Political adversaries part ways respectfully as Walnut Creek seats new City Council

At his final City Council meeting as an elected member, Justin Wedel — who often found himself as the “1” on 4-to-1 council votes, notably finance-related ones — had some parting words of advice for other unsuccessful 2020 council candidates, lest they be tempted to shy away from public life.

“Putting yourself in the limelight clearly is not always easy — it was never meant to be,” said Wedel, who finished fifth in a field of eight council candidates in November in seeking his third four-year council term. “But in the end we’re all better served for respectfully presenting our differing viewpoints than by casting aspersions and remaining silent.”