CONCORD, CA — The Concord City Council voted Tuesday to hire Jerome Wilverding as the city’s next manager.
The board voted 5-0 to hand over control of daily operations to Wilverding, who once worked in Contra Costa County and now returns to the East Bay after leading San Joaquin County’s sprawling bureaucracy.
Wilverding will begin the job June 22, stepping into one of Concord’s most influential public positions as City Manager Valerie Barone prepares to retire.
“I look forward to leading the City of Concord to continue to meet the needs of the community and make it a great place to live, work and raise family,” Wilverding said in a statement.
Mayor Laura Nakamura said the council chose Wilverding because of his financial management background and large-scale government experience.
Wilverding originally joined Contra Costa County as chief accountant before later becoming auditor-controller for San Joaquin County. There he served as county administrator, overseeing a $2.9 billion budget and roughly 8,000 employees.
He left that role abruptly on March 12, 2024, when the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors ended his tenure with no clear explanation. San Joaquin County supervisors said the decision to terminate Wilverding's contract was unrelated to his performance.
In the meantime, whistleblower litigation against San Joaquin County tied to the dismissal is still active, casting an unusual backdrop over Concord’s decision.
“We are happy to appoint Jay to this position as his experience and expertise will bring a fresh perspective to the City and help us to continue to provide the highest quality of services our residents expect,” Nakamura said in a statement.
Originally from Pennsylvania, Wilverding moved to California after earning a business and finance degree from Wilkes University. He built a career in both private industry and public agencies, including more than 25 years in finance and management roles, according to a statement.
City officials said Wilverding spent more than 20 years living and working in the East Bay, including in Concord and Walnut Creek.
As city manager, Wilverding will oversee Concord’s day-to-day operations, direct city departments and carry out policies approved by Concord city councilmembers.
MORE: Update: Concord Taps New City Manager 'Blindsided' By Firing
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