Antioch Councilman Freitas elected City’s new Mayor Pro Tem
Torres-Walker jokingly objects; former mayor’s first time serving in role
By Allen D. Payton
During their meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025, the Antioch City Council voted unanimously to elect District 3 Councilman Donald P. Freitas the new Mayor Pro Tem through 2026.
Antioch’s former mayor from 2000-2008, Freitas was first elected to the City Council in 1998. But this is the first time he has served as the City’s mayor pro tem.
According to the staff report for the item, #11 on the agenda, “the mayor shall preside at the meetings of the City Council. If the mayor is absent or unable to act, the mayor pro tempore shall serve until the mayor returns or is able to act…has all of the powers and duties of the mayor… and shall have all the duties and responsibilities specified in the California Government Code.”
Before council districts were created and the first elections were held in 2020, the council candidate with the most votes served as the mayor pro tem for the following two years. But on June 23, 2020, the City Council revised the selection process and term of office for mayor pro tem.
Selection Process
The staff report provided the selection process which under the ordinance reads as follows:
According to the City’s Code § 2-1.401 SELECTION (A), “At the first City Council meeting following each general municipal election, or at the first City Council meeting of December during every odd year commencing the City Council shall designate one of its members to be mayor pro tempore.”
The term is now for just one year.
(B) The City Council shall select the mayor pro tempore as follows:
The council member who has not previously served as mayor pro tempore shall be selected. If more than one council member has not previously served as mayor pro tempore, the City Council shall select the member who received the highest percentage of votes from his or her district in the most recent general municipal election at which the council member was elected. If the selected council member declines, the City Council shall select the next council member who has not previously served and has the next highest percentage of votes from his or her district.
(2) If all council members have previously served as mayor pro tempore, or if the council members eligible in accordance with subsection (B)(1) decline, the City Council shall select the council member who received the highest percentage of votes in his or her district in the most recent general municipal election at which the council member was elected. If the selected council member declines, or if the council member would serve two consecutive years if chosen, the City Council shall select the member with the next highest percentage of votes from his or her district in the most recent general municipal election at which the council member was elected.”
Freitas Accepts Role & Responsibilities
Since District 2 Councilman Louie Rocha just served as the City’s mayor pro tem, and both Councilwomen Tamisha Torres-Walker (District 1) and Monica Wilson (District 4) have previously served in the position, Freitas was the remaining council member who hasn’t served as mayor pro tem.
Interim City Attorney Derek Cole introduced the matter and said if Freitas declined, then the Council
would look to 2022 election results to determine the next eligible Councilmember, which was Wilson. But Freitas did not decline to serve in the role and accepted its responsibilities.
Before a vote took place, Torres-Walker, who was the only council member to speak on the item, started off saying, “Mayor, I object to Councilmember Freitas being sworn in as mayor pro…” before breaking off in laughter and leaning on Freitas.
“Go for it,” he said with a shrug.
“I’m kidding. I’m tired,” his council colleague responded.
Mayor Ron Bernal asked if there was a motion and Torres-Walker said, “So moved.” Rocha seconded the motion and it passed 5-0.
Bernal then said, “Congratulations, Mayor Pro Tem Freitas and thank you for your service, Mayor Pro Tem Rocha.”
“It’s been a long year,” Rocha responded.
(See 7:11:11 mark of meeting video)
While he didn’t offer any remarks during the meeting, since the vote was just after midnight, Freitas later said, “I’m honored to be unanimously chosen to be mayor pro tem. I’m looking forward to a very dynamic year filled with positive changes.”
Freitas’ Background
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the attachments to this post:
Don Freitas
Torres-Walker & Freitas laugh ACC 12-9-25
