By Allen D. Payton

Today, Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026, the two-year contract for Antioch City Manager Bessie M. Scott ended.

After being hired in August 2024, she began her tenure in October, just a month before that year’s elections when a new mayor and two new council members were elected, forming a new council majority. As a result, Scott was not expected to last in her position for more than six months. Instead, she served 19 months before being placed on paid leave on May 5th. Less than two weeks before that occurred, Scott shared her thoughts on the role and position of city manager saying, “It sounds hard, and it is – but JOY abounds here!”

In response to the end of her contract, Scott issued the following farewell message to Antioch residents, offering a list of accomplishments during her time in the position:

Statement from Bessie Scott

On the Conclusion of My Service as Antioch City Manager

“As my tenure as Antioch City Manager concludes on October 7, 2026, I want to express my gratitude for the opportunity to serve this community. It has been an honor to hold this position and to serve as the first woman City Manager in Antioch’s history.

I entered this role with a commitment to strengthen city operations, support employees, improve public services, strengthen police and community relations, and build a more responsive and accountable government. My tenure included significant challenges—from staffing shortages and financial pressures to organizational and leadership difficulties. Some of those challenges were deeply personal and professionally painful. I acknowledge them honestly while remaining proud of the work we accomplished and the people who made it possible.

“Together with dedicated staff and regional, county and community partners, we advanced meaningful priorities and made great strides. These efforts included securing a $35 million Homekey+ award to address homelessness, obtaining additional emergency homelessness funding, and strengthening housing services through rental assistance, fair housing, and landlord-tenant support. We moved forward with efforts to address illegal dumping, beautify our Amtrak – Gold Runner downtown train stop, improve wayfinding, modernize agenda and records management, update outdated city policies, and address the public records request backlog.

“We also advanced police accountability and community engagement, including filling Police Oversight Commission seats, reinstating Neighborhood Watch, and supporting work to implement the City’s police settlement obligations. Our investment in young people helped send ten students to the State Capitol through Youth and Government, with one student selected to participate in National Advocacy Days in Washington, D.C.

“These accomplishments belong to the employees, residents, and partners who worked alongside me. To City staff: thank you for your expertise, persistence, and care for Antioch. I saw the demands you carried, and the effort you made to keep essential services moving, often under difficult circumstances. Your work matters, and I am grateful for your dedication.

“To the Antioch community: thank you for welcoming me, sharing your concerns, challenging us to do better, and contributing your time and ideas. Your advocacy and commitment to your neighborhoods strengthened our work and reminded me why public service matters.

“I leave this role proud of what we advanced and mindful that meaningful work remains. My hope is that Antioch continues to invest in its employees, strengthen public trust, and pursue opportunities that truly and positively improve the lives of all of its residents in a sustainable and equitable manner.

“Thank you for the privilege of serving as your City Manager.”

Bessie Marie Scott, CIG, EMPA

the attachments to this post:

Bessie Scott speaks D4 Cmty Mtg Official & ACC 101425

Bessie Scott Sr Ctr & Disney House 12-06-25

Bessie Scott DAR 05-25 ACC 011326 & DC 05-25

Bessie Scott ACC mtg lawsuit settlement PC 121925 & official

This entry was posted on Wednesday, October 7th, 2026 at 6:35 pm and is filed under Government, News, People. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.