Householder launches campaign by challenging Wright with false statement about his lack of comment on Antioch Police Officer under investigation

Hack takes out papers to run for third term on Antioch School Board

By Allen Payton

Not even half-way through her term on the Antioch School Board, Trustee Ellie Householder has decided to throw her hat in the ring and become the eighth candidate to run for Mayor of Antioch, in the November election. She took out Nomination Papers for the city’s top office on Thursday, according to a report by City Clerk Arne Simonsen.

In addition, according to the latest report by the Contra Costa Elections office, Antioch School District Trustee Gary Hack is the first candidate to take out Nomination Papers in Area 4, seeking his third term on the board. The retired Antioch teacher was first elected in 2010 placing first out of eight candidates. Hack lost his race for re-election in 2014, placing third behind Walter Ruehlig and Debra Vinson. He then made a successful comeback in 2016, that time placing third behind Crystal Sawyer-White and Diane Gibson-Gray.

Householder, listed formally as Elizabeth on her papers, is the youngest member of the school board to which she was elected in 2018, placing a distant second behind Trustee Mary Rocha, just after finishing college and while completing her master’s degree. If elected, she would also be the city’s youngest mayor in recent history.

On her personal Facebook page, Householder announced her campaign for mayor Thursday evening by writing:

“Congressman John Lewis once said: Do not get lost in a sea of despair. Be hopeful, be optimistic. Our struggle is not the struggle of a day, a week, a month, or a year, it is the struggle of a lifetime. Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble.

In that spirit, today, I pulled papers to run for Mayor of Antioch.

In December, our current mayor (who is trying to get re-elected) took THOUSANDS of dollars from the police union and we wonder why we still have a killer cop (Officer Mellone) in our community. To date, not the mayor or a single council member has said ANYTHING about this.

We deserve better.”

However, in June, Mayor Wright called for an investigation of Officer Michael Mellone by the Antioch Police Department who was hired while facing discipline by his previous employer, the San Francisco Police Department. According to a June 24 Herald article, “In response to a call by Antioch Mayor Sean Wright for an investigation into the hiring of Mellone, Antioch Police Chief Brooks said on Wednesday, ‘the investigation is still in progress.’” More recently, Brooks told the Herald an outside agency was brought in for the investigation and is reviewing over 1,800 pages of documents related to the case of the shooting death of a homeless man, Luís Góngora-Pat, by Mellone, while an SFPD Officer, and his sergeant, in April 2016.

According to several news reports, at the time Mellone was hired, again by the APD in August 2019 – he had previously worked for the department until 2012 – Mellone was facing discipline by the SFPD for escalating the situation and his use of non-lethal force by shooting a bean bag gun at a homeless man, Luís Demetrio Góngora-Pat, who then brandished a large kitchen knife at the officers, and was subsequently shot and killed by their service weapons. The two officers were cleared by both the SF District Attorney and SFPD Internal Affairs Division for their lethal use of force.

A 10-day suspension was recommended by the SFPD’s IAD, and the citizen-run Department of Police Accountability recommended that the (San Francisco) Police Commission suspend Mellone for 45 days. Neither occurred as he was hired by the Antioch Police Department before a final decision was made on any discipline, which could have been delayed further, if Mellone remained with the SFPD and chose to fight it. (A more thorough report by the Herald about the matter will be published once the investigation of Mellone is complete).

Householder joins seven others, including Wright, former Mayor Wade Harper, Councilwoman Monica Wilson and former Planning Commission Chairman Ken Turnage II, along with three others, including one candidate who ran for governor in 2014.

City Clerk Simonsen reported the following Antioch residents have taken out Nomination Papers as of 5 p.m. July 23rd or Qualified for the following offices:

CITY OFFICES

Mayor

Sean Wright (I) – Mayor of Antioch

Julio Mendez

Rakesh Kumar Christian – Qualified on 7/22/20 – candidate for Governor of California in 2014

Kenneth Turnage II – former Antioch Planning Commission Chairman

Monica Wilson – Antioch Councilwoman

Wade Harper – former Mayor of Antioch

Gabriel Makinano

Elizabeth Householder – Antioch School Board Trustee

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The Contra Costa Elections office provided the following information for candidates as of 3:59 PM on Thursday:

ANTIOCH SCHOOL BOARD

Area 4

Gary Hack – Antioch School Board Trustee

There were no additional candidates in the other races in Antioch who took out or filed Nomination Papers as of Thursday at 5:00 p.m. To see the latest list of all candidates visit the Election 2020 page on the Antioch Herald website. The list will be updated each day when additional registered Antioch voters take out or file their Nomination Papers. Filing closes on August 7 unless an incumbent chooses to not seek re-election, which only affects the races for mayor, city clerk and city treasurer.

Mystery solved about first candidate to complete filing process for Mayor of Antioch 

By Allen Payton

The latest report from the Contra Costa Elections office, as of Wednesday afternoon, July 22, 2020, shows Antonio Hernandez is the first candidate to take out nomination papers to run for the Antioch School Board in Area 1. He will be challenging current Board President Diane Gibson-Gray, who is expected to seek her fourth term on the board. Hernandez is only the second candidate in the three new district races for school board, as Crystal Sawyer-White pulled papers, last week to run in Area 3 for a second term on the board.

According to his LinkedIn profile, Hernandez has worked for UCSF at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center in Pediatrics, first as an Assistant Clinical Research Coordinator beginning in July 2016, then as a Quality Improvement Coordinator since May 2017.

In addition, since September 2017 Hernandez has also worked as a Leadership Specialist with TeamTRI, an organizational and leadership development company. However, their website lists him as a Coaching Fellow.

He’s a 2016 graduate of Stanford University with a degree in Economics, Healthcare Economics. Hernandez is a 2012 graduate of Dozier-Libbey Medical High School and was the 2011 Antioch Youth of the Year. (See related article)

City Races

According to Antioch City Clerk Arne Simonsen, as of 5 p.m. July 22nd the following Antioch residents have qualified for the following City offices:

Mayor

Rakesh Kumar Christian – Qualified on 7/22/20

So far, the only information that can be found on him is that he was a candidate for governor of California in 2014, and that he has a website from 2009 for a new political  party he wanted to create, named the American Public Party, and lists himself as the CEO, Owner.

7/23/20 UPDATE: Mystery solved. When reached briefly for a comment on Thursday afternoon, he said his name is Rakesh Kumar Christian and that he is the man who ran for governor in 2014 and that is his website. He had a spinal injury in 2016 which is why he didn’t run in 2018. Christian said he will call back, later and was requested to email his bio or resume to the Herald for more information on his background. Please check back later for any updates to this report.

There were no additional candidates to either take out Nomination Papers or file them for city offices of mayor, council, clerk or treasurer, as of Wednesday afternoon.

This list will be updated when additional registered Antioch voters take out or file Nomination Papers.

 

By Allen Payton

On Tuesday, July 21, 2020, the race for Mayor of Antioch got a little more crowded as business owner Gabriel Makinano took out nomination papers to run for the city’s top leadership spot. He owns Kingdom Paint & Renovations, offering painting, home renovations, fencing and pressure washing. According to his LinkedIn profile, Makinano is also owner of Kingdom Dent, a paintless vehicle dent repair business in Brentwood. However, when reached for comment, he said his full time job is working for HealthRIGHT360 Contra Costa Re-entry Network, helping county residents returning home from state prison and county jail.

With papers in hand, Makinano posted a video on his Facebook page which can be seen above and offers the main reason he is running, which is change, and a bit about his community service in Antioch.

“I believe we need change in our city and if I can be part of that change, it would be amazing,” he said. “I’ve been part of change, especially here in the city of Antioch and I want to continue to further this change…maybe be on the inside…helping the change…and have a voice in my community and listen to the people and what the people want and what they feel like is change and go from there. All I know is I need your prayers to get through all this.”

According to City Clerk Arne Simonsen, the following Antioch residents have taken out Nomination Papers as of 5 p.m. July 21st for the following City offices:

Mayor

Sean Wright (I) – Mayor of Antioch

Julio Mendez

Rakesh Kumar Christian – 2014 candidate for Governor of California

Kenneth Turnage II – former Chairman, Antioch Planning Commission

Monica Wilson – Antioch Councilwoman

Wade Harper – former Mayor of Antioch

Gabriel Makinano

There were no other candidates who took out or filed their nomination papers in the other races for city offices of council, clerk and treasurer or for the Antioch School Board, today.

This list will be updated when additional registered Antioch voters take out Nomination Papers. Filing closes on August 7th unless an incumbent chooses not to run. Then the nomination period is extended five more days. However, the only incumbents are Mayor Wright, City Clerk Simonsen and City Treasurer Jim Davis because all the other races are in newly created districts and all candidates for city council or school board will be running in them for the first time, ever.

By Allen Payton

According to today’s report by Antioch City Clerk, Arne Simonsen, two more people have pulled papers to become candidates in the District 1 City Council race to challenge incumbent Joy Motts, the city’s current Mayor Pro Tem.

One of the two are Tamisha Walker, the executive director for the Richmond Safe Return Project, “a campaign to secure the freedom and liberation of formerly incarcerated individuals,” and a Richmond-based community organizer, according to the organization’s website. She’s listed as their Lead Mass Incarceration Organizer, and President and Director of Operations on her LinkedIn profile. The other person who pulled papers is La Donna Norman, but no information about her could be found from internet searches, which includes a general search, as well as Facebook and LinkedIn.

Information was also not found about Fernando Navarette who pulled papers, last week to run in District 1, nor for Julio Mendez who pulled papers last week to run for mayor.

In addition, former Antioch Mayor Wade Harper announced in a video, earlier today that he will run for mayor, becoming the sixth candidate to take out papers to do so. (See related article)

The following Antioch residents have taken out Nomination Papers as of 5 p.m. July 20th for the following City offices:

Mayor

Sean Wright (I) – Mayor of Antioch

Julio Mendez

Rakesh Kumar Christian – 2014 candidate for Governor of California

Kenneth Turnage II – former Antioch Planning Commission Chairman

Monica Wilson – Antioch Councilwoman

Wade Harper – former Mayor of Antioch

Council District 1

Joyann Motts – current Antioch Mayor Pro Tem

Manuel Soliz – former Antioch Mayor Pro Tem and Councilman (1996-2000), current Planning Commissioner

Fernando Navarrete

La Donna Norman

Tamisha Walker – Executive Director, Richmond Safe Return Project

No other candidates pulled or filed papers to run in any of the other city races on Monday or for Antioch School Board, either. This list will be updated when additional registered Antioch voters take out Nomination Papers. Filing continues until August 7th. (I) = incumbent.

Editor’s note to potential candidates: If you’re going to run for public office, you should let the public and local media know who you are, what you do for a living and other information about your background, using a Facebook or LinkedIn page, or a website, and how they can get in touch with you via phone or email. Even better would be to email a recent photo, your bio, and campaign announcement with your contact information to the local media. Our email address is editor@antiochherald.com. Thank you.

By Allen Payton

Today, Monday, July 20, 2020 former Antioch Mayor Wade Harper took out Nomination Papers to run for mayor, according to a video posted on Facebook. In the video he says “I think I did a great job as mayor” and that he will make an official announcement later.

Harper was elected mayor in 2012 but lost for re-election to current Mayor Sean Wright by just 64 votes in a three-way race in 2016 that included Councilwoman Lori Ogorchock. If all candidates who have taken open papers file, Harper and Wright will also face Antioch Councilwoman Monica Wilson and two others who are new to the Antioch political scene.

Harper started his time in public office by being appointed to the Antioch School Board in January 2009, to fill the vacancy left by the death of longtime board member Joyce Seelinger. Instead of running for election to that seat in 2010  he ran for Antioch City Council, placing first ahead of the late Gary Agopian, and earning the title of Mayor Pro Tem.

He then chose to run for mayor in 2012, beating fellow Councilman Agopian and former Antioch Mayor Don Freitas.

An effort launched in January 2015 to recall Harper was unsuccessful because the supporters did not gather enough valid signatures to qualify for the ballot.

Harper then ran for County Supervisor in District 3, also against Wilson, in June 2016. He placed fourth out of six candidates in that race, which resulted in the election of Diane Burgis that November.

A former Tracy Police Lieutenant, Harper is an ordained minister,  published author of the book entitled “Annointed for Leadership” according to one of his Facebook pages, and married to Lisa Harper. His Antioch Mayor Facebook page from Harper’s term is up and can still be viewed.

According to Antioch City Clerk Arne Simonsen, more candidates for city offices are expected to pull nomination papers, today and he will provide another, daily update after city offices close at 5:00 p.m.

 

By Allen Payton

   After taking out Nomination Papers last week to file to run for the Antioch City Council in District 1, former Antioch Mayor Pro Tem, Councilman and current Planning Commissioner, Manny Soliz, Jr. posted a video on his campaign Facebook page,  Sunday afternoon, officially announcing his campaign to challenge incumbent Mayor Pro Tem Joy Motts in the November election.

   He offers four reasons for running for council, again. “Number one, I want a safe and attractive Antioch. Number two, I want a strong and vibrant, local economy. Number three, I want a realistic and real-world approach to dealing with the unhoused.  And number four, I want realistic and well-thought out policies by our Antioch City Council…that will help Antioch and will benefit Antioch for generations to come.”

   Soliz was first appointed to the Antioch City Council in January 1996 to replace Ralph Hernandez who resigned from the council. Soliz was then elected to his seat in 1996 and as the top vote-getter earned the title of Mayor Pro Tem for the following two years. He served until 2000 but chose to not run for re-election.

   The former chairman of the Antioch Parks and Recreation Commission, Soliz ran again for city council in 2004, but was unsuccessful, placing fourth out of six candidates, behind incumbents Brian Kalinowski and Arne Simonsen who both won, and the late Reggie Moore.

   Soliz ran for city council, once more in 2006, placing a close third for two seats, just 126 votes behind Moore, and first place finisher Jim Davis.

   He has a degree in Economics from Stanford University, is a co-founder of the Delta Blues Festival, works as a financial advisor and insurance agent, and is married to Mary Soliz.

Sawyer-White to run for re-election to the Antioch School Board; Tiscareno posts announcement video.

By Allen Payton

Two more candidates have taken out Nomination Papers to run in City Council District 3 to challenge incumbents Lori Ogorchock and Lamar Thorpe. The candidates are current Antioch Board of Administrative Appeals Member Antwon Webster and former Antioch Parks & Recreation Commission Member Wayne Steffen, who was also 2008 Antioch Citizen of the Year.

In addition, City Treasurer Jim Davis pulled papers on Thursday and on Friday, City Clerk Arne Simonsen took out papers to run for re-election, as well.

According to Simonsen, the following Antioch residents have taken out Nomination Papers as of 5 p.m. July 17th for the following City offices:

Council District 3

Lori Ogorchock – Antioch Council Member

Lamar Thorpe – Antioch Council Member

Wayne Steffen – former Antioch Parks & Recreation Commission Member

Antwon Webster – Antioch Board of Administrative Appeals Member

City Clerk

Arne Simonsen (I)

This list will be updated when additional registered Antioch voters take out Nomination Papers. There were no additional candidates for any of the other city races as of Friday afternoon.

Former Antioch Councilman Tony Tiscareno who pulled nomination papers on Monday to run in District 2 posted an announcement video that same day.

Candidates have until August 7 to submit their completed nomination papers, the $25 filing fee and if they want to include a candidate’s statement in the Voter Pamphlet the cost is as follows: $1,092.40 for the offices of Mayor, Treasurer or Clerk, $339.00 for candidates in District 1, $377.60 for District 2, $426.60 for District 3 and $399.60 for District 4. Filing must be done at the Antioch City Clerk’s office.

Antioch School Board

In the race for the Antioch School Board of Trustees, in which Areas 1, 3 and 4 are up for election in November, so far, only incumbent Crystal Sawyer-White has taken out nomination papers, as of Friday afternoon. She will be running for re-election in District 4.

Candidates have until August 7 to file to run for Antioch School Board, as well. Filing must be done at the County Elections Office in Martinez. For more information, click here.

By Allen Payton

In a surprise move on Thursday, July 16, instead of running for reelection for a third term, Antioch City Councilwoman Monica Wilson pulled nomination papers to run for Mayor of Antioch against incumbent Dr. Sean Wright who is seeking his second term at the city’s helm. Assuming he and the other three candidates complete the filing process, Wilson will also face former Planning Commission Chair Ken Turnage II, Antioch’s 2015 Citizen of the Year for Most Impact. She led the effort to remove him from the commission in April over controversial comments Turnage made on Facebook about COVID-19 and the shelter in place order. (See related articles here and here).

This is Wilson’s second run for higher office, since she was first elected to the city council in 2012. She ran for District 3 County Supervisor in 2016 placing a distance fifth out of six candidates in the June Primary.

Wilson won reelection to her city council seat in November 2016 placing second behind Councilman Lamar Thorpe. Turnage placed fourth in that race behind current Antioch School Board Trustee and former Antioch Mayor Mary Rocha who placed third.

Had she run for reelection, Wilson would have faced Antioch Police Crime Prevention Commission Chairman Sandra White, who announced her candidacy last month and has been an outspoken critic of the councilwoman, as well as another candidate named Alex Astorga.

According to a report by City Clerk Arne Simonsen, “The following Antioch residents have taken out Nomination Papers as of 5 p.m. July 16th for the following City offices: (I) – Incumbent:

Mayor

Sean Wright (I) – Mayor of Antioch

Julio Mendez

Rakesh Kumar Christian – 2014 candidate for Governor of California

Kenneth Turnage II – former Antioch Planning Commission Chair

Monica Wilson – Antioch City Councilwoman

City Treasurer

James Davis (I)

City Clerk

This list will be updated when additional registered Antioch voters take out Nomination Papers.”

There were no changes to the four races for city council. Filing is open until August 7 when Nomination Papers and are due at the Antioch City Clerk’s Office.