Kevin Wilk was first elected to the Walnut Creek City Council in November, 2016 and was re-elected in 2020 to his second term, serving as Mayor in 2021.  During his first term, he led the effort to bring free WiFi to downtown Walnut Creek, as well as the push for the City to adopt 100% clean energy for all City-owned buildings. Wilk also initiated the Resolution for Pride Month, and to raise the Pride flag every June. During his current term, he took the lead to encourage all residents to get vaccinated against Covid-19, including requiring all city employees to be vaccinated. Wilk has led the effort  to encourage gun storage safety laws, ban flavored tobacco products, and provide women a safe space buffer zone when entering health care reproductive facilities. Most recently, Wilk has been a leading Bay Area voice in standing up against antisemitism & all Hate speech, and hosted a panel at the statewide CalCities conference on how elected officials can stand up to Hate speech and Hate crimes in their communities. 

As a Councilmember, Wilk has served on several City committees including Legislative, Finance, Housing & Community Development, Public Education, Public Safety, Downtown Rebound and the Diversity/Equity Inclusivity task force. He has also served as the council liaison to Rossmoor, the Diablo Regional Arts Association, the Chamber of Commerce and Walnut Creek Downtown, helping Walnut Creek to rebound during the pandemic. 

Wilk serves on the Board of Directors of the Central Contra Costa Transit Authority (County Connection), and has been a board director on the MCE Community Choice energy provider. He also serves on the statewide Environmental Quality Policy Committee for the California League of Cities, and as the Contra Costa Mayors Conference representative to the Family Justice Center . 

Born in Los Angeles, he and his family also lived in Kenya for 2 years and eventually made their way to Northern California and the East Bay where Kevin attended Del Valle High School in Walnut Creek. After high school, Kevin attended UC Berkeley for 2 years before transferring to UCLA where he graduated with a B.A. degree in Political Science while interning for Congressman Anthony Bielenson in West Los Angeles. 

After college, he began studying acting, being cast in several movies, shows and commercials. While taking a year off to travel the world, he had an idea which changed the way people would order food for delivery, and began the first West Coast restaurant delivery service in L.A. After successfully running and then selling the business, Kevin eventually made his way back to Walnut Creek. 

His Northern California business career has been varied, with long tenures at Entertainment Publications, Microsoft, Yahoo and several technology start-ups. During this time, Kevin and his wife Jill began raising their family in the Northgate area of Walnut Creek.  Darielle graduated from Northgate High School and went on to get her B.A from the University of Arizona. She is now working in marketing at an advertising agency in San Francisco.  Shane graduated from Northgate in 2018, and received his bachelor’s degree in Communications from Cal State, Long Beach. He’s now working in Southern California. 

As a three-time chair of the Transportation Commission during his two terms, he led the efforts to increase the availability of downtown parking; improve traffic flows throughout the city, including along Ygnacio Valley Road; invest in major roadway improvements, including the widening of Geary Road and the signal changes at YV and San Carlos Drive; and develop and implement a bicycle master plan. His eight years as a Transportation Commissioner has given him a deep understanding of our local and regional transportation, traffic and parking issues – and for the need for creative solutions to these challenges. 

Throughout  two years of his Commission’s work, the Downtown Parking Task Force developed a set of strategic recommendations for how to increase the inventory of public and private parking in downtown and also improve the overall parking experience. Many of these solutions are underway, including “first-hour-free” parking in downtown garages, better signage to make it easier to find available parking, and technology-based parking meters and pay stations. 

As a member of the Shadelands Gateway Advisory Committee, he worked for two years to gather community input on how to redevelop the 25-acre property at the corner of Ygnacio and Oak Grove and then, based on the input, to develop a plan that will provide better neighborhood shopping opportunities for area residents and improve the long-range viability of Shadelands Business Park. 

Walnut Creek is a center for arts in the Bay Area. As an Arts Commissioner, Kevin provided public oversight on the City’s arts programs – from the budget to programming. Most significantly, during his tenure as chair, the Commission completed the City’s first Public Art Master Plan, which has literally put Walnut Creek on the world map for public art. 

Being a graduate of Walnut Creek’s Citizens Police Academy gave Kevin first-hand insight into the community’s safety needs and priorities – from downtown to our neighborhoods, from our schools to our parks and community facilities. The Academy gave him a strong understanding of the strategies our police use to effectively manage these challenges and the resources they need to serve the community’s needs. 

Over 10 years he coached 15 different youth sports teams: Soccer, baseball, basketball, and track, giving him valuable lessons about the needs of our local youth and critical insights on our parks and recreational facilities. Those years gave Kevin a great chance to engage with hundreds of Walnut Creek families on a variety of civic issues! 

And Kevin’s mother still lives here… going on 40 years!  He continues to be a proud member of a 3-generation Walnut Creek family. 

Email Council member Wilk here.   

Highlights of Community Involvement: 

• City Councilmember (2016-current)
• City Transportation Commissioner (2008-2016)
• Downtown Parking Improvements (2009-2011)
• Shadelands Gateway Advisory Committee (2011-2013)
• Yes for Walnut Creek Steering Committee (2009)
• City Arts Commissioner (1999-2005)
• Citizens Institute Graduate (2016)
• West Downtown Specific Plan Joint Commission (2015)
• Community Service Day Planning Committee (2016-2017)
• County Connection Citizens Advisory Committee (2005-2006)
• Arts Vision Task Force representative (2002-2003)
• Chair, Producer’s Round Table, Lesher Center for the Arts (2001-2003)
• Youth Sports Coach (2004 – 2014)
• Walnut Creek Citizens Police Academy (2006)
• Northgate Broncos Booster