For additional mature, respectful, responsible and experienced leadership

By Allen D. Payton, Publisher

After endorsing former Antioch City Manager Ron Bernal for mayor, yesterday, he’s just one of the three pieces needed to complete the puzzle that will provide our city with a new, common-sense direction. We also need former Antioch High School Principal Louie Rocha elected in District 2 and former Mayor and Councilman Don Freitas elected in District 3 to join Bernal in providing mature, respectful, responsible and experienced leadership with a new council majority.

Do I always agree with Rocha and Freitas? No. But on the major issues of dealing with crime by increasing our police force, helping grow our economy with well-

District 2 – King’s Dishonesty Disqualifies Her, Rocha is Right Choice for Council

In the race for the District 2 Council seat, which is being vacated by incumbent Mike Barbanica who is running for County Supervisor, I was willing to give Dominique King a chance, this year, after her failed campaign for school board against Rocha’s mother, Mary in 2022, in which she aligned herself with Councilwomen Monica Wilson and Tamisha Torres-Walker and the local, far-left, progressive wing of the Democratic Party, and was backed by Mayor Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe.

But I became quickly disappointed in her for starting off the campaign claiming to be something she’s not. In an effort to compete with Louie Rocha’s education bona fides, having 17 years of experience as the principal of Antioch High School, King is using the term “Educator” for her ballot designation, even though she hasn’t earned a four-year college degree, doesn’t have a teaching credential and isn’t a teacher at any school. She says that’s due to the fact she and her husband through their Lean In With The Kings marriage and family counseling business, she “educates” their clients. But just because the City Clerk granted her the right to use the term by making up an entire new definition for the word not found in any dictionary, King didn’t have to do that. She could have simply been honest and instead listed herself as an “Educational Advocate” and “Businesswoman”, which are both true.

Then, on the Form 460 finance statement for the period of July 1-Sept. 21, for King’s loan to her campaign, she didn’t show her and her husband’s business but instead, shows her occupation as “Columnist, Clayton Pioneer Newspaper,” which is very part time, as King has only written nine columns this year. Knowing the publisher, I guarantee you King isn’t earning a full-time salary from that local newspaper.

So, King’s stretch of the truth, which, frankly, is just a desperate act of dishonesty, is an automatic disqualifier as far as I’m concerned. But her alliances and views just make things worse. My fear if Dominique is elected is that she would merely continue helping lead Antioch on the same path it’s on, most likely siding with the two councilwomen who remain in their positions for the next two years until their terms are up.

As for King’s opponent, another first-time candidate for public office like Bernal, Louie Rocha, brings with him years of experience hiring and managing employees, dealing with budgets and all kinds of challenges, including interacting with the police department, as well as his community service, all while working collaboratively with others to achieve collective success. He truly has made a difference in Antioch and wants to continue to do so, this time, on the council.

Rocha’s slogan of “Focused on Our Future” is what we need for council members to do instead of the divisiveness of the past four years and Antioch’s history, to redirect the City from the path it’s currently on. His platform highlights the key priorities that need work and in correct order: Public Safety – “Hire Chief of Police, Restore police officer staffing, Reduce violent crime and Increase traffic enforcement;” Leadership & Governance – specifically, “Hire…other city leadership positions” and “Model civility, respect and integrity;” Economic Development – “Support local businesses, Grow new business development and Rebuild closed business buildings;” and Community Services, specifically, “Provide necessary resources to our unhoused community.”

Asked to clarify what he means by “Rebuild closed business buildings” Rocha said, “When businesses close up and leave their buildings they get boarded up and become blighted and attract homeless and others. We need to work to attract new businesses to fill the vacant buildings.”

Named after his father, Louis, Sr., the former principal has lived in Antioch for 55 years where he grew up and graduated from Antioch High, has a college degree, is married to Tammy who, together have twin adult sons. One son, Ruben is working with him on the campaign, and the other, Louis, III who, with his wife Ischia, made Jr. a grandfather of four, and they live in Florida.

Rocha says what we all know is true: “Decisions made today will determine the future of our beloved community. I’m committed to restoring city leadership and law enforcement staffing. I will focus on solutions to create a safe, healthy and inclusive community for all of our residents and businesses. Let’s move forward together and focus on our city’s future.”

From getting to know and working with him some over the past three decades, I know Rocha can and will do that for Antioch. That’s why endorsing him for City Council in District 2 is like the slogan in the Capital One Bank commercials, “the easiest decision in the history of decisions.” (No, the Herald wasn’t compensated for that mention – although it’s not a bad idea!). Seriously, please join me in doing the same when you vote in next Tuesday’s election.

To learn more about Rocha and his campaign visit https://louierocha.org.

District 3 –Webster Must Decide Which Side He’s On, Peterson’s a Possibility for Public Administration, Freitas for Antioch’s Future

In the race for the District 3 council seat, from which incumbent Lori Ogorchock was gerrymandered out, I know two of the candidates, Don Freitas and Antwon Webster, and have enjoyed getting to know about the third, Addison Peterson during the campaign. All three offer some good ideas and different life experiences. But I had to make a choice.

I endorsed Webster for the same seat in 2020 and he has an impressive background both in the military, as an Air Force veteran, and his work with the Army Corps of Engineers, as well as his ownership of a business in Houston, TX focused on management consulting, engineering and general subcontracting.

Webster has also served the community as a member of the City of Antioch Board of Administrative Appeals, for which he currently serves as vice chair, and serves as president of the Antioch-Chichibu Sister City Organization. He is also founder of the non-profit EastBay Forward Economic Development Association and is the former president of Kiwanis Club of the Delta-Antioch.

Plus, I like and agree with all of his platform. But my main challenge with Webster, as I have expressed to him, is he can’t seem to pick a side and is still wanting and willing to ally himself with the current mayor. So, should Antwon get elected, I don’t know on which side of the major issues he will end up nor how he will vote. That unpredictability is unsettling at a time that we need a new, dependable council majority and direction for our City.

As for Peterson, I appreciate the fact that he responded to and answered all of my questions about himself, his background and campaign platform. He has a compelling life story having been homeless as a child. While Peterson is new to the community, I don’t have a problem with that, as I only lived in Antioch three-and-a-half years before being elected to the city council, and as the top vote-getter, making me mayor pro tem from my first council meeting, and acting mayor during my second meeting, since Antioch’s mayor at the time, Joel Keller, had just been elected to the BART Board half way through his third term. Plus, at age 31, I was also the youngest council member in the county. So, his age and time as a resident in our city are not issues for me.

He also has a background in both government and non-profit organizations, currently working to represent farmers in California, which is a good thing. Plus, he’s educated with a Master’s in Public Administration.

My challenges with Peterson are his alliances and being backed by organizations such as the Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment (ACCE) Action, which pushed for the unnecessary, citywide rent control policies and ordinances passed by the council, and is heavily backed by Democratic Party organizations, including the Marsh Creek Democratic Club which is also backing King and Mayor Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe. I have a serious challenge with any candidate injecting partisan politics into local, non-partisan office. Plus, his views align with the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, like Wilson and Torres-Walker. So, my concern is he will perpetuate the policies of the current council majority which has led to the city facing double-digit deficits in the next three fiscal years.

Plus, he wouldn’t commit to supporting the upscale housing in the Sand Creek area which are needed to complete Antioch’s housing mix and to attract business owners who will bring with them well-paying jobs for our residents to help them get out of the commute, each workday.

The other challenge I have with Peterson is, after multiple requests, he refused to provide me with his phone number, forcing me to only communicate with him via email. That’s frustrating for both a reporter and a constituent, as I live in District 3.

I wish Addison well in his future endeavors, but don’t think they should include serving on the city council, right now. My hope is he works in the private sector to gain more of an understanding of what it takes to create jobs and wealth, and the challenges businesses face with government regulation and taxation before running again. With his education and experience, perhaps, instead, he should consider a role in city management, rather than elected office. I hope we can still have the in-person meeting that we planned, for which I unfortunately, ended up being sick and had to reschedule but ran out of time.

My choice in the District 3 race is Don Freitas, Antioch’s former councilman and two-term mayor, who I have known for 30 years, since I first ran for and was elected to the city council seat his wife held and chose to vacate. He was, in turn, elected to my seat in 1998 when I chose to run for State Assembly instead. He also took my place on the East County and countywide transportation boards where he continued the work we had begun and helped complete the widening of Highway 4, as well as fund and build the State Route 4 Bypass / extension to Balfour Road in Brentwood, which included the new overpass and interchange with Highway 160 which travels north to the Senator John A. Nejedly-Antioch Bridge.

So, Freitas and I never served together, and Don and I haven’t always agreed on the issues. In fact, in 2008, I ran a write-in campaign for mayor to defeat him, because Jim Davis, who I was supporting, was running for a third time for mayor against Freitas but with an ineffective campaign. So, I jumped in, spent about $30,000 and beat up on Freitas’ record as mayor and garnered 8.5 percent of the vote, helping Davis win by just 1.5 percent.

But fortunately, Freitas didn’t go away and continued to be involved in the community. He came back four years later and ran for mayor again, even though I had encouraged him to instead run for council to demonstrate he’d learned some things about being more pro-business while out of office. But he lost that year to both Wade Harper who was elected, and the late Councilman Gary Agopian.

Since then, Freitas has continued to be involved in the community, primarily with the Antioch Historical Society, which I appreciate. While we still don’t see eye-to-eye on every issue, and over the years we have put our differences aside, worked together in some ways to benefit the community, we do agree on the main ones which he has outlined in his campaign. Freitas says, “My Top Priority: Provide essential services to residents. Protecting residents starts with a cultural change in our police department and filling patrol officer positions.” I agree. The other priorities of his campaign platform include filling the “budgeted, vacant City staff positions.” Plus, Freitas wants “a completely transparent public accounting of funds” and to “conduct a thorough financial audit.” That must be done to address the structural, annual budget deficit the City is facing.

Don not only brings with him his years in both government as the County’s Clean Water Manager and as an elected official, first as a Board Member for the Contra Costa Water District, but also the strength to stand up for what needs to be confronted, and the experience and results to get things done.

On his campaign website he writes, “Many issues in Antioch are not being addressed and citizens are demanding positive change. Residents are tired of the chaos that’s occurred during the past several years. The chaos has divided us – not unified us. Residents are frustrated with: dangerous and illegal sideshows, violations of public meeting laws by our elected officials, increased homelessness, police misconduct, and a revolving door of city staff departures that have deteriorated public services to citizens.” I completely agree.

The life-long Antioch native and resident whose father was a Contra Costa Deputy Sheriff, Freitas is married to former Antioch Councilwoman Cathryn Freitas, and they have one adult son, Patrick. Don is a graduate of U.C. Davis with a major in Political Science/Public Service.

Finally, he shares, “I want to be the change we need to turn our city around. Let’s be proud to call Antioch home.” I too want to be proud to call Antioch home, once again. Don’t you? If so, please join me in supporting and voting for Don Freitas for Antioch City Council in District 3.

To learn more about Freitas and his campaign visit https://freitasforantioch.org.

Bernal, Rocha and Freitas Must All Be Elected

To summarize my endorsements for Antioch’s council leadership, with the elections of Ron Bernal as mayor and Louie Rocha in City Council District 2 and Don Freitas in District 3, Antioch can and will have a new majority of mature, respectful, responsible and experienced leadership, providing our city with the common-sense direction it so desperately needs.

Calls the challenger, “the ideal leader Antioch needs at this most critical time.”

By Allen D. Payton

In a text message received on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, the Bernal for Antioch Mayor campaign announced former Police Chief Steve Ford had endorsed the candidate in this year’s election against incumbent Lamar Hernández-Thorpe.

Ford wrote:
“Hello…this is Ret. Antioch Chief of Police, Steven A. Ford. I want to let you know why I am endorsing Ron Bernal for Mayor of Antioch.

As a law enforcement professional, practitioner, academic, and researcher with over thirty-three years of experience, I have learned the importance of a balanced approach to the co-production of public safety between community and law enforcement; anchored in community trust, transparency, and proactive community engagement.

Ron Bernal embodies the character traits essential to cultivating a vibrant-healthy community.

As a long-time resident, former city servant, and community steward, I know Ron is committed to strong relationships, accountability, and a solutions-based approach, which makes him the ideal leader Antioch needs at this most critical time.

As Antioch’s forthcoming Mayor, I am confident Ron Bernal will make public safety and community partnerships his main priority while also anchoring city-wide trust and collaboration which is sorely needed now more than ever.

Ron has a healthy vision for the city that will coalesce everyone under a strong sense of belonging and community.

I strongly suggest Ron Bernal receive your consideration for Mayor. The city of Antioch needs and deserves a compassionate forward-thinking leader.

Thank you for reading!”

Also, on Oct. 30th, a brief video of Ford was posted on Bernal’s Facebook page in which the former police chief said, “Hello, my name is Steven Ford and I’m the retired Chief of Police, here in the City of Antioch and I’d like to make it very clear that I endorse Mr. Ron Bernal for Mayor for the City of Antioch.”

Earlier, on Bernal’s Facebook page on Oct. 14, a message from Ford was posted which read the same as two portions of the text message and that he endorsed the first-time candidate for public office, that day.

Hernández-Thorpe announced Ford’s hiring as the interim police chief on Feb. 23, 2022, during a press conference to which he didn’t invite the other council members. Then in April 2022, Ford was celebrated during an unprecedented, grandiose ceremony. The acting chief was then promoted to the permanent position on Oct. 23rd and less than nine months later, on Aug. 11, 2023, he retired.

6:00 – 8:00 pm at 2401 Shady Willow Lane at Lone Tree Way in Brentwood (across from Target).

The Harvest Carnival is our annual family event designed to serve our community by providing a safe and fun space for families to spend Halloween. We will have candy, food trucks, candy, games, bounce houses… and more candy!

We will have delicious food, drinks and treats available for purchase from our amazing vendors: Straw Hat Pizza, Boondoggies and The Bubble Hive!

At admission to the Harvest Carnival, there is a suggested donation of one sealed bag of individually-wrapped candy per child, but we do not want this to keep you from coming!

Guidelines:

1. Costumes:
   • No costume masks for Middle School age and above.
   • Middle School age and above may not wear/hold props that can be easily mistaken for a weapon.
2. Acceptable Props (for Elementary age and below):
   • Props like plastic lightsabers, toy swords, etc., are allowed as long as they are a part of the costume theme.
3. Costume Guidelines:
   • Costumes must be family-friendly—not objectionable, offensive, or violent.

For more information visit www.goldenhills.org.

In just 4 hours!

By Antioch Police Department

“Since when do you guys do this!?” – Comment from a man arrested last night with a firearm.

Last Friday night’s violence suppression detail saw significant results:

• 25 traffic stops
• 2 stolen firearms recovered
• 8 felony arrests
• One pound of marijuana seized
• Methamphetamine confiscated
• 4 vehicles towed
• 1 stolen vehicle arrest
  And all within just 4 hours!

Our commitment to this community is unwavering. We’ve launched gun violence suppression teams who will operate in two-man cars, focusing on areas most impacted by gun violence. The families in this community deserve peace, and we are resolute in restoring safety and order here.
Special thanks to the Kensington Police Department for joining forces with us to protect our community.

We are excited for the annual Holy Eve Community Carnival presented by Grace Arms of Antioch. There will be carnival rides, games, food, bouncy houses and of course, candy – all for FREE. Come out with your friends and family for a fun night and safe environment for all! 

Join us at Grace Bible Fellowship of Antioch, 3415 Oakley Road in Antioch. For more information visit Holy Eve Community Carnival on Facebook, about the church visit www.gbfofantioch.org or www.facebook.com/GBFofAntioch or call (925) 522-2017.

Offers a calm approach and years of experience to end the chaos, cronyism and corruption

By Allen D. Payton, Publisher

After four years of chaotic leadership under Antioch Mayor Lamar Hernández-Thorpe and his fellow councilmembers, current Mayor Pro Tem and District 4 Councilwoman Monica Wilson and District 1 Councilwoman Tamisha Torres-Walker, with their far left, progressive politics and policies, inability to hire and keep good city staff leadership, and growth in the size and cost of our city government it’s clearly time for a change.

More than enough has been written by other news organizations and me over the past several years that I don’t have to beat up on Hernández-Thorpe further about his personal behavior and antics to support my argument that his time on the council and as mayor needs to end. While I endorsed him for city council in 2016 to give him the opportunity to prove himself, and although I defended him in 2020 against a false attack mailer during his first run for mayor, I couldn’t endorse Lamar, then and I can’t, now and most of it is based on his foolish decisions, lack of leaders inside City Hall, lack of police, unwillingness to accept responsibility, as well as government and political-related activities, specifically his corruption, name calling, hypocrisy and arrogance.

Foolish Decisions

Unnecessary Rental Protection Overreach: The bottom line is Hernández-Thorpe didn’t have a majority of voters who supported him in 2020, yet he governed as if he had a mandate, pushing forward and supporting his and the two councilwomen’s agenda. They took issues only affecting some people such as renters at a few apartment complexes with irresponsible owners and property managers and instead of using Code Enforcement to require they follow existing state law, they approved unnecessary, citywide policies affecting all rental properties in Antioch. It will end up having the reverse effect with fewer investors owning single-family homes renting the and instead selling them to buyers who will make them owner-occupied.

Vote to Shutter the Natural Gas Pipeline: The mayor also took other unnecessary and irresponsible votes such as against the renewal of the franchise agreement for the low-pressure, natural gas pipeline based on false information that it could cause an explosion like the one that occurred in San Bruno in 2010, while following Wilson’s lead, who was following controversial Brentwood Councilwoman Jovita Mendoza’s lead, to please the out-of-town climate change activists. Yet, when shown the action actually worked against their desire to reduce carbon emissions, because some of the supply of gas to serve the Chevron refinery in Richmond now originates as far as 3,500 miles away in northern Canada instead of just 35 miles away in the Delta, Hernández-Thorpe wouldn’t bring the item back for a revote. Plus, it’s been costing the City hundreds of thousands of dollars in outside attorney’s fees to defend the lawsuit by the pipeline owner.

Ban on Tobacco Shop Sale or Transfer to Heirs: Then and although I don’t support any additional tobacco and liquor stores in town, it took Hernández-Thorpe a few years to reverse the ridiculous, unfair and seemingly unconstitutional vote to not allow the owners to either sell or pass on their shops to their heirs.

Amtrak Station Closure: On another matter, in September 2022 he foolishly chose to not inform his fellow councilmembers or the public about the impending vote in March 2023 to decommission the Antioch Amtrak Station, wanting to be the hero and save it. But he went to the meeting without the support of the community and failed. Then he repeatedly blamed former City Manager Ron Bernal for approving the decommissioning which was later proven false as a result of a Herald investigative report. Then it took the mayor 16 months to even have the council respond to the San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority board’s vote asking them not to close the station. Finally, with the closure now delayed until late 2026 or early 2027, an informed public and multiple speakers at the SJJPA Board meeting in September, keeping the station open is a possibility. But the vote remains unchanged to decommission Antioch’s station as they wait on a plan from the City to reduce crime and homelessness, there which were the main reasons for the decommissioning.

Lack of City Staff Leadership

We finally have a city manager, who started just a month before next Tuesday’s election and given an expensive one-year $260,000 severance package on just a two-year contract, even though Hernández-Thorpe and the councilwomen hired her on a 3-2 vote. But before she arrived, we went through multiple permanent, interim and acting city managers during the mayor’s four-year tenure. Plus, the City doesn’t currently have an Assistant City Manager, and onlly has an Interim Police Chief, Acting Public Works Director and an Acting Community Development Director. That’s unacceptable and is indicative of the incumbent’s lack of leadership.

Lack of Police

Although Chief Brian Addington is doing a great job in recruiting and adding officers and leaders to the department, we’re currently still down 43 sworn officers from the 115 in the city budget which only gets us to 1.0 officers per 1,000 population which is low in an of itself. That’s because cops don’t want to work for a council with a mayor and councilwoman (Torres-Walker) who irresponsibly called for firing all those being investigated in the text scandal before the investigations had been completed, saying they were guilty before being proven innocent – which is anathema to our form of jurisprudence in America. Most of the officers merely received the texts and returned to work.

Worse, the incumbent blatantly lied, recently in one of his video posts on his Facebook page reels saying “dozens of officers” had violated residents’ rights. That video can no longer be seen.

Won’t Accept Responsibility

But Hernández-Thorpe won’t take any responsibility for either, blaming what’s happening nationally with regards to city leadership vacancies and the DA and FBI investigations – from which only 10 officers were fired – for the depleted police department staffing. In a KTVU interview earlier this month he literally blamed Bernal, who retired in December 2021 from his position as city manager, for all the current crime problems and lack of police.

Corruption

I’ll provide just four examples of the current mayor’s corruption. First, was the obvious, unfair gerrymandering of District 3 Councilwoman Lori Ogorchock by him and his two council allies literally drawing the line around her neighborhood live on the council meeting video, moving her into neighboring District 4, and forcing her to run against Wilson in 2022, which Ogorchock lost, and preventing her from running for re-election, this year. Worse, Hernández-Thorpe and the councilwomen violated state redistricting rules by unnecessarily dividing a Community of Interest, specifically the Mira Vista Hills neighborhood, south of James Donlon Blvd., between Districts 2 and 4.

Second, were the private meetings he had with the two councilwomen at his house – in violation of the state’s Brown Act open meeting law – where they planned the redistricting and were later investigated by both the Contra Costa DA’s Office and Civil Grand Jury. Due to a lack of evidence other than the verbal testimony from Hernández-Thorpe’s former friend who attended at least one of those meetings, the three council co-conspirators were not prosecuted.

Another example is the mayor misused his campaign funds during the recall for apparently personal purposes, because he had to “reimburse” – his words – the racist-named Stop the #KAREN Recall for Mayor Lamar Thorpe 2022 campaign committee with funds from his own pocket. It was the personal use of campaign funds that resulted in the resignations, prosecutions, convictions and fines of both the former Contra Costa District Attorney and County Clerk-Registrar of Voters.

Finally, just last week, Hernández-Thorpe had his council secretary post announcements on his social media accounts about his appearances at two political events for his campaign, misusing taxpayer funds. The mayor was asked about it but not surprisingly, he didn’t respond. He has since removed the announcements from his social media accounts. Both the Contra Costa Deputy DA for Public Corruption and the Fair Political Practices Commission state watchdog agency have been contacted and asked about it, as well as the City Attorney. Once responses from them have been received a separate article will be published.

Name Calling, Hypocrisy and Arrogance

Not only did he refer to his recall opponents with the racist epithet of being “Karens” which he also called Ogorchock and District 2 Councilman Mike Barbanica, according to former City Manager Cornelius “Con” Johnson, during the campaign Hernández-Thorpe has called Bernal, his main opponent in the race, “chicken” for not attending two candidate forums. One of them was clearly biased with a local activist and supporter of the mayor serving as the moderator. Yet, the mayor is the one who is chicken as he limits who can comment below posts on his official Facebook page, has blocked my phone number on his cell phone for years preventing me from texting him for a quick question and comment, forcing me to leave a voice mail or catch him on his home line, at a meeting or community event or email his multiple accounts hoping he will see one; he won’t respond to most questions from me that are asked of him about things he says and does, showing utter arrogance in office; says he will have his council secretary invite me to his self-promoting press conferences – where he repeatedly airs Antioch’s dirty laundry, as Supervisor Federal Glover, at the Chamber of Commerce’s recent State of Business luncheon, referred to them and told him to stop doing. But then Hernández-Thorpe doesn’t invite me because he can’t handle being challenged and asked the tough questions by me and another local news reporter who know the details that the Bay Area TV media reporters don’t, as those stations have nine counties and 101 cities to cover.

However, recently and finally, Bay Area TV reporters have caught on and begun asking the mayor tough questions and challenging him, which is the role of the media.

So, Hernández-Thorpe has had eight years on the council including four as mayor to do what he wanted to get done. We literally can’t afford another four. Like the name of that old TV series, I say, “Eight is Enough”.

Side Note: To be clear, I don’t hate or even dislike the mayor and frankly, when we see each other from time to time, we’re friendly toward each other and as I told him, I pray for him. Because I attended Ron’s campaign kick-off, which I rarely do for any candidate in campaigns I cover for my news websites, I offered Lamar to attend one of his events. He invited to be one of the roasters at his annual fundraiser earlier this year and I spent two hours preparing softball jokes. But unfortunately, Lamar didn’t return my calls the day before or the day of and never told me where or what time the event was being held. He later told me he didn’t hear my voicemail messages. What I don’t like are many of the decisions he has made and things he’s said and done while in office, and most importantly, the negative impacts it’s had on our community. Should Lamar lose, I wish him well in his future and frankly, think with two children who are still young, he should make them a higher priority in his life and be spending his extra time with them instead of trying to lead our city. He also needs time to mature, see things differently from outside of government and now in private business, and perhaps someday Lamar can return to elected office. As I’ve repeatedly told him, “Do better. Be better.”

UPDATE: A Positive Note

After thinking about it further, I do want to offer something positive about the mayor, and give credit where credit is due. I agree with his votes in favor of the new, more upscale home developments in the Sand Creek area and the City’s first transit-oriented development housing project, the condominiums near the corner of Hillcrest Avenue and Deer Valley Road, known as The Landing at Wildflower Station (near KFC), just about a mile away from the Hillcrest BART Station. More of that needs to be approved nearby.

Plus, while I would prefer the private sector handle things with the homeless, I have not opposed Hernández-Thorpe’s efforts to provide transitional housing using the Executive Inn motel on E. 18th Street. I have witnessed a difference in Waldie Plaza on W. Second Street across from City Hall, where my office is located, as there are periodically, only a few homeless residents who show up there, now, no longer living there in tents and taking care of their personal business in our doorway. The challenge will for the next council will be how to continue that once the federal funds run out, which will happen, soon.

Rakesh Christian

The third candidate in the race, Rakesh Christian, who is running for mayor for a second time, I have been getting to know over the past few years and find him to offer common sense views for what Antioch faces. I like his idea to bring a four-year medical college to Antioch. He has experience as a scientist and in business and offers a different life experience as an immigrant. I also respect the fact that he’s made himself available for all four candidate forums during the campaign and has shown he isn’t afraid to challenge both the mayor and Bernal on their records.

But the biggest challenge Christian has is, due to English being his second language, he’s very difficult to understand and that just won’t work in City leadership. I hope he works on his English skills and remains involved, perhaps with an appointment to a city commission or committee.

Bernal Offers Calm, Mature, Experienced Leadership

In a complete contrast to the incumbent, challenger and first-time candidate for public office, Bernal, offers a calm, mature, respectful, responsible alternative with decades of leadership experience inside City Hall to help guide Antioch in the top position on the city council.

A 25-year Antioch resident, having worked for the City of Antioch for most of that time, moving up from Public Works Director / City Engineer in his first year and my final year on the city council when I first met him, to Assistant City Manager, then Interim City Manager and finally City Manager, Bernal understands what it takes to get things done while working in collaboration with all fellow council members, as well as the city manager, department heads and staff. He has a more mellow personality, not prone to self-promotion and doesn’t care who gets the credit for accomplishments.

His campaign and his term as mayor if elected, will be focused on the major issues Antioch faces including crime, homelessness and our struggling economy. As Bernal said at his campaign kickoff in January why he’s running for Mayor of Antioch, “Because I want to make it a better place and want to improve it…I love this community. I love the people of Antioch…my neighbors, my neighborhood…everything this place has to offer.”

From my own experience in and covering government through my own and other newspapers and news websites for the past 19 of 24 years, I’ve witnessed there are two types of people involved: those with an empire building mentality who see all the wonderful things that government can do, and then go try to find ways to raise this tax or that tax to do it, or spend more than is received in revenue. Then there are those who recognize the limits of government, prioritize spending on those things that matter most to the residents and taxpayers, and how the private sector can usually do many things better and for less money.

Bernal will help lead Antioch away from the impending double-digit deficits projected for the next three fiscal years, due to the overspending by Hernández-Thorpe and his fellow council members.

Like the mayor, Bernal operates a consulting business and has since retiring at the end of 2021. But unlike Hernández-Thorpe, he didn’t start it while working for the City which has raised questions about who the current mayor’s clients are and if they have any business before the council creating potential conflicts of interest.

On a personal note, Bernal is married to Irma, and together they have children and grandchildren who live in the area, and he’s respected throughout our city, East County, the county and beyond. I truly believe Bernal will not do anything to embarrass us as a community, he’ll never yell at members of the public from the dais nor challenge anyone to go outside for a fight.

The former city manager says, “I am committed to developing a safer, more inclusive, and better tomorrow for our residents and businesses. Our city has immense potential, yet we find ourselves at a crossroads. I invite you to join me on this journey to transform Antioch into a place that values relationships, delivers real results, and operates in a spirit of collaboration and trust.”

I agree about the potential of Antioch. While the City’s slogan is Opportunity Lives Here, we need a mayor who understands how and will work to fulfill it.

Furthermore, that last word is the most important. I know I can trust Ron Bernal as both a man and as our next mayor, who gives me hope for Antioch’s future, again.

As his campaign theme states, “Change Starts Today!” together we can make that day next Tuesday, November 5th and it couldn’t happen any sooner. Please join me in supporting and voting for Ron Bernal for Mayor of Antioch for the next four years.

For more information about Bernal’s campaign visit https://ronbernal.org.

Join us this Halloween for some fun at Antioch Wesleyan Church. We will have a bounce house, popcorn, trunks full of candy and time for you to come and enjoy.

Antioch Wesleyan Church is located at 2800 Sunset Lane in Antioch. For more information about the church, visit www.antiochwesleyan.com or the church’s Facebook page or call (925) 778-8056.

Brings force to 82 sworn

By Allen D. Payton

During a ceremony at the Antioch Police Facility on Monday, Oct. 28, 2024, Interim Chief Brian Addington administered the oath of office to four new officers and a new corporal promoted from within the ranks. He introduced each of the five men, Corporal Matt Mulholland and Officers Ali Kahlili, Jarred Flower, Cameron Mbanugo and Michael Drace then read about their backgrounds.

“This isn’t something that was handed to you. Each of you have worked extremely hard…wearing the Antioch Police Department patch,” Addington said to them.

In attendance for the ceremony inside the Community Room were District 3 Councilwoman Lori Ogorchock, City Manager Bessie Scott, Economic Development Director Kwame Reed, Parks and Recreation Director Brad Helfenberger as well as department leaders and officers, as well as family members and friends.

Corporal Matt Mulholland

Addington shared the following about new Corporal Mulholland saying, “Matt began his law enforcement career at the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office in 2013. In seven years of service with ACSO he served as a classification and custodial deputy at the Santa Rita jail and a patrol deputy at the Eden Township and Tri Valley substations. Matt transferred to Antioch police department in 2020 and has been assigned to patrol. Throughout his career, Matt has been a field training officer, crisis negotiator, crime scene investigator, and a drug recognition expert. Matt is also a Major in the U.S. Army Reserve with 16 years of military service and is a veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom with a deployment to Kandahar, Afghanistan. Matt enjoys the outdoors, attending concerts and sporting events, and is a lifelong 49er fan. Matt lives in Brentwood with his wife Samantha and daughter Savannah (in attendance).

Fun fact: Matt enjoys traveling and has been to 35 states and 20 countries.

About the new corporal Addington shared, “Our officers often turn to him for advice with stripes or not. He also serves on the board of our police union, as well.”

Mulholland’s wife Samantha pinned on his new badge.

See Facebook video of the new Antioch Police Corporal’s comments of appreciation.

Officer Ai Khalili – Police Trainee

About new Officer Khalili, the chief said, “Ali was born in Martinez and raised in Antioch. He graduated from Deer Valley High School in 2019. After graduating Deer Valley, he attended Los Medanos College and CSU Sacramento where he earned his Associate’s and Bachelor’s Degrees in Criminal Justice. Prior to becoming a trainee, he worked at the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff as a Student Intern for two years in the Emergency Services Division. Ali first joined the Antioch Police Department as a Police Explorer in 2017, where he stayed until 2023. Ali is fortunate and happy to be back at the department he considers home and is excited to begin!

Fun Fact: Ali has worked at three different Agencies, Contra Costa Community College District Police Department, Sacramento State Police Department, and the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff.”

“We were fortunate to hire him. He just graduated from the Sacramento Sheriff Academy,” Addington added.

Khalili had his mother pin on his new badge.

See Facebook video of the new Antioch Officer’s comments.

Officer Jarred Flower – Police Trainee

About new Officer Flower Addington said, “Jarred was born in Martinez and raised in Concord. He graduated from Mt. Diablo High School. After high school Jarred attended San Francisco State University from 2011 to 2019, graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in History. In his free time Jarred enjoys playing airsoft, playing video games, and going to the shooting range. Jarred is excited and ready to go to the academy and begin working with APD.

Fun Fact: Jarred enjoys history documentaries.”

“We also sponsored him through the Sacramento County Police. He’s excited to be done with the academy,” the chief stated.

Flower asked Antioch Police Sgt. Price Kendall to pin on his badge.

See Facebook video of new Officer Flower’s comments.

Officer Cameron Mbanugo – Academy Graduate

About Officer Mbanugo the chief said, “Cameron was born in Martinez and raised in Vacaville. He attended and graduated from Vanden High School in Vacaville. Shortly after, he attended the Alameda County Police Academy and graduated on May 13, 2024. Cameron was influenced by his stepfather, who is with the BART Police, to become a police officer. On his free time, he enjoys travelling, hiking and shopping.

Fun fact: If Cameron was to move out of California, he would move to Puerto Rico.”

“We’re excited to have him join our ranks,” Addington added.

The new officer had his mother pin on his badge.

Side note, if his last name looks familiar to some Antioch residents, it’s because he is the nephew of local business owner Clifton Mbanugo of Clifton Creative Web. Their last name is pronounced, “Em-BON-uh-go”.

(Awaiting video of new Officer Mbanugo’s comments. Please check back later for the link).

Officer Michael Drace – Lateral

About Officer Drace, Addington said, “Michael was born in Lodi and raised in Antioch and Oakley. He attended and graduated from Freedom High School (in Oakley) and during his senior year enlisted in the Marine Corps. Once he graduated high school, he left for the Marine Corps, where he served four years as an armorer, and was stationed in Twenty-Nine Palms, CA. He was honorably discharged from the Marines in 2022. He then attended the Alameda County Police Academy and graduated in 2023. He found his calling to be a police officer because of his service in the Marine Corps and the similar brotherhood. On his free time, he enjoys dirt biking, fishing, weightlifting, jiu-jitsu and spending time with his one-year-old daughter Stella.

Fun fact: Michael has a twin sister.

“He graduated from the academy with Antioch Officers who are close friends. He broke the bad news to the Pleasanton Police Department. Bad news for them good news for us, I think,” the chief shared with a smile.

Addington then asked Drace about his twin sister, “Does she want to be a police officer as well?” “No,” the new Antioch Police Officer said with a laugh.

Drace also asked Sgt. Kendall to pin on his badge, who was razzed about it by other Antioch PD leaders and officers in attendance.

After each had their badge pinned to their uniforms, the five men were given the opportunity to say a few words, thanking Addington for the opportunity and their families for their support.

See Facebook video of new Antioch Officer Drace’s comments.

IACP Oath of Honor

Addington then spoke about the Oath of Honor, which he’s been having each of the new recruits and those promoted in leadership to take, this year.

“I had the opportunity this past weekend to attend the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) conference,” the chief shared. “They asked all the sworn officers in the room to take the Oath of Honor.”

Addington then charged the five men, “To adhere to this oath and to live up to the highest ethical standards” and asked them, “Do each of you understand that?”

“Yes sir,” they all responded.

The chief then administered the IACP Oath of Honor.

Following the conclusion of the ceremony, the new corporal and officers gathered with their family, friends for photos, enjoyed refreshments and took tours of the Police Facility.

Addington later said that brings the Antioch Police force to 82 sworn officers. That’s out of 115 in the budget.