Davis winning Treasurer’s race, Simonsen leads in squeaker for City Clerk, the moot Measure T winning overwhelmingly

By Allen Payton

It appears enough voters in Antioch are satisfied with the work of the current council members as all five incumbers are either currently in the lead in their respective races or placed second in the case of the mayor’s race. as of the 11:44 p.m. Election Night update from the Contra Costa Elections office.

Mayor’s Race

Although there are still thousands of ballots left to be counted, Councilman Lamar Thorpe has a commanding lead over incumbent Mayor Sean Wright and three other challengers in the race for Mayor of Antioch. Thorpe currently has 11,442 votes to Wright’s 9,194 votes.

Julio Jesse Mendez is in a distant third place with 2,392 votes, followed by Gabe Makinano with 2,014 and Rakesh Kumar Christian with 908 votes. But combined those only total 25,950 votes while in 2016, the last presidential election year, there were 33,436 votes cast in the mayor’s race and more voters were expected to turn out in this year’s election. The county Elections Division has 28 days to finish counting all the ballots and certify the results. Plus, based on state law mail-in ballots postmarked by yesterday have up to 17 days to be received to still be counted. However, a 2,248-vote gap will most likely be difficult for Wright to close.

When reached for comment late Tuesday night, Thorpe said, “I want to thank the voters of Antioch for a very decisive victory. They are clear they want us to house homeless people. They are clear they want something done on police reform and they want more investment in youth programs.”
“Antioch is now the second largest city in Contra Costa County and its time for our government to act like it. We need to lead by example,” he continued. “We need to come up with solutions so we can start to be a leader in the region and frankly throughout the county.”

“I look forward to working with all council members and all residents to solve the challenges we face, whether they voted for me or not,” Thorpe added.

He also shared that Wright called him last night and conceded the race.

Council Races

In the races for city council, newcomer Mike Barbanica is beating former Councilman Tony Tiscareno in District 2 by 561 votes. When reached for comment, Tuesday night, Barbanica responded, “I appreciate the support of the residents of District 2 and I will work very hard at getting Antioch Back On Track,” repeating his campaign theme.

In a post on his Facebook page Wednesday morning Tiscareno wrote, “Congratulations to all who prevailed in the Antioch City Council and School Board last night. I had the great opportunity to serve our community for 6 years and I’m proud of the work we did during that time. Now it’s time for the new council to continue to move forward. Antioch voices were heard and now it’s time for us to support our leaders. Best of luck to all.”

He later added, “No sulking here, I want to thank my great friend Charlie Richard for his support and loyalty to my campaign, family and most importantly for our love of our labor movement.”

In District 1, incumbent Councilwoman Joy Motts is barely beating newcomer and challenger Tamisha Walker by just 50 votes. Former Antioch Mayor Pro Tem and Councilman Manny Soliz, Jr. is trailing Walker by 183 votes. Only 4,406 votes have been counted so far in that district. So, the race is too close to call. The winner will only serve a two-year term and will have to run again in 2022 after the district lines are redrawn, next year.

In a post on her campaign Facebook page Wednesday afternoon Walker wrote, “We are currently only 50 votes behind! This election is not over till every vote is counted!  We are in this together Antioch!”

In the District 3 race, incumbent Councilwoman Lori Ogorchock is most likely headed for re-election to her second full term, having been re-elected in 2018 leading all three of her challengers with 2,796 votes. Newcomer Nichole Gardner is second place with 2,206 votes, trailing Ogorchock by 590 votes out of a total of 7,717 votes cast in the race. Parks & Recreation Commission Chair Marie Arce is in third place with 1,507 trailing Gardner by 699 votes and newcomer Antwon Webster is in fourth place with 1,208 votes, trailing Arce by 299 votes.

UPDATE: In a post on his personal Facebook page late Wednesday night Webster conceded writing, “It has been awesome running for City Council. I appreciate and would like to thank all my supporters and those who voted for me. The campaign team put in many hours going door to door with me and I truly appreciate their commitment. There is still work that needs to be done in order to move Antioch forward. I will continue to be a voice for the residents and speak up when a voice is needed. Cleaning up the city can still be done by holding our City Council accountable for the blight that surrounds us. I will remain engaged in economic development issues and support their survival and success. Regardless of the final outcome of the Mayors race, we must not lose faith in the fact that we, the residents of Antioch, have a voice and will be heard. Let’s stay positive and be wise in our decision making.”

Finally, in District 4, running for her third term on the council, incumbent Councilwoman Monica Wilson, with more than a majority of the votes at 55.39%, has a commanding lead over first-time candidate and Police Crime Prevention Commission Chair Sandra White by more than double. Wilson has 3,930 votes to White’s 1,943. The third candidate in the race, Alex John Astorga who spent no money to campaign is trailing White by 721 votes with 1,222. Whoever wins the election will have to run again in two years, following redistricting. Depending on how the new district lines are drawn, since the growth in the city has mainly been south and east, and Wilson lives on the northwest edge of the district, that may end up causing her to have to move to seek re-election should she win.

In a brief post on her Facebook page last night, Wilson wrote, “OMG! Thank You Antioch!”

City Treasurer & Clerk

In the race for City Treasurer, appointed incumbent Jim Davis with 12,916 votes is beating challenger Lauren Posada by 1,075 votes who has 11,841. In the Clerk’s race, incumbent Arne Simonsen has a smaller lead of just 526 votes over Antioch School Board Trustee Ellie Householder. He has 10,165 votes to her 9,639. Police Crime Prevention Commissioner Dwayne Eubanks is in a distant third place with 5,149 votes. With the remaining ballots left to count, the results in both races are still in question.

UPDATE In a post on her Facebook page Wednesday afternoon Householder conceded the election writing, “First of all, I want to thank all of you who exercised your civic duty and voted. I also want to express my immense gratitude towards my supporters; our numbers were superb. This race was unlike anything we’ve ever seen and even though we did not get the results that we hoped for there is still a lot to celebrate. Lastly, I would like to congratulate Arne Simonsen, MMC – Antioch City Clerk on his win and all of the other amazing folx [sic] who were elected in Antioch last night.”

Householder currently has 934 more votes than the 8,705 she garnered in her race for school board in 2018, a non-presidential election with a lower voter turnout than is expected this year.

Measure T

In spite of the fact the initiative is moot and can’t go into effect, with the passage of new state law known as SB-330 Housing Crisis Act of 2019, the voters of Antioch overwhelmingly voted to downzone private property owned by four landowners by over 97% and attempted to stop the 877 homes left to be allocated by passing Measure T, the Let Antioch Voters Decide: The Sand Creek Area Protection Initiative by 20,166 votes in favor or 77.67% to just 5,435 votes against or 21.33%

So, while the voters are telling the council they don’t want more homes in the undeveloped land in the Sand Creek area, the council will have to ignore that message and comply with state law by approve the new homes in the plans for any subdivision project submitted between now and January 2025 that complies with the city’s General Plan. If not, the city will face a minimum fine by the state of $10,000 per housing unit proposed in the development.

Next Results Update Friday at 5:00 PM

The Contra Costa Elections Division is continuing to count the ballots that arrived by yesterday and will continue to arrive for as long as 17 more days including today. They have 28 days to finish the count and certify the election. So, final results may be as much as four weeks away. The next update of results is expected this Friday at 5:00 p.m.

Charged Monday by DA for multiple felonies

By Sergeant James Stenger #3604, Antioch Police Violent Crimes Unit (Investigations Bureau)

On Saturday, October 17, 2020, at about 1:00 am, Antioch Police patrol officers were notified of a brutal sexual assault that occurred in the Palms Parking Lot (near the Foot of G Street). Officers learned two victims were fishing at the San Joaquin River and returned to their vehicle at about 11:50 pm the previous evening. They were approached by two male suspects who were armed with handguns. The suspects robbed and pistol whipped both victims. After doing so, both suspects forced the female victim to perform sexual acts on them. The suspects left the scene in a vehicle – and minutes later – attempted to use a credit card stolen in the incident at an ATM machine.

Members of the Antioch Police Investigations Bureau took over the investigation and performed an extensive collection of video evidence. This included areas near the scene of the crime and the ATM machine that was used. From this video collection, investigators developed a suspect, 31-year-old KENRY LEE YOUNG of Antioch. A reference sample of his DNA was compared to forensic evidence from the scene of the crime, resulting in a positive match.

On October 22, 2020, members of the Antioch Police Special Operations and Problem Oriented Policing Units arrested Kenry Lee Young at his residence, on the corner of G and W. 6th Streets, which was only a few blocks from the crime scene. Detectives conducted additional investigation and learned the second suspect was Kenry Young’s brother, 33-year-old LAMAR YOUNG of Stockton. On October 29, 2020, members of the Special Operations and Problem Oriented Policing Unit placed Lamar Young under arrest in Stockton.

On Monday, November 2, 2020, the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office charged both Kenry and Lamar Young with multiple felonies, including oral copulation by force, sodomy by force, sexual penetration by force, aggravated assault with a firearm, and two counts of robbery. Both remain in-custody at the Martinez Detention Facility awaiting trial and their bail was set at $3,450,000.

The Antioch Police Department would like to thank the members of the community who assisted us with this investigation, in addition to the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office Crime Lab, Serological Research Institute, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Stockton Police Department.

Additional inquiries or information can be directed to Antioch Police Detective Inabnett at (925) 779-6932 or by emailing kinabnett@antiochca.gov. Anonymous tips or information about this – or any other incident – can be sent via text to 274637 (CRIMES) with the keyword ANTIOCH.

By Allen Payton

Throughout this year’s campaigns for what are supposed to be non-partisan offices, partisan politics have been injected repeatedly, resulting in hypocritical accusations by one candidate and complaints by the county’s Democratic Party and its leader, Maria Alegria. In one email she attacked the county’s Republican Party, the Antioch Police Officers Association, and one candidate for Antioch City Council.

In an email sent out by candidate for Antioch mayor, Lamar Thorpe on Oct. 10, he complained that his opponent, incumbent Mayor Sean Wright’s campaign had put out a mailer to Democrats writing, “WOW!!! Last week TRUMP REPUBLICAN candidates like my opponent Mayor Sean Wright wanted you to believe they were Democrats. They are not.” (See related article)

Yet, in a mailer received in October, Thorpe’s name and information appear on a Republican slate mailer, which his campaign paid to be on, along with Monica Wilson who is running for re-election to the Antioch City Council for a third term, and Antioch School Board Trustee Crystal Sawyer-White running for a second term, both of whom are registered Democrats.

In fact, Sawyer-White wrote on her Facebook page about one of her opponents, Dr. Clyde Lewis, Jr. that someone named Debra should vote for her because he’s a Republican. Lewis is actually an independent, registered Decline To State.

County Democratic Party Leader Decounces “Misleading Campaign Mailers”

In an email on Oct. 22, María Alegría, Chair of the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County (DPCCC), “representing over 360,000 registered voters in Contra Costa County,” denounced what she labeled as “misleading campaign mailers targeting endorsed Democratic candidates and voters.”

“In one of the most consequential elections for our nation, the Contra Costa Republican Party, their candidates and allies including the Antioch Police Officers’ Association, are spinning their own fake news aimed at confusing and deceiving voters. With mailers filled with smears, lies and unauthorized use of our official logo, they have attacked Democratic candidates and targeted Democratic voters to intentionally mislead them. We cannot stand by and let our democratic process be hijacked by unethical candidates, political consultants and groups that will stop at nothing to protect and serve their own power and self-interest.

These attack pieces are showing up in the cities of Antioch, Hercules, San Pablo and Walnut Creek. I urge voters to reject this type of political propaganda which disparages and maligns our candidates and undermines voter confidence,” says DPCCC Chair María Alegría.

The Democratic Party of Contra Costa County (DPCCC) has a lengthy endorsement process that includes a questionnaire and interview for Democratic candidates.  The DPCCC endorsement also carries the endorsement seal of the California Democratic Party.

“Voters are tired of politicians and their consultants engaging in this kind of deceitful campaigning.”  I encourage every voter to research the candidates before voting. Voters deserve to know the truth and have access to good information.”  To learn more about the DPCCC’s endorsed candidates visit www.contracostadems.com.

In another email from Alegría on Oct. 13 she wrote that she denounced a “misleading campaign mailer by Mike Barbanica, a candidate for Antioch City Council, District 2.”

“In one of the most consequential national elections for Democrats, Mike Barbanica sent out a misleading mailer with his photo alongside Vice President Joe Biden and Senator Kamala Harris, and a headline ‘Let’s Do This’,” the press release reads.

“The Democratic Party of Contra Costa County (DPCCC) has a lengthy endorsement process that includes a questionnaire and interview for Democratic candidates.  The DPCCC endorsement also carries the endorsement seal of the California Democratic Party. The DPCCC endorsed candidate for Antioch City Council District 2 is Tony Tiscareno.

Tiscareno has also earned the endorsement of the Contra Costa Young Democrats and the Marsh Creek Democratic Club.  Tiscareno was endorsed by his peers because he embraces our ideals including eliminating inherent bias in city policies, addressing homelessness, and encouraging economic development and the creation of good-paying jobs for local residents.

I encourage every voter to do their research on candidates before voting.  Voters are tired of politicians engaging in this kind of deceitful campaigning.”  To learn more about the DPCCC’s endorsed candidates visit www.contracostadems.com.”

No Proof Provided

However, when asked for a copy of the Barbanica mailer, Alegria responded “I will look for it,” but never provided one. Asked if the party also denounced Wright, who is a registered Republican, and Antioch Councilwoman Lori Ogorchock, who is a registered member of the American Independent Party, the old George Wallace party, and running for re-election in District 3, for their mailers to Democrats, Alegria responded, “I issued a statement on the DPCCC’s official (Facebook) page.”

However, it was a broad statement not mentioning either mailer from Wright’s or Ogorchock’s campaigns.

Alegria was also asked to provide the other mailers she referred to but didn’t. However, the mailer sent out by Wright’s campaign had been included in a previous Herald article.

In addition, Ogorchock’s campaign sent out a mailer that was shared with the Herald, showing her photo next to photos of both Vice President Joe Biden and Senator Kamala Harris with the words, “LET’S DO THIS on NOVEMBER 3rd!” and “Why Antioch Democrats are Voting for Councilwoman Lori Ogorchock.”

Republicans Also Endorse in Non-Partisan Races

The county Republicans have also endorsed candidates in Antioch races, including Wright for Mayor, Arne Simonsen for re-election as City Clerk and George Young for Antioch School Board in Area 1. A graphic posted on the Contra Costa County Republican Party’s website also takes a swipe at 12 candidates for local office in Antioch which reads, “Don’t vote for these Democratic Socialists” and includes a photo of Bernie Sanders and a quote of  him, “Many of the ideas we fought for, that just a few years ago were considered radical, are now mainstream.”

Matt Shupe, Chairman of the county party was asked why the party is endorsing in non-partisan races and why the party would label Sandra White, who is running for the Antioch City Council in District 4 against incumbent Wilson, a Democratic Socialist when she’s rather conservative being pro-police and pro-business and if anyone from the party had spoken with her.

“I love supporting good, local Republicans,” He responded. “If you’re a Bay Area politician or candidate who is a Democrat in 2020, but is pro-business, pro-police, and anti-socialism you’re either registered with the wrong party or only registered as a Democrat thinking it will help you get elected. We’re happy to reregister you and join the thousands of Contra Costa Dems who have done so this year.”

In response, White, who is a registered Democrat, said she votes independently for the individual not the party.

Endorsed Democrats Versus Other Democratic Candidates

In a Sept. 19 post on the East Contra Costa Democratic Club’s Facebook page, a graphic was posted showing endorsements for seven local candidates, including four in Antioch races. It was posted again on Oct. 8 and 11 that reads, “East County Democrats Support & Endorse”.

In a post on Sunday, Oct. 26 on the county Democratic Party’s Facebook page it reads, “Hey Antioch – here are your REAL endorsed Democrat candidates for City offices!” and includes a graphic that shows photos of six Antioch candidates for mayor, city council and city clerk that the Democratic Central Committee has endorsed in this year’s elections. The graphic reads “Antioch’s Real Democrats”. One of the photos is of Tamisha Walker who is running against incumbent Joy Motts who is also a Democrat, according to texts sent out to Antioch residents supporting her campaign.

Antioch Resident Doesn’t Like Partisan Texts

In a message to the Herald on Oct. 5, Antioch resident Garrett Bruce wrote about text messages he had received including one for Joy Motts from State Senator Steve Glazer, Supervisor Federal Glover and Councilman Lamar Thorpe.

“I have received an email from Ellie Householder and Lamar Thorpe’s text for another candidate,” Bruce wrote. “These are really non-partisan positions and why would one candidate only send to certain people? They are only directed at Dems and not all.”

He then received another message on Oct. 29, from a Chicago telephone number, asking him to vote for Joy Motts that reads she’s a “lifelong Antioch resident and Democrat.”

What Secretary of State Says

On the California Secretary of State’s website regarding Non-Partisan Offices in the state, which is referring to the statewide position of Superintendent of Public Instruction and county offices, it reads:

“Non-Partisan Offices

Political parties are not entitled to nominate candidates for nonpartisan offices at the primary election, and a candidate at the primary election is not the official nominee of any party for the specific office at the general election. A candidate for nomination to a nonpartisan office may not designate his or her party preference, or lack of party preference, on the ballot. The top two vote-getters at the primary election move on to the general election for the nonpartisan office.”

However, that doesn’t prevent candidates for non-partisan office from receiving and announcing partisan endorsements or mentioning their party affiliation. It’s just not listed on the ballot.

The election is tomorrow.

 

By Antioch Police Department

Folks, can you help us spread the word that APD doesn’t play?

Friday, Oct. 30, 2020 at around 12:55 pm, an officer on patrol in the area of East 13th Street and August Way spotted a Honda taken in an armed carjacking from Oakland. A stop was attempted, but the driver led us on a pursuit which entered the freeway and exited at Hillcrest. When the driver tried to make a u-turn at Hillcrest Avenue and Wildflower Drive, Officers Erickson, Padilla, Hamilton, and Smith, along with Sgt. Martin, forcibly stopped the vehicle and ended the chase. No injuries, minor damage to the Honda, and the 13-year-old driver was turned over to the Oakland Police Department

You saw in our previous post what can happen when someone decides to flee from the law. Officers sometimes use intervention tactics to put a stop to this dangerous behavior and help keep Antioch safe. Can you help us get the word out that Antioch isn’t the place to run from the law? #antiochpdca

 

Lists seven accusations against him, including the charge Kramer is currently facing in court; claims he’s guilty although trial just began last week

“There’s nothing in the county’s accusation of sexual harassment. But rather ‘inappropriate behavior’. Period.” – Gus Kramer

Claims timing connected to revelation of county overpaying for Motel 6 in Pittsburg for homeless program

By Allen Payton

In a late campaign attack email sent by the Federal Glover for Supervisor 2020 campaign using the address “communityleaders@federalglover.com” on Halloween, Saturday, Oct. 31 it shows copies of a mailer sent out previously, referring to his opponent, Gus Kramer, as “Bad Boy Assessor” and listing the charges one of which he’s currently facing in court. It’s most of the same information Glover’s campaign also emailed out on Oct. 20.

The subject line of the first email read, “Why we CANNOT vote for Gus Kramer – Who does this to women and remains in public office?” in an attempt to convict Kramer before his trial has concluded. That email also included the following comment by Pittsburg Councilwoman Merle Craft:

It then shows three part of the mailer with seven women, including Craft, Antioch Councilwoman Lori Ogorchock, Pinole Mayor Pro Tem Norma Martinez-Rubin and former Hercules Mayor Myrna De Vera, making various accusations against Kramer.

The second email included the following statement and quote of the endorsement editorial by Dan Borenstein of the East Bay Times:

In an email on Sept. 16 sent out by Pittsburg “Councilmember Holland Barrett White” using the same email address, and also paid for by the Glover campaign, the subject line reads, “Misconduct, Sexual Harrassment – Why Gus Kramer isn’t fit for office”, also claiming Kramer is guilty before his trial began. That email then included Borenstein’s entire endorsement editorial.

At the bottom of each email they read, “Paid for by Federal Glover for Supervisor 2020 – ID No 991595”.

Kramer Responds

“Sounds like attempted jury influencing,” Kramer said when reached for comment. “Or jury tampering, seriously and if anyone knows better it’s Federal Glover. Considering what his campaign is doing is a felony, this would not be his first felony.”

“He should condemn his campaign people for their blatantly immoral, illegal act trying to influence,” Kramer continued. “He should be standing up and apologizing for such an egregious act.”

“In 2018 when the Grand Jury was investigating the whole case, Borenstein wrote an editorial calling for my resignation,” Kramer explained. “Then that was sent to the Grand Jury Alumni Association which in turn sent out a newsletter with Borenstein’s editorial in it, verbatim highlighting all the action words such as ‘expunge’ and ‘sexual harassment’ that went to every Contra Costa Grand Jury member.”

“It was the most blatant attempt at jury influencing. I was so shocked. I sent DA Becton a letter about it and she did not respond or do anything about it,” he continued. “This type of thing Federal is doing now, is typical of their strong-arm tactics that Federal and his allies are known for.”

“The Times has been on Glover’s side and protecting him for re-election for years,” Kramer said. “Two years ago, Borenstein wrote an editorial that I should be removed from office claiming I was accused of sexual harassment when that was not true. I was accused of inappropriate conversations.”

“In this whole case, no one had any sex, he explained. “I never asked anyone out to dinner, coffee, lunch, anything. I never attempted to touch, kiss or hug anybody. I never used any bad words. I never described any body parts or functions. Yet, here we are, today because Margaret Eychner and her posse of friends from the Assessor’s Office conspired to weaponize the ‘metoo’ movement to get me to retire mid-term so she could be appointed by the Board of Supervisors as Assessor. There’s documented testimony on her part and on her supervisor’s part that saying that which has come out in court in the last three days. It’s a matter of court record.”

“I wrote a letter to the editor telling them they better retract it or I will sue them,” Kramer said.

“I wrote a letter to the editor telling them they better retract it or I will sue them,” Kramer said. “On Sept. 6 they did. They retracted it. But they put it on page four or six on the lower left corner and the print was so small, smaller than their regular type, the size of a legal notice. They called it a correction, not a retraction.”

“There’s nothing in the county’s accusation of sexual harassment. But rather ‘inappropriate behavior’. Period,” he stated.

Claims Supervisors Withheld Evidence From Grand Jury

“The Board of Supervisors wouldn’t release to the Grand Jury the two reports done by two separate attorneys hired by the county to investigate the allegations,” Kramer claimed. “But they’ve been released in court, now. Both reports state that there was lack of any evidence of sexual harassment. They knew that if the Grand Jury would read them that they would not have pursued the accusation.”

“In addition, Nakano, the Grand Jury foreman, demonstrated his prejudice early on, and then later when he destroyed notes and recordings of their secret proceedings on the case that would have exonerated me,” he continued.

“The only thing the county and Board released to the Grand Jury were “some screenshots of texting that were cut and pasted out of context.” One of the two women who is accusing Kramer did not supply the entire thread of the texts.

“When the reports from the private investigators are finally made public, which the Board of Supervisors commissioned and now are in court, they, the County Civil Grand Jury, the East Bay Times and the District Attorney will be dutifully embarrassed,” Kramer said. “And they will owe me, and more importantly the citizens of Contra Costa County, a huge apology for this wonton waste of public funds for this malicious prosecution of your county Assessor who has been working hard for you.”

“They are also wasting the court’s time, which is backed up and unnecessarily exposing hundreds of people to COVID-19, to draw a jury, while this pandemic is going on,” he continued. “It just shows how desperate the Board of Supervisors are to get me out of office, and the conspiracy they’re pursuing with the District Attorney that is totally irresponsible.”

“They’re spending when all the Board has to do is they made a mistake, admit they violated the Brown Act and say they were sorry. I’m not looking for money,” Kramer said, referring to his own lawsuit against the county. “They’ve spent over $200,000 which is the cost of one Deputy Sheriff and one clerk. Because the Board is lying and conspiring behind closed doors, even though a violation of the Brown Act is not even a misdemeanor, it’s an infraction. But, once the Board conspired collectively to cover up the violation, and to spend public money to cover it up it immediately becomes a felony and a RICO violation added to the charge. The FBI should be in there investigating this.”

“Something that will come out in court, beginning tomorrow is the fact that Eychner got really upset and started complaining about me, when she admitted, actually bragged to multiple people in the office, that she had not one, but two married boyfriends, not referring to me,” he continued. “One of her boyfriends was a big, union rep and the other was a local elected official, and she got caught by their wives and she was all bummed about it, that she got caught. That will come out in court as all the people in the office are going to testify about this next week.

“The reason Glover sent out that email on Saturday, is in response to the fact I called him out for overspending by $4 to $5 million on the Motel 6 in Pittsburg to use for the homeless, which wasn’t publicly known until they released the appraisal this past week,” Kramer added. “That’s also a RICO violation as a waste of taxpayer funds. The Grand Jury should be all over that, too.” (See related article)

Kramer shared more in an Oct 15th post on his campaign website.

District 5 (V on the map, below) includes portions of Antioch, and most or portions of the other communities along Highway 4 in the northern part of the county. The election is Tuesday.

Stolen truck driver flees to Taco Bell – arrested

By Antioch Police Department

On Saturday, Oct. 17, 2020, Antioch Police were notified of a stolen pickup truck entering our city that failed to stop for our friends at the Pittsburg Police Department.

The truck was being followed from the sky by the STARR3 helicopter from the CONTRA COSTA SHERIFF.

Instead of engaging in a ground pursuit, we decided to let the helicopter follow the truck in the hopes it would park someplace.

Instead of stopping, the driver continued to drive erratically throughout our city until crashing into a vehicle at Lone Tree Way and Mokelumne Drive. The driver fled into a shopping center, but thanks to the deputies aboard STARR3, along with Dispatcher Lacy Scott, Officer Dibble was able to find and arrest her before she slipped into a Taco Bell.

The victim of the collision suffered minor injuries, but his vehicle was totaled. This case was presented to the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office, who charged the arrestee with multiple felonies, including hit-and-run causing injury, driving a vehicle without the owners consent, possession of a stolen vehicle, and enhancements for prior related convictions. Ironically, she had been released a few months ago on her own recognizance from another Antioch stolen vehicle arrest, which is still pending. Her bail from this latest arrest was set at $225,000 and she remains in-custody awaiting trial.

We are grateful for the assistance we receive from the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office with their Air Support Unit. This is how law enforcement works together to keep Antioch safe! Speaking of keeping things safe, did you know property crime in Antioch is down -32.8% since 2012 and auto theft specifically is down -44.3%. How ‘bout them numbers?

#antiochpdca

 

First-in-the-nation legislation labeled “Cure the Conflict” to require prosecutors recuse themselves from investigating, prosecuting police misconduct if they’ve received campaign contributions from police unions

Does not include similar provisions for contributions from criminal defense attorneys

Becton wants to take it further and ban contributions from police unions to DA candidates; refuses to answer questions

By Allen Payton

In her continued effort to limit the influence of police unions in supporting and electing candidates for district attorney, Contra Costa DA offered support on Friday, Oct. 23 for the bill by California State Assemblymember Rob Bonta (D-Oakland) that will require elected prosecutors to recuse themselves from the investigation and prosecution of law enforcement misconduct if they accept financial contributions from law enforcement unions.  The legislation will be sponsored by the Prosecutors Alliance of California and co-sponsored by numerous District Attorneys.  It will be introduced when the new legislative session convenes in December.

“This is about trust in law enforcement, and trust in the independence of our elected prosecutors,” said Bonta.  “As people across our cities, states and our nation have come together to raise their voices and demand greater justice, we must cure the conflict of interest that gives, at minimum, the appearance that police are not held accountable due to the proximity and political influence of law enforcement associations and unions.”

“Now, more than ever, prosecutors have the responsibility to promote equal justice and build trust with the communities we serve. In order to do that, we must eliminate the conflict of interest existing when elected prosecutors accept police union support,” said San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin.  “It is only when prosecutors are not financially beholden to law enforcement unions that the public can be confident in the decisions prosecutors make about holding police officers accountable.”

“Law enforcement unions generally finance the legal representation of an accused officer, and when prosecutors receive financial support from the entity funding the defense a conflict of interest arises for elected prosecutors,” said Contra Costa County District Attorney Diana Becton.  “To restore trust in law enforcement we must cure this conflict.”

Recently, the Prosecutors Alliance of California called on the State Bar to create a new rule of professional responsibility to preclude prosecutors from taking police union money.  The Alliance took this step in the wake of the murder of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor in an effort to increase the independence of prosecutors from police. The State Bar is scheduled to reconvene tomorrow to continue discussions on the topic.

According to a June 1st press release from Becton’s office, “The Prosecutors Alliance of California is a non-profit organization that provides public education, support and training to prosecutors and their offices. The Prosecutors Alliance of California Action Fund is a social welfare organization that advocates for criminal justice reform legislation, engages and educates the public on criminal justice ballot measures, and supports candidates for state and local office who advocate for comprehensive reforms to our justice system.” (See related article)

The bill by Bonta to be considered by the Legislature will take a different path. Rather than precluding prosecutors from soliciting or accepting law enforcement union contributions as Becton supported earlier this year, it requires a prosecutor that accepts a law enforcement union’s contribution to recuse themselves from the decision-making process if one of the organization’s members is suspected of criminal conduct. In such cases, the State Attorney General’s Office would be asked to handle the case.  This will help reassure family members, community stakeholders and the public that decisions are made based on the facts and the law, not political horse trading and back scratching.

According to Becton and Bonta, “by closing this loophole, the Legislature will reduce the presence of conflicts of interest and ensure independence on the part of elected prosecutors. This legislation also aspires to help reestablish community trust in the integrity of prosecutors at a time when national events have damaged that trust.”

A question was sent to Becton on Oct. 23 asking her if she also supports DA’s recusing themselves from cases involving prosecution of public defenders or criminal defense attorneys who have contributed to the campaigns of elected prosecutors.

That was along the same lines of the questions sent through Scott Alonso, her department’s public information officer, earlier this year to which Becton never responded. She was asked specifically, will she try to ban political campaign contributions to DA candidates from criminal defense attorneys and public defenders and not just police unions?

Following is the email message with questions sent to Alonso for Becton on June 1 regarding her press release entitled, “LAW ENFORCEMENT LEADERS CALL ON STATE BAR TO CREATE NEW ETHICS RULE TO END THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST BETWEEN PROSECUTORS AND POLICE UNIONS – New Ethics Rule Would Help Restore the Independence, Integrity, and Trust of Elected Prosecutors by Preventing Them From Taking Donations From Police Unions”

“Scott,

Please ask DA Becton to clarify her comment because it’s not clear what she’s trying to say and answer my questions, below.

“The legal representation of an accused officer is generally financed by their law enforcement union,” said Contra Costa District Attorney Diana Becton.  “It is illogical that the rules prohibit prosecutors from soliciting and benefiting from financial and political support from an accused officer’s advocate in court, while enabling the prosecutor to benefit financially and politically from the accused’s advocate in public.”

Is she saying that currently a prosecutor cannot solicit and benefit from financial and political support from an attorney representing a police officer accused of a crime while in court or during the court case? But the police officer’s attorney can support the prosecutor financially and politically when not in court or during the court case?

Please clarify who the accused is in her comment about the “accused’s advocate”. I assume it’s the same accused officer she refers to twice before in her comment. But, not sure.

Also, are she and the rest of the DA’s willing to forgo any financial contributions from criminal defense attorneys and public defenders? How about no financial support from any organization and only from individuals who live within their counties? How far should this go to ensure fairness in prosecutions? Isn’t this really one-sided? Also, if the police unions have so much influence in our county and they all backed Becton’s opponent in the last election how did she still win? Isn’t she in effect attempting to violate the free speech rights – which political campaign contributions have been defined as by the courts – of the police unions?

Alonso responded that because the questions were political, he could not respond, even though the press release was sent from the Contra Costa District Attorney’s office through his email account. Further efforts asking him to forward the questions to Becton and getting her to respond were unsuccessful.

The latest question about the proposed legislation by Bonta and the questions from June 1st were sent to Becton’s personal email address on Friday, Oct. 23

Previously, a phone call to her was made asking her about the issue, but Becton was watching a Zoom meeting and said she didn’t have time to discuss it.

To date, Becton has yet to answer any of the questions posed to her about her efforts to only limit the influence of police unions in elections for district attorneys and not also limit the influence by criminal defense attorneys.

Please check back later for any updates to this report.

Scott Alonso, Public Information Officer, Office of the District Attorney, Contra Costa County contributed to this report.

In emails received Saturday morning, Oct. 30, the Antioch Police Officers’ Association issued the following endorsements for Antioch Planning Commissioner and former Mayor Pro Tem and Councilman Manuel “Manny” Soliz, Jr. and Antioch Police Crime Prevention Commission Chair Sandra White, completing the list of candidates they support for the Antioch City Council in this year’s election: