Lawson Officially Announces Run for City Council

In her announcement to run for Walnut Creek City Council, Attorney and Planning Commissioner Kristina Lawson says she is a mother of two young children and wants to protect the town's unique quality of life for families and for future generations. 

Lawson, 32, is running for the seat now held by retiring Mayor Sue Rainey, not that held by Mayor Pro Tem Cindy Silva who has announced plans to run again for her City Council seat. 

Lawson pulled papers to run for City Council in 2008 but chose not to run.  Here is her statement: 

Dubbed by friends and supporters as "the next generation of leadership," Walnut Creek attorney and resident Kristina Lawson today formally announced her intentions to run for Walnut Creek City Council. 

First announcing to friends yesterday on Twitter, Lawson said her main impetus for running is her desire to protect Walnut Creek's unique quality of life for the families who live here. 

"My number one goal is to preserve Walnut Creek as a 'world class' city for all our residents," Lawson stated.  "I am young, energetic and a natural consensus-builder and would like to use these skills to protect Walnut Creek's future." 

Lawson is a Walnut Creek Planning Commissioner, appointed in March 2009 by the Walnut Creek City Council.  She received her Bachelor's Degree in Political Science and Economics from the University of Arizona.  Lawson earned a J.D., cum laude, from Santa Clara University School of Law, and is a member of the Order of the Coif, an honor bestowed on the top 10 percent of each year's graduating class. 

An attorney at Miller Starr Regalia, Lawson is a member of the California and Contra Costa County Bar Associations.  Prior to joining Miller Starr Regalia, Kristina was a public law attorney at Meyers Nave and served an assistant city attorney for the cities of Milpitas and South San Francisco.  She has provided pro bono legal services to both the League of California Cities and Habitat for Humanity. 

Lawson lives in Walnut Creek with her husband, Matt (who was born at Kaiser Hospital in Walnut Creek ), their daughter Kate (5) and their son Graham (7 months). Lawson's daughter, Kate, will be attending kindergarten at Murwood Elementary School in the fall. 

"I have young children and want to make sure we preserve what makes Walnut Creek such a great place to live and raise a family," Lawson said.  "Our challenges are huge, but so are our opportunities." 

Lawson is in the process of developing a campaign plan and organizing her team of supporters.  She has obtained the early support of Walnut Creek City Councilmember Kish Rajan, former Walnut Creek Mayor and City Councilmember Charlie Abrams, and Walnut Creek Planning Commissioner Allan Moore.