Thank You to the Community - From Rich Enea, and Jim Diaz

Here’s the latest scoop! Big thanks to the community from Rich Enea, and Jim Diaz. We’re still waiting to hear from Holly Tillman. 

After a local election, it’s pretty standard for elected officials to introduce themselves and express their gratitude to the community. 

Below, you’ll find two letters—one from Rich Enea and another from Jim Diaz—that were sent to Clayton Watch. 

Just a reminder, the next council meeting is on Tuesday, December 17 at 7 PM. We hope to see you there! The council will be getting a makeover, and a new mayor will be appointed.

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Thank you Clayton Residents:

Thank you for your vote of confidence. I look forward to working with the residents of Clayton on priorities such as public safety, financial stability and our beautiful parks.

Feel free to contact me with any of your concerns, ideas or questions at 707-218-5757.

Sincerely,

Richard Enea
Clayton City Council member

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Clayton Residents:

Thank you for your continued confidence and support in my Re-Election to represent you on the Clayton City Council for another term.

Positioning Clayton for Success!

My top priority remains to ensure Public Safety for all of Clayton, and to continue to work hard to maintain Clayton’s small town charm and character.

Happy Holidays!

Jim Diaz

Clayton City Council

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."