Advocates ‘Heartbroken’

A $10 billion affordable housing bond in California will not appear on the November ballot, causing concern among housing advocates about the future of funding after the state slashed over a billion dollars from related programs. 

Assemblymember Buffy Wicks (D-Berkeley) introduced AB 1657, which was set to be the largest housing bond in decades, receiving strong backing from housing advocates and city officials throughout California. This bond would have allowed for general obligation bonds to fund affordable rental housing for low-income families and supportive housing for those experiencing homelessness, among other initiatives. 

However, the Legislature had to prioritize other bonds and faced limitations on new borrowing due to a significant budget deficit. As a result, two measures aimed at allocating $10 billion each for K-12 school renovations and climate change preparedness secured spots on the November ballot, while AB 1657 was ultimately sidelined in the appropriations committee last week. 

In November, voters in the Bay Area will also decide on a measure to simplify the process for local governments to pass bonds and taxes that support affordable housing and infrastructure. Currently, such measures require a two-thirds supermajority, or 66% approval from residents, to pass. Proposition 5 aims to reduce that requirement to 55%. Stay tuned - more to follow.

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Clayton News Update! - An Incumbent Has “Not” Submitted the Necessary Paperwork to Seek Re-election

By Clayton Watch

As of 5 p.m. yesterday, Friday, August 9, 2024, an incumbent did not turn in paperwork to run for re-election and the deadline has now been extended to Wednesday, August 14, 2024, at 4:00 p.m. for anyone else to file. Click here to see who has successfully filed to run for city council.

We support the incumbent's decision not to run and at this time congratulate them for “doing the right thing” for the community. It’s time for the community to heal the divide and come together. Enough is enough.

Regrettably, the legacy of Carl Wolfe, Peter Cloven, and Holly Tillman was to break precedent and create far more division in the community than necessary by their actions against Vice Mayor Wan two years in a row.

Incumbent Holly Tillman is running for re-election, but the members of Clayton Watch feel she may "not" be the best fit for Clayton based on her past negative remarks about our town. More to come - stay tuned.

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Clayton Watch Launches Website

By Clayton Watch (Featured in the Diablo Gazette on August 1, 2024)

We appreciate the coverage of Clayton Watch in the Diablo Gazette, but we’ve added some friendly responses in blue throughout the article. See bekow.

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By David King, Diablo Gazette

At the Clayton City Council meeting on July 16, resident Gary Hood announced that Clayton Watch has formed a Political Action Committee (PAC) and has launched a new website, claytonwatch.org.

Clayton Watch is spearheaded by local activists * Gary Hood and Bill Walcutt. ** The two are well known in the community for their conservative positions and their displeasure with certain members of the Council, Planning Commission and others in City Government as well as past decisions and conduct.

* Many people move to Clayton because they want to preserve its small town charm, and that's why activists and concerned citizens are fighting to protect it.

** Gary and Bill have been residents of Clayton for more than four decades. Bill, a retired former Mayor, and Gary, a business owner, have deep roots in the community.

They are known to walk neighborhoods to distribute flyers, attend council meetings, and engage on social media platforms such as Next Door to express their position on various issues. Their opponents see them as being hateful and vindictive. As a result, hostilities have escalated.

Clayton Watch has been accused of using divisive tactics by distributing flyers containing misinformation and hit pieces; however, opposing factions have countered with their own attack including a flyer calling Hood and Walcutt puppet masters over the current City Council.

City government has been faced with high turnover in several key positions for the past few years. ***

*** Holly Tillman and Peter Cloven point fingers at Jeff Wan and Jim Diaz for the high staff turnover. According to Clayton's former City Clerk and some other ex-city employees, the issue lies in the lack of leadership from past city managers in the last three years and the unfriendly work environment at city hall. Could it be that they fail to grasp the intricacies of running a small town?

Is this because of the activities of Clayton Watch? You decide.

In the site’s first few days, it has already exceeded 10,000 pageviews. While the site maintains a conservative narrative, anyone can research copies of past email exchanges with City personnel, news articles, Requests for Information, city budgets and audits, community activities, updates on city projects, candidate statements and much more.

Whether progressive or conservative, claytonwatch.org serves as an exposé into local issues worthy of discovery for concerned citizens. Their efforts pressure the City government to be accountable, promote transparency, and insist that whatever decision the City makes, it governs by the rules.

Its mission statement says, “To help inform the citizens of Clayton about the true facts of various proposed projects and city sponsored initiatives within the city. We seek to counter the misinformation and will do anything and everything legally possible to stop this abuse of power. Only by knowing the facts can an informed citizen make a reasoned decision.”

As an official PAC, residents can bet Clayton Watch will be asserting its influence in the local election this fall.

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