On Tuesday, the Walnut Creek City Council unanimously voted to appoint Kevin Wilk as its next mayor and Matt Francois as mayor pro tem.
Outgoing mayor Cindy Darling praised Wilk and his efforts the past year.
“In this last year, Kevin Wilk has been my mayor pro tem and he has done everything I’ve ask of him plus more,” said Darling. “He does such a great job… I would love to nominate you as mayor. You have the city vibe in your heart and you are ready to go to work at it and I am looking forward to your leadership as mayor. I am happy to nominate you.”
Her nomination was approved in a 5-0 vote.
Wilk, who had just been appointed mayor, nominated Matt Francois as mayor pro tem which was approved in another 5-0 vote.
Here were Wilk’s comments last night:
“I just wanted to thank my fellow councilmembers for their faith in me as your mayor for the next year. Any of us who have had the honor of being mayor knows the responsibilities and the criticism that goes along with it. Handling all of it would not be possible without the love and support of my family and friends,” stated Wilk.
He continued.
“When I last became mayor in December of 2021, it was a very different time. I was alone in this chamber, the city clerk was here and we were both in masks and everyone was on zoom and we were trying to navigate our way out of the pandemic while keeping the city running and our businesses open. As we know we came out of the pandemic almost better than any city in the state. Our downtown continues to thrive and Walnut Creek is still one of the best places in the country for people who live, work, play, shop or dine. It doesn’t mean we don’t have challenges, all cities do. But we are positioned well for residents, our visitors and employees.”
Wilk noted all politics was local and one success is tied to the ability to understand and address the specific everyday concerns of constituents in their home district.
“Never has that been more important than today,” said Wilk. “A recent national poll showed that Americans have the most faith in local government at 67% and the least faith in federal government at 32%. While in Walnut Creek we are blessed to have excellent representation at all levels of Government, at the local level we are closest to our residents. We understand the concerns and work to make sure the city works for the people. That our roads are maintained, the streets are clean and businesses and neighborhoods are safe and we are responsive to the needs and wishes of the community.”
He added over the last year Walnut Creek has seen some accomplishments – including major steps in infrastructure, sports fields and new community center at Heather Farms.
“This next year I expect we will see many great strides forward. In addition to the recreational infrastructure, we’ll see affordable housing built and continue to ensure our downtown remains vibrant as the premier shopping, dining and entertainment destination in the county. We want to make it as easy as possible to do business as possible in Walnut Creek and I am dedicated to that efficiency. Having a successful shopping district, unfortunately with that success comes some downsides, like being an attractant for crime and other issues. As a city, we are dedicated to a strong police force both in deterrence and enforcement. I want to thank police chief Jamie Knox for the job that you have done. I was mayor then when he was hired and I guess I will be mayor again when you are going into retirement. And with the new police chief Ryan Hibbs, who has been with Walnut Creek for 16 years, he knows Walnut Creek and I look forward to ensuring the Walnut Creek Police Department has what it needs to prevent crime and catch the bad guys should it occur. Along with City Manager Dan Buckshi and his top not team, we will work towards a fully staffed department, one with the best technology and ensure the presence in seen, especially on weekends and nights downtown.”
He continued by noting the city will begin addressing both e-bikes safety and education along with education on its recent passage of a gas-powered leaf blower ban set to begin in April 2026.
“As we set the table for the next generation of Walnut Creek, the general plan update has already started to move forward. Our residents and businesses will see notices in the coming year to get their input in how they would like to see their Walnut Creek evolve over the next 20-30 years. Your voice matters and I encourage all residents and businesses to engage in this discussion,” said Wilk. “Lastly, I am honored to represent the city I grew up in and raise my family in. As a councilmember for the past 9 years and now again as mayor. I know that my fellow councilmembers all feel the same way in their representation of Walnut Creek. While everyone may not agree with everything the city council does at all times, that is just shocking frankly, I hope people understand that we do the best we can with the information and tools we have under the California law we are guided by. As a welcoming community, we have open dialogue, civil discourse and if we can avoid the pitfall of mudslinging through social media, I am confident that Walnut Creek will continue to be the economic driver of the county and the premier place to live, work, play, shop and dine anywhere.”
The meeting then ended.
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