Grove Talks About Government Experience

Updated July 20, added photo of Barry Grove

Patch had a followup interview Thursday with a new challenger for Walnut Creek City Council,

Grove, 49, a lawyer, has worked for the Contra Costa District Attorney's Office for 20 years, including the last six years as president of the Deputy District Attorneys Association.

"I've worked quite a bit with budgets," he said. "I've worked quite a bit with government bureaucracies. I've been frustrated with government bureaucracy and the lack of common sense in government. I think the defining issue for our generation is economic and fiscal conservatism. And I'm strong on public safety."

Grove said he and his wife Denise have lived in Walnut Creek for more than 15 years. "It's a desirable place — people want to live here," he said. "And we want people to see it and want to visit here."

The Groves have a son, Jesse, who is attending law school on the East Coast.

Three seats

Incumbents Bob Simmons, the mayor, and Kish Rajan, the mayor pro tem, have announced they are running for re-election. Incumbent Council member Gary Skrel has said he is undecided.

The period for taking nomination papers out began this week. It runs through Aug. 10 unless an incumbent council member does not file by then, in which case the nomination period extends to Aug. 15.