On Tuesday, May 12, the Concord City Council will consider the Employment Agreement for Jerome “Jay” Wilverding to be the next City Manager.
Mr. Wilverding has decades of public and private sector experience, including over 25 years in financial and managerial roles. Jay spent over two decades of his career in the East Bay, including Concord and Walnut Creek. Since 2010, he has worked in local government, serving as Chief Accountant for Contra Costa County and later as the Auditor-Controller for San Joaquin County.
His most recent role was as County Administrator for San Joaquin County, where he managed a $2.9 billion county with an employee base of approximately 8,000 and administrative oversight of 20 departments. Jay successfully managed the day-to-day operations of the County for three years. His departure was unexpected, when the San Joaquin Board of Supervisors placed him on administrative leave and subsequently terminated his employment without cause. Whistleblower litigation related to this action is currently ongoing against San Joaquin County.
The Concord City Manager, appointed by the City Council, is responsible for overseeing the City’s day-to-day operations and implementing the Council’s policies and goals. Longtime City Manager Valerie Barone will retire in June 2026. The City of Concord retained Bob Murray & Associates to conduct the recruitment for the next City Manager. The nationwide recruitment process ran from late January through March 1, 2026, with the City Council interviewing the most qualified candidates in April.