A Concord Police Sgt is 4th to Show Interest in City Council Job, Pulls Papers

Michael Garmon, a Concord police sergeant, visited the Walnut Creek city clerk's office Wednesday to pull nomination papers for the City Council race, but he said he is mulling over whether to seek this job or to get involved in the city in another way.

Garmon lives with his wife and three children in the neighborhood around Murwood Elementary and has been in law enforcement, first in Redwood City and now in Concord, for more than 15 years. 

He met with City Clerk Patrice Olds who takes each candidate through a primer on all the steps involved in being a candidate, including legal requirements for filing financial interest statements. She also explains all the responsibilities and time involved in being on the City Council.  

"It's an eye-opening process,' Garmon said. "There are some pretty well-established folks involved already. For me the question is, do I want to pursue this candidacy or do I want to serve the city in another capacity?"

Two of five seats are up for election this November. Three other candidates have declared their candidacy and pulled nomination papers. They are Planning Commissioner and attorney Kristina Lawson and business owner Justin Wedel. Mayor Pro Tem Cindy Silva, who will be running for re-election, has already filed her nomination papers and had her signatures qualified by the Contra Costa County Elections Department. 

Mayor Sue Rainey's seat is the other up for grabs, but Rainey has decided not to run again. 

While Garmon believes Walnut Creek is well run, he is considering entering the race because he wants to help make sure the city stays financially healthy in the long term. He adds that his law enforcement background, which also includes a master's degree in public administration, has shown him the important role that public safety plays, even in a  safe community like Walnut Creek.  People shouldn't take their low-crime rate  for granted, because budget cuts that go too far can be "detrimental."