Jeff Wieler Will Seek Another Piedmont City Council Term

Piedmont City Councilmember Jeff Wieler has announced his candidacy for a second consecutive four-year term.

"I am pleased to be seeking reelection to the Piedmont City Council. I love living in Piedmont and I’m passionate about helping the city continue to be the wonderful community it is," Wieler said in a post on his Facebook page late Monday afternoon.

Three council seats will be up for grabs in the February 2014 election — Wieler's and the two held by Mayor John Chiang and Councilmember Garrett Keating, who will both "term out" after two consecutive four-year terms.

Before his election to the council in 2010, Wieler's community activities included service on the city's Civil Service Commission Municipal Tax Committee, Ad Hoc Library Committee, Civic Center Committee, and Park Commission. He has represented Piedmont on the Alameda County Congestion Management Agency.

Wieler also served on the city council from 2002 to 2006. Under the City Charter, a councilmember may be elected for no more than two consecutive four-year terms of office.  However, after a full term has elapsed (4 years), councilmembers may again run for office.

Wieler said his supporters include Mayor Chiang, and former mayors Michael Bruck, Valerie Matzger, Patty White, Susan Hill, Katy Foulkes, Abe Friedman, and Skip Rhodes. 

"As a member of the City Council, I have been deeply engaged in all aspects of the council’s decision-making, with a particular focus on responsible financial management," Wieler said in his Facebook post.

"This reflects both my professional experience – I have a 30-year career in finance and an MBA from Harvard Business School – and my personal belief that there is no more serious duty for an elected official than careful, prudent management of public finances. 

"This is especially true in the current economic environment, and I look forward to helping the city remain on strong fiscal footing. I’m proud to be supported by a supermajority of the members of the Budget Advisory Committee.

"I’d also note that the recently retired city finance director Mark Bichsel has called me 'one of the most productive Council members and volunteers that Piedmont has ever had. Jeff …would take a problem, shake it, and come up with a creative solution.'

"I fully intend to continue shaking the problems – and opportunities – that Piedmont will face in the next four years and finding creative ways to keep our city great.

"Our city will have a new City Administrator shortly after the election; three department heads and a number of important middle-management employees are close to retirement age.

"I believe that my long experience in the community and at City Hall can help provide continuity and institutional memory during this time of transition."

According to City Clerk John Tulloch, the official filing period for city council nomination papers opens Oct. 14, 2013, and ends Nov. 8, 2013.

He noted that any candidate who intends to raise money for his or her campaign must also file a Form 501 with the city clerk's office before starting fundraising efforts or receiving campaign contributions, even if that is prior to Oct. 14.

In the February election, Piedmont residents will also be electing two people to the Piedmont Unified School District Board of Education. 

Incumbents Ray Gadbois and Roy (E. Leroy) Tolles will both complete their second four-year terms in March of 2014 and are not eligible for reelection.