Supervisor Uilkema Announces Her Retirement

Bay City News Service

After two decades of public service in Contra Costa County, Supervisor Gayle Uilkema announced Tuesday that she plans to retire at the end of her term in January 2013.

The supervisor, who also served for 19 years as a Lafayette City Council member with four terms as mayor, said she simply felt it was time to leave office.

"I've been very privileged to have public support for over 30 years, and I'm grateful to the public for their faith in me," Uilkema said, stressing she plans to provide the same level of representation for constituents during her last 14 months in office.

"I felt that it was important to let people know so that we can have a spirited election," she added.

Over the next year, the supervisor said she plans to focus on pet public safety projects including a mobile identification system that will allow police to identify suspects in the field and an enhanced inter-agency communication system for local police and fire departments.

Uilkema has represented the Lamorinda area for most of her supervisoral career. In political redistricting this fall, parts of Walnut Creek and the San Ramon Valley were added to her district.