Antioch Mayor Ron Bernal (left, second row) and his classmates were joined by Michael Bloomberg (front, center) on the second day of the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative Class of 2027 during the week of July 13, 2026. Photo: BHCLI
One of two mayors from California, among 46 from 15 countries, who together lead over 22 million people, selected for program
Joint effort with Bloomberg Philanthropies marks decade of strengthening local government while advancing research, teaching and the practice of city hall leadership
By Jaden Baird, PIO, City of Antioch
ANTIOCH, CA — Mayor Ron Bernal announced, Friday, July 17, 2026, being selected as one of the 46 mayors from 15 countries for the tenth class of the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative. He participated this past week at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts in the Class of 2027. Through the nine-month professional management program, Mayor Bernal—alongside key Antiochstaff who will begin in August—will gain strategies to improve how local government works and move residents’ chief priorities forward. This is the second time Bernal has been selected to participate in a class at the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard’s Kennedy School. He also attended the First 100 Days program in December 2024. Bernal and Stockton Mayor Christina Fugazi were the only mayors from California selected for the tenth class.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to take part in the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative and to bring learnings home to Antioch,” said Mayor Ron Bernal. “The program gives mayors access to expert faculty, research-backed frameworks, and practical tools we can put to work right away. For Antioch, that means building on our work to address blighted areas and make them cleaner, safer and more vibrant—because our community deserves a city hall that never stops learning and networking.”
Antioch Mayor Ron Bernal participates as a member of the BHCLI Class of 2027. Photo: BHCLI
The flagship Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative is at the center of more than 10 years of work led by Bloomberg Philanthropies through its Government Innovation program to strengthen mayoral leadership and local government across the globe. Today, it is where the world’s mayors come to learn—and to lead. Mayor Bernal joined them.
Established with Harvard Kennedy School and Harvard Business School, and housed at the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard, the Initiative will have now served 447 mayors—including eight in ten of America’s big-city mayors and nine of England’s mayoral strategic authorities—alongside over 3,000 municipal chiefs.
“Mayors sit at the first and last mile of every major problem we face, and we built the Government Innovation program to ensure they have the capacity required to lead,” said James Anderson, who leads the Government Innovation program at Bloomberg Philanthropies. “The Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative is at its center, and in a moment that demands more from public leadership than ever, this class will have that world of support behind them. We look forward to these mayors putting it to work, and all that their city halls will do.”
Antioch Mayor Bernal participates in the 10th BHCLI class with 45 other mayors this past week. Photo: BHCLI
Through the Initiative, Bernal will work alongside Harvard faculty, policy experts, veteran managers and fellow mayors—periodically in classrooms, virtual sessions, and in the field—beginning with a multi-day convening in New York City this week. Participants learn to organize teams around outcomes, ground decisions in evidence, and collaborate across departments and sectors—applying lessons directly to the issues at home, from housing and affordability to economic growth, public safety, and emergency response.
Once the coursework ends, Antioch remains eligible for more: professional education for senior officials in economic development, human resources, procurement and civic engagement; a Bloomberg Harvard City Hall Fellow, placed for up to two years on a priority the mayor sets; and research and instructional material developed across the program’s first decade.
“Leading a city is among the hardest jobs in public service anywhere as the demands on mayors—and the complex challenges they face—continue to grow,” said Jorrit de Jong, Director of the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University and Emma Bloomberg Senior Lecturer in Public Policy and Management at Harvard Kennedy School.“Meeting those challenges requires city halls to continually strengthen how they work, and with Michael R. Bloomberg’s unwavering backing, we built the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative to help them do just that—and every mayor teaches us in return. With a decade of that insight and research behind this tenth class, we expect their city halls to deliver at home and push the program’s work—and the field itself—further still.”
The tenth class of mayors represents 28 U.S. and 18 international cities, home to more than 22 million residents. The Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative Class of 2027 included:
NORTH AMERICA
United States:
Mayor Dorcey Applyrs – Albany, New York
Mayor Ron Bernal – Antioch, California
Mayor Sean Ryan – Buffalo, New York
Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui – Cambridge, Massachusetts
Mayor Stephen M. Morris – Concord, North Carolina
Mayor Shenise Turner-Sloss – Dayton, Ohio
Mayor Mary Sheffield – Detroit, Michigan
Mayor Sharon Tucker – Fort Wayne, Indiana
Mayor John Horhn – Jackson, Mississippi
Mayor James Solomon – Jersey City, New Jersey
Mayor Christal Watson – Kansas City, Kansas
Mayor Jaime Arroyo – Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Mayor Eileen Higgins – Miami, Florida
Mayor John Ewing – Omaha, Nebraska
Mayor Keith Wilson – Portland, Oregon
Mayor Marsha Judkins – Provo, Utah
Mayor Angela Birney – Redmond, Washington
Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones – San Antonio, Texas
Mayor Michael Garcia – Santa Fe, New Mexico
Mayor Van Johnson – Savannah, Georgia
Mayor Jake Wilson – Somerville, Massachusetts
Mayor James Mueller – South Bend, Indiana
Mayor Lisa Brown – Spokane, Washington
Mayor Kaohly Her – St. Paul, Minnesota
Mayor Christina Fugazi – Stockton, California
Mayor Sharon Owens – Syracuse, New York
Mayor Anders Ibsen – Tacoma, Washington
Mayor Spencer Duncan – Topeka, Kansas
Canada: Mayor Maude Marquis-Bissonnette – Gatineau, Canada
Jamaica: Mayor Andrew Swaby – Kingston, Jamaica
SOUTH AMERICA
Mayor Carlos Fernando Galán – Bogotá, Colombia
Mayor Agustín Iglesias – Independencia, Chile
Mayor Felipe Alessandri – Lo Barnechea, Chile
Mayor Esteban Allasino – Luján de Cuyo, Argentina
Mayor Sebastián Sichel – Ñuñoa, Chile
Mayor Ramón Lanús – San Isidro, Argentina
AFRICA
Mayor Sam Nujoma – Khomas Region, Namibia
Mayor Fatiha El Moudni – Rabat, Morocco
EUROPE
Mayor Richard Shakespeare – Dublin, Ireland
Mayor Stephan Keller – Düsseldorf, Germany
Mayor Mathias De Clercq – Ghent, Belgium
Mayor Carlos Moedas – Lisbon, Portugal
Mayor Helen Godwin – West of England, United Kingdom
Mayor Tomislav Tomašević – Zagreb, Croatia
OCEANIA
Mayor Sophie Barker – Dunedin, New Zealand
Mayor Mahé Drysdale – Tauranga, New Zealand
Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg with Antioch Mayor Ron Bernal during this past week’s class. Photo: BHCLI
In July 13 and 14, 2026, posts on X, Michael Bloomberg wrote, “For the past decade, I’ve had the opportunity to share lessons from my 12 years in New York City Hall with hundreds of mayors through @BHcityleaders. This is our 10th class, and this month, 46 mayors from 15 countries will come together to begin learning from one another and working with Bloomberg @CenterforCities at @Harvard faculty & policy experts to help them better tackle the challenges their residents care about most. Mayors are expected to solve some of the toughest problems we face. That takes bold leadership, talented teams, and a willingness to try new ideas. It was great to meet the tenth class of the @bhcityleaders…They’re bringing fresh thinking and a determination to make their communities stronger.”
The flagship Initiative has also informed parallel efforts worldwide. The most recent is the Bloomberg LSE European City Leadership Initiative, whose inaugural class included 30 mayors and 60 senior officials from 17 countries.
Through these leadership programs, Antioch enters Bloomberg Philanthropies’ broader Government Innovation portfolio and global community of practice, tens of thousands of mayors and municipal officials strong, who draw on each other’s work to better the lives of the hundreds of millions of residents they collectively serve.
About Bloomberg Philanthropies:
Bloomberg Philanthropies invests in 700 cities and 150 countries around the world to ensure better, longer lives for the greatest number of people. The organization focuses on creating lasting change in five key areas: the Arts, Education, Environment, Government Innovation, and Public Health. Bloomberg Philanthropies encompasses all of Michael R. Bloomberg’s giving, including his foundation, corporate, and personal philanthropy as well as Bloomberg Associates, a philanthropic consultancy that advises cities around the world. In 2025, Bloomberg Philanthropies distributed $4.3 billion. For more information, please visit bloomberg.org, sign up for ournewsletter, or follow us onInstagram,LinkedIn,YouTube,Threads,Facebook and X.
About the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative:
The flagshipBloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative is at the center of more than10 years of work led by Bloomberg Philanthropies to strengthen mayoral leadership and local government across the globe. Established with Harvard Kennedy School and Harvard Business School, housed at the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard, the Initiative will have now served 447 mayors and over 3,000 senior municipal officials, including 8 in 10 of America’s big city mayors and 9 of England’s mayoral strategic authorities. Today, it is where many of the world’s most accomplished mayors come to learn—and to lead. For more information, please visit cityleadership.harvard.edu or visit us onLinkedIn andX.
About the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University:
Founded in 2021 with Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University serves a global community committed to improving public management, leadership, and governance. The Center’s cross-Harvard collaboration unites expertise focused on cities across disciplines and schools to produce research, train leaders, and develop resources for global use. The center is designed to have widespread impact on the future of cities, where more than half of the world’s people now live, by informing and inspiring local government leaders, scholars, students, and others who work to improve the lives of residents around the world. For more information, please visitcities.harvard.edu or follow us onInstagram,LinkedIn, andX.
ANTIOCH, CA — The City of Antioch is proud to welcome a 13-member delegation from its sister city, Chichibu, Japan, as part of the annual Antioch-Chichibu Sister City Exchange taking place July 22 through August 5, 2026.
This year’s delegation includes five junior high school students, two high school students and six adults. Chichibu Mayor Kazuhiko Kiyono will also visit Antioch during the first three days of the exchange, joined by Chichibu City Hall staff member Ms. Satoko Suematsu and Chichibu business representative Mr. Noriyuki Imaizumi. Mayor Kiyono and Mr. Imaizumi will be hosted by Antioch Mayor Ron Bernal.
The exchange continues one of Antioch’s longest-running international partnerships. Established in 1967, the Antioch-Chichibu sister-city relationship has connected generations of residents through cultural exchange, host-family stays, student and adult delegations, and lasting friendships between the two communities.
“For nearly 60 years, Antioch and Chichibu have shown what is possible when two communities commit to friendship, cultural understanding, and people-to-people connection,” said Antioch Mayor Ron Bernal. “Having experienced firsthand as both a guest in Chichibu and a host family here at home, I have never experienced this level of honor, respect, hospitality and love anywhere else in the world. Our generations-long relationship is a gift from God.”
Source: Antioch-Chichibu Sister City Organization
During their visit, delegates will stay with Antioch host families and participate in a variety of cultural, civic, and community activities. The delegation is scheduled to tour Antioch City Hall on July 24 as part of their Antioch tour. That evening, the City of Antioch will host a welcome dinner at Smith’s Landing Seafood Grill to formally greet the delegation and celebrate the continued friendship between the two cities. (See itinerary details)
The welcome dinner will also include a special recognition from representatives of the Consulate-General of Japan in San Francisco, who are expected to present a commendation in honor of Antioch and Chichibu’s upcoming 60th anniversary as sister cities in 2027. The recognition highlights the enduring friendship between the two communities and the decades of cultural exchange, hospitality, and citizen diplomacy made possible through the Antioch-Chichibu Sister City Organization.
The visit also provides opportunities for Chichibu delegates to experience daily life in Antioch while learning about the city’s history, local government, neighborhoods, and community traditions. In return, the exchange allows Antioch families and residents to learn more about Chichibu, Japanese culture, and the value of international friendship.
The Antioch-Chichibu Sister City Organization plays a central role in coordinating the exchange, working with local families, volunteers, and community partners to provide delegates with a meaningful and welcoming experience. This year, 13 Antioch families are serving as hosts, including prior-year delegates and families interested in participating in a future exchange to Chichibu. Hosting is a requirement for families selected to send delegates to Chichibu in future years.
“We are very excited to welcome our friends from Chichibu this July. These visits are an amazing opportunity to connect, to share our community with others, and to continue the friendships that have grown through our Sister City relationship over many wonderful years,” said Jessica Davis, Vice President of the Antioch-Chichibu Sister City Organization. “We look forward to spending time together, making new friends and creating new memories during this year’s delegation visit.”
Since the partnership began in 1967, Antioch and Chichibu have maintained a consistent exchange of delegates, with only limited pauses in 2011 while Chichibu recovered from a major earthquake and during the COVID-19 shutdowns in 2021 and 2022.
Community members interested in supporting the exchange may donate snack or lunch items, drinks or bottled water for delegation outings. Residents interested in becoming members of the Antioch-Chichibu Sister City Organization are invited to attend meetings held on the second Wednesday of each month at the Antioch Community Center on Lone Tree Way.
The City of Antioch encourages residents to join in welcoming the Chichibu delegation and celebrating this enduring international friendship.
The Antioch Water Park will begin offering a limited number of swim lessons starting Monday, July 20th. Morning and evening classes are now available for registration.
Space is limited due to reduced class sizes, as not all pools are available during ongoing renovations. We encourage you to register early! To view available classes and register, visit antiochca.gov/register.
Please note: The Antioch Water Park, located at 4701 Lone Tree Way in the Prewett Community Park, is not yet open for General Admission on weekdays or weekends. We appreciate your patience and understanding as renovations continue.
Join us this Saturday, July 18th, from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM at the Antioch Walmart for our annual Backpack Drive!
We are coming together to support local families in need and ensure our students in the Antioch Unified School District start the school year ready to succeed. Last year, thanks to your incredible generosity, we donated 300 backpacks, let’s beat that record this year!
Two Antioch city council, two school board seats up
By Dawn Kruger, Community and Media Relations Coordinator, Contra Costa County, Clerk-Recorder-Elections Department
The Candidate Filing Period for the November 3rd General Election will began, Monday, July 13, 2026, and nomination papers will be available for candidates running for office. The nomination period runs through 5:00 p.m. Friday, August 7, 2026.
In Antioch, City Council seats for District 1, currently represented by incumbent Tamisha Torres-Walker, and District 4, currently represented by incumbent Monica Wilson, are up for election. So far only one challenger has announced for District 4, Sandra White, who is running and hoping her third time is a charm. Plus, on the Antioch School Board, the seats for trustees in Area 2, currently represented by Dr. Jag Lathan, and Area 5, currently represented by incumbent Mary Rocha, who recently told the Herald she will run again, are up for election.
Papers for offices that are up for election will be available at the Contra Costa Elections Office, 555 Escobar Street, Martinez. Papers for Municipal Offices will be available from the City Clerk’s office in the city the position represents.
For further information on the General Election and key dates, go to www.contracostavote.gov
“Our Candidate Services team is ready to work with Candidates who will be running in the November General Election,” said Kristin B. Connelly, Contra Costa Registrar of Voters. “Our office is here to help potential candidates.”
If an incumbent does not file to run for office by the August 7th deadline, the filing period for that office will extend until 5:00 pm on Wednesday, August 12, 2026. This rule does not apply to incumbents that have reached their term limit and are unable to run again.
Interested candidates can schedule an appointment by emailing candidate.services@vote.cccounty.us or by calling (925) 335-7800. Walk-ins are accepted, but service is subject to the availability of staff. Appointments are available on weekdays from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Filing documents and information will be provided to interested constituents at their appointment. The process takes approximately 20 minutes.
Location of and access to Paradise Skate Roller Rink. Source: Antioch PD
By Antioch Police Department
We will be hosting a Neighborhood Watch community meeting on July 16th at 6:00 p.m. at Paradise Skate Roller Rink, 1201 W. 10th Street, Antioch (entrance at W. 10th & O Streets). During the meeting, we will provide updates and discuss any issues or concerns. We encourage you to attend, as this is a valuable opportunity to ask questions, receive helpful information, and engage directly with your Police Department. A photo of the meeting location is attached for your convenience.
We’ve got several exciting community events coming up this month! Stay tuned for more details on each event, but for now, save the dates—we’d love to see you there.
July 16 – Neighborhood Watch Meeting
Paradise Skate Roller Rink – 1201 W. 10th Street, Antioch (Entrance at W. 10th & O Streets)
