TONY WINDLE · FOR PLACERVILLE CITY COUNCIL

I LOVE
PLACERVILLE.

Preserve our history. Embrace new ideas.

I’m running to strengthen public safety, maintain our neighborhoods and roads, support local businesses, and be a responsible fiscal steward of taxpayer dollars.

My Priorities Email Tony

Endorsed by El Dorado County Chamber of Commerce PAC · Neva Parker, Assembly District 5 · Nicole Gotberg, Mayor of Placerville · Jackie Neau, Vice Mayor · Mickey Kaiserman, PEAC Member & Fire Safe Council Board Member · Paul Tomei, EDHS Drama Teacher

Tony Windle, candidate for Placerville City Council
1977Family moved to El Dorado County
1980–82Attended Sugarloaf Music, Arts & Drama Camp
1988Graduated from El Dorado High School
1988–2016Built a career in the corporate music business, including 11 years with Yamaha and more than 20 years in the industry overall
2016Returned to Placerville and opened T.W. BONKERS
2021–todayCity advisory committee and commission service

WHY I’M RUNNING

Keep the character.
Deliver on what matters.

I love Placerville for what it is. I want to protect that, while fixing the things we all know need attention.

We can protect our history, traditions and small-town character while still being serious about public safety, roads, infrastructure, city finances, local businesses and better communication with residents.

I’ve spent years serving on City committees and commissions, running a Main Street business and helping organize community events. I’m running because I want to bring that same practical, collaborative approach to the City Council.

Different opinions. Shared hometown.

ENDORSED BY COMMUNITY LEADERS

People who know the work.

Business & Community Endorsement

El Dorado County Chamber of Commerce PAC

Endorses Tony Windle for Placerville City Council.

Assembly District 5

Neva Parker

Endorses Tony Windle for Placerville City Council.

Mayor of Placerville

Nicole Gotberg

Endorses Tony Windle for Placerville City Council.

Vice Mayor of Placerville

Jackie Neau

“Tony brings a thoughtful, well-researched, and creative approach to the issues facing our community. He listens, works collaboratively, and looks for practical solutions.”

From Vice Mayor Neau’s written endorsement.

Businessman · Placerville Economic Advisory Committee Member · Fire Safe Council Board Member

Mickey Kaiserman

Endorses Tony Windle for Placerville City Council.

El Dorado High School Drama Teacher

Paul Tomei

“Tony is thoughtful, approachable, and genuinely willing to listen to the people he serves. I know Tony will bring common sense, compassion, and a true spirit of service to the City Council.”

From Paul Tomei’s written endorsement. Tony and Paul grew up together in Placerville.

PRIORITIES FOR PLACERVILLE

Safe neighborhoods. Sound finances. Well-kept streets. A city ready for what’s next.

01

Public Safety

Support the people and services that keep residents, businesses and visitors safe, with accountability and smart use of resources.

02

Neighborhoods & Roads

Take care of our roads, infrastructure and neighborhoods before small problems turn into expensive ones.

03

Responsible Fiscal Stewardship

Protect taxpayer dollars, understand the City’s revenue sources, pursue sensible growth and keep spending disciplined.

04

Local Business

Support a citywide economy: Historic Main Street, Placerville Drive, Broadway and the businesses and jobs that connect them.

05

Preserve Our History

Placerville should grow without losing what makes it special. Our historic character and community traditions are worth protecting.

06

Smarter City Services

Use better technology and simpler processes to make City services easier to understand, easier to use and more accountable.

MY PLACERVILLE STORY

Rooted here long before I ever thought about running for office.

My family moved to El Dorado County in 1977. I graduated from El Dorado High School in 1988.

I grew up around Placerville’s traditions, businesses, mountains and unmistakable sense of place. My career eventually took me into music and the corporate world, but this community remained part of who I was.

I moved back to Placerville in 2016 and built the next chapter here as a business owner, community volunteer and public servant.

A child wearing an Ostrich House Placerville shirt
Remember the Ostrich House? The tuna sandwich with fresh sprouts was a favorite. Main Street has long been a go-to place for dining.
Tony Windle as a child in western clothing
Growing up in El Dorado County.
Children dressed in western costumes at a parade
Tony (front) and Paul Tomei as “Judge Roy Bean Juniors” in a Pollock Pines parade.
Tony Windle playing keyboard at Sugarloaf Music, Arts and Drama Camp

A FULL-CIRCLE STORY

Sugarloaf gave me an opportunity. Today I help give one to somebody else.

I attended Sugarloaf Music, Arts & Drama Camp in 1980, 1981 and 1982. Those summers helped deepen a love of music and creativity that became a major part of my life.

Today, I make an annual donation that funds a full scholarship so another young person can have that opportunity.

Tony at Sugarloaf, early 1980s.

BUILT HERE

From a little store in 2016 to a Main Street business.

Ten years ago, I opened T.W. BONKERS “Toy & Candy Emporium.” Running a small business means payroll, staffing, inventory, customers, regulations and decisions that have to work in the real world.

Tony Windle inside the first T.W. BONKERS location in 2016
2016 — the first T.W. BONKERS.
Current T.W. BONKERS storefront on Historic Main Street in Placerville
Today — 398 Main Street.
Tony Windle standing in the doorway of T.W. BONKERS

A business is part of its community.

T.W. BONKERS has grown into a place where families shop, kids have fun and community traditions happen. The store supports local youth programs, schools and nonprofits and gives me a daily, ground-level view of what local businesses face.

When Placerville’s Rite Aid closed, I worked to bring Thrifty’s Ice Cream into T.W. BONKERS so a longtime local favorite would still be available in town.

Thrifty ice cream at T.W. BONKERS
Keeping a familiar Placerville favorite in town.

COMMUNITY BEFORE POLITICS

I was doing this work long before I decided to run.

Some of the things I’m proudest of in Placerville are the things people simply show up and enjoy: Halloween on Main Street, the holiday tree lighting, Santa at the store, Little League, school arts, and helping local organizations do good work. None of it happens because of one person. It happens because people work together.

TRICK OR TREAT ON MAIN

A free Main Street tradition for kids and families.

I help lead the organizing team and sponsor Trick or Treat on Main. The event brings Historic Main Street merchants, volunteers and community partners together for an afternoon built around families, costumes and fun.

It takes a real team to make it work, including the merchants, the City, the 20/30 Club, Hands4Hope and other community partners. I also designed the event’s visual identity.

Organizing · Sponsorship · Event design
Tony Windle with members of the Trick or Treat on Main organizing team
Part of the team behind Trick or Treat on Main.
Tony Windle and Trick or Treat on Main organizers in costume inside T.W. BONKERS
The event team gets into it, too.
Trick or Treat on Main artwork designed by Tony Windle
Event artwork designed by Tony.
Families in costume gathered outside T.W. BONKERS during Trick or Treat on Main
Main Street during Trick or Treat on Main.
Tony Windle with the Hometown Holiday and Tree Lighting organizing team
The Hometown Holiday / Tree Lighting crew on Main Street.

HOMETOWN HOLIDAY ON MAIN

One of those nights that feels like Placerville.

I serve on the team that helps put together Hometown Holiday on Main and the annual tree lighting. The event brings together local merchants, volunteers, live music, student performers, Santa and families from across the community.

I also helped design the Hometown Holiday on Main logo. I like that the Bell Tower is right at the center of it, because that’s exactly where this tradition belongs.

Tony Windle with members of the Hometown Holiday organizing crew
Another night with the crew that makes it happen.

GIVING BACK

Community involvement is more than putting on events.

Through T.W. BONKERS and personally, I’ve tried to support the organizations, schools and programs that make a difference for local kids and families.

Tony Windle, the T.W. BONKERS team and Santa
Santa at T.W. BONKERS with the crew.
Tony Windle sitting in the Santa chair at T.W. BONKERS
Getting the Santa room ready.

Making room for traditions.

Every year, Santa comes to T.W. BONKERS. It’s become one of those small holiday traditions that families look forward to, and my staff and I have a lot of fun making it happen.

Tony Windle with local CASA representatives at T.W. BONKERS

Supporting CASA.

Each year, T.W. BONKERS supports CASA locally through donated gifts and significant discounts, helping stretch resources that go directly toward children and families.

AND MORE

Long-term support, not a campaign checklist.

  • Sugarloaf Music, Arts & Drama Camp — a full scholarship every year
  • Hangtown Little League — annual team sponsorship
  • El Dorado High School — support for drama and band
  • Hands4Hope — community and youth programs
  • Toys for Tots and other local youth and family causes

PUBLIC SERVICE

I believe public service should start before Election Day.

City government works best when people do their homework, listen carefully, understand the numbers and work with people who may see things differently.

2021–today

Economic Advisory Committee

Member since 2021 and currently Chair, working on issues that affect Placerville’s economy, businesses and long-term revenue.

2023–today

Recreation & Parks Commission

Member since 2023 and Chair in 2025, focused on parks, recreation and quality-of-life infrastructure.

2023

Arts and Culture El Dorado Public Art Plan Steering Committee

Member of the Arts and Culture El Dorado Public Art Plan Steering Committee.

Approach

Listen. Research. Solve.

I want residents to know why decisions are made, what tradeoffs are involved and whether City government followed through.

HOW I’LL SERVE

You don’t have to agree with me to be heard by me.

Listen before deciding.

Explain after deciding.

Follow through afterward.

Attack the problem, not the person.

EXPERIENCE BEYOND CITY HALL

A career built on creativity, relationships and results.

Before returning to Placerville full time, I spent more than 20 years in the music industry. That work taught me how to manage relationships, budgets, goals and accountability — and how to stay creative when the obvious answer isn’t working.

Tony Windle holding a Yamaha Top Sales Achievement award

YAMAHA

Performance mattered.

My corporate career included sales and account-management work with Yamaha Corporation of America. I was recognized multiple times for top sales and district-management performance across several product divisions, including an Overall District Manager of the Year award.

MUSIC

A lifelong creative thread.

I’m a pianist, keyboardist and contemporary jazz recording artist whose music received national radio airplay and jazz press coverage.

1995 SAMMIES — Outstanding Achievement in Country Music, April & the Texas Rangers

1996 SAMMIES Hall of Fame — April & the Texas Rangers

2013 Sacramento Area Music Award — Rachel Steele & Road 88

Tony Windle performing live on keyboardsTony Windle performing on keyboardTony Windle performing with a Yamaha keytar

LET’S BUILD A STRONGER PLACERVILLE

I love this city. I’d be honored to serve it.

Want a yard sign? Want to volunteer? Want to endorse the campaign? Just send me an email.

Request a Yard Sign Volunteer Endorse Tony
Tony Windle for City Council yard sign