Sue Rainey Won't Seek Re-Election: Two Walnut Creek Council Seats Open

Walnut Creek Mayor Sue Rainey has said she is giving up politics later this year after nearly 14 years on the City Council by not running for re-election in November.

"I've been in elective office since 1972," said the 70-year Rainey who has served three terms as mayor. She said: "It's been wonderful experience being on the City Council. You meet a lot of very nice people you might not have."

She however plans to stay involved in the city in some way, after taking some time off to travel with her husband, retired state Sen. Richard Rainey. She also hopes to have more time to spend with her grandchildren.

She said she and her husband, a former Contra Costa County Sheriff and state Assembly member, have done a lot of campaigning together over the years.

By not running, Rainey leaves wide open one of two City Council seats that will be contested. The other is currently held by Mayor Pro Tem Cindy Silva, who said she plans to run for her second four-year term. If re-elected Silva would be in line to be appointed mayor. 

Silva said she decided to run four years ago and will run again because "Walnut Creek is a wonderful community" to raise a family, to work, to live.

She acknowledges that the city faces challenges, including declining revenue from sales tax, and understands that her advocacy for the new 42,000-square-foot library has been controversial. At the same time, she believes that there are ways for the city to solve its budgetary challenges and provide the services residents and visitors expect, including partnering with other agencies.

"We can longer assume, that's the job of the school district, the parks districts, whatever district offers the service," she said. "We have to look for more creative ways to get things done." 

Sue Rainey is a former commercial real estate agent who was appointed to the City Council in 1997 to fill a vacancy left by the death of Ron Beagley. Before moving to Walnut Creek in 1987, Rainey worked on the effort to incorporate the Town of Moraga and was on that town's first council. She was also an elected director of the Central Contra Costa Sanitary District, is founder and president of the Contra Costa Sewer and Water Agency, and was a member of the Contra Costa County Local Agency Formation Commission.

The statewide general election will be Nov. 2 Those interested in running for Walnut Creek's two open seats can pull nomination papers from the city clerk beginning July 12.