Peter Cloven

Fellow Claytonians - I thank you for your support and the trust you put in me to serve you on the city council for the next four years. Personally, it was a ruthless election cycle with caustic campaigning on behalf of a few candidates. The labels, lies, and twisting of truths in this local election in our small town was appalling. From SaveClayton, to NextDoor threads, to fliers/public notices with outright lies, and door-to-door knocking with misinformation, the coordina...Continue reading

Unfortunately, we are unable to safely celebrate the holidays together as we normally do with Clayton's annual tree lighting ceremony. We will all miss the chilly evening of music, cider/hot chocolate, carriage rides, and the arrival of Santa to the delight of the children. However, the CBCA has put together a virtual Holiday celebration for this Saturday, December 5th to help us get into the spirit! I wish you all a safe and happy Holiday season.

On Tuesday evening, December 1st I took the oath of office as a council member for the city of Clayton. I did so simultaneously with fellow new council member Holly Tillman and incumbent Jim Diaz, who was elected for this 3rd four-year term in office. I look forward to serving with Jim and Holly, as well as current council members CW Wolfe (Clayton's new mayor) and Jeff Wan these next couple of years. Each council member has my respect, and I will diligently listen to their p...erspectives as I consider future decisions. In the same meeting, the council selected me to serve in the capacity of Vice Mayor for the coming year. I am humbled by both the community's and the council's support. Know that I will represent Clayton with the same passion, compassion, and optimism I demonstrated during my campaign. We have much to accomplish in these next few years, and I will seek to Conserve Clayton's Character in all that I do. Lastly, I would like to show warm appreciation and gratitude to outgoing council members Julie Pierce and Tuija Catalano for their service to Clayton. I respect both of them for their knowledge, experience, love for Clayton, and the strong women that they are.

As of last Friday, an amazing 88.2% of Claytonians have cast their ballots in the 2020 Election. While the election will be certified on November 30th, it appears that I have been chosen to serve as a Clayton City Council Member for the next four years! I am humbled by the voter’s trust in me. I am incredibly grateful to my many supporters, friends, and family who believed in me. You walked the neighborhoods, put out lawn signs, shared my videos, and sent me messages of enc...ouragement. Know that the positive message of my campaign is truly who I am. I will represent Clayton with warmth, openness, and civility. Congratulations to Jim Diaz and Holly Tillman, who appear to have won seats on the Council as well. Together, we will work along with Council Members Wan and Wolfe to unite Clayton as we face the challenges of the coming years. Thank you as well to fellow candidates Tuija Catalano, Frank Gavidia and Glenn Miller, for stepping up to run. I have reached out to and have spoken with each of them individually, and I appreciate their passion for Clayton. I look forward to connecting with fellow Clayton residents who I have not yet met. We are all neighbors, and whether we are new residents or 3rd generation Claytonians, we all love our little city! With Gratitude, Peter

As we near the close of this election, I just want to take a moment to thank those Claytonians that supported me. Starting, of course, with my family. Campaigning is hard! It tests not only the candidates' will, but their family's as well. I think that elections are harder on the candidate's families than on those of us running! The families are the ones that know us best, so it is difficult for them to hear things from people that they consider to be untruths. While the can...didates persevere, their families try to understand and lend support. It was not their choice for us to run, but without them, running is not an option. I have been very lucky to have such a supportive family. That too can be said of those who unabashedly supported me & my campaign. You've answered the call beyond my wildest dreams. You combat those on social media who create falsehoods. You post campaign signs in your yards. You walk the streets of our town to hand out door-hangers on my behalf. You attend rallies, and you give honest advice whenever called upon. I humbly and wholeheartedly thank each and everyone of you for giving me the support needed to continue this campaign to the end. Win or lose, this has been an experience of a lifetime and I will never forget you. If I am lucky enough to be elected, I will represent you with all my heart.

So much fun today being a part of Halloween with our community! Thank you all!

Today, Friday October 30th, a judge ruled entirely in favor of the city of Clayton and the developer related to the lawsuit brought by some Clayton residents against the Olivia Project. Unfortunately for the residents involved, the lawsuit was a costly endeavor with no return on investment based on the merits of their case. If the City had denied the project and voted along with the one Planning Commissioner and 2 City Council Members who voted "no," the City of Clayton woul...d have had to bear the cost of a much larger suit, brought against it by the developer.The city may have had to pay associated developer’s attorney fees and damages. This could have cost the city millions of dollars and would not have brought about a successful outcome. This is not fear-mongering as some have suggested. Today's ruling shows this to be a fact. As a Planning Commissioner, my job was to evaluate the proposed project in front of me relative to the technical and legal specifications presented by our city staff and attorney. As stated in my decision, while I was not enamored with the project, based on my experience as an environmental scientist, the data reviewed, and listening to 9 hours of public hearings on the project, no information was uncovered to deny the project based on the merits presented. That decision does NOT make me an advocate of high-density housing. I want to Conserve Clayton’s Character, not destroy it. I will always act in the best interest of Clayton. I will push back against projects that are deficient technically. I will represent Clayton at the local level and push back against undesired State housing mandates when appropriate. I will deeply research every proposal before me to make solid, educated and legally defensible decisions that will protect our small town from entering into ill-conceived litigation that could damage our financial position. Leadership is making hard choices for the good of all Claytonians. I am prepared to do so on your behalf. You should expect no less. Thank you for your support! I hope to represent you as a Council Member for the next four years. Respectfully, Peter Cloven