Crime & Safety

Silva responds to decision by Walnut Creek police to endorse other candidates, not her, for City Council

For the first time in everyone's memory, the police officers and managers have endorsed candidates for city council, bypassing incumbent Cindy Silva.

UPDATE: Mayor Pro Tem Cindy Silva, and incumbent candidate for City Council, issued a response Tuesday afternoon to the decision by the Walnut Creek Police Officers' Association and the Police Management Association to not endorse her in the November 2 election.

Silva said: "Although I'm disappointed that the POA and PMA have targeted me for defeat this fall, I look forward to working with their leadership following my re-election in November to ensure that Walnut Creek remains a community of safe streets and neighborhoods. I am confident that we will continue to be able to balance the need for public safety with the funding of arts, recreation and other city programs and services that make Walnut Creek unique."

Walnut Creek Patch reported earlier today that members of the Police Officers' Association (WCPOA) and the Police Management Association (WCPCMA) decided to endorse City Council candidates Kristina Lawson and Justin Wedel for the upcoming November race.  The move by the police groups represents their new effort to assert their concerns into city politics.

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The Walnut Creek Police Officers Association and the Police Management Association said in a press release issued late Sunday that Lawson and Wedel "both stated clearly that the safety of Walnut Creek families is a top priority." 

"Both associations believe [Lawson and Wedel] will help restore a sense of balance between public safety and Walnut Creek's other outstanding programs and services," the press release added

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Meanwhile, the membership of both associations ask Walnut Creek residents to "vote no" on incumbent Cindy Silva. 

Silva said earlier Tuesday that she couldn't respond because she had not seen the press release. 

Candidate Lawson said: "I am honored to have earned their endorsement.  Walnut Creek is safe today because of the high quality of our police officers, including our reserve officers, and their collective commitment to all of our neighborhoods and residents.  I look forward to listening to and working with our police to ensure they continue to have the tools they need to keep Walnut Creek safe."

Wedel added: "I am honored and humbled by their endorsement.  I am in agreement with the police officers' position and we need to address the City Council's misappropriation of the city's finances.  I have the requisite experience to bring the appropriate groups to the table, build consensus, and make the tough economic decisions that the City Council has failed to make to this point."

Over the past couple weeks, all sworn personnel of the police department—officers, sergeants, lieutenants, captains — have united to go public with their concerns about how the city is run.

With websites, The Future of Public Safety in Walnut Creek and the Walnut Creek Police Association, and a new political action committee, officers and managers are taking issue over city council decisions ranging from police pay to the perception that public safety takes a back seat to funding for a new library, new pools, and arts and recreation programs.

The Walnut Creek Police Association, comprised of both the police management and police officers association, held individual interviews nearly two weeks ago with the three candidates competing for the two seats on the City Council.

Police officers and city leaders said in previous interviews with Walnut Creek Patch that Walnut Creek police have never—unlike their counterparts in bigger cities—played an active role in city politics. This includes police as a group endorsing council candidates.


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