On Tuesday night, the Antioch City Council placed its city manager on administrative leave.
The council announced its vote out of closed session in a 3-0 vote by Councilmembers Mike Barbanica, Lori Ogorchock and Monica Wilson. Mayor Lamar Thorpe and Mayor Pro Tem Tamisha Torres-Walker were not present for closed session.
It was then announced that Human Resources Director Ana Cortez is now Acting City Manager. Later in the council meeting, Torres-Walker called for a nation wide search to replace Johnson.
Since it is a personnel matter, the council did not reveal the reasoning behind the administrative leave but there is speculation it had to do with former PIO Rolando Bonilla issuing an statement erroneously quoting police chief Steve Ford. Bonilla later told the East Bay Times Johnson approved it the statement. The incident prompted Johnson to fire Bonilla from the city PIO position after the APOA issued a statement.
Back in October, Johnson was hired on a two-year contract at $266,400 per year in a 3-2 vote with Mayor Lamar Thorpe and councilmembers Monica Wilson and Tamisha Torres-Walker in support with Mayor Pro Tem Mike Barbanica and Councilmember Lori Ogorchock dissenting.
The vote came with no national search, application process or internal candidates considered. The council had met multiple times in closed session over the past few months on this appointment but took no action. There were also questions on Johnsons resume and his background check.
It’s former assistant city manager, Rosanna Bayon Moore, recently took a job in late February to become the city administrator for the city of Piedmont. Moore, who was hired to become the future city manager after then city manager Ron Bernal retired, was passed over for Johnson.
City Manager Background:
- May 2017: City of Antioch Names Ron Bernal New City Manager
- Sept. 7, 2021: Antioch City Manager to Retire at End of 2021
- Nov 5, 2021: Antioch Set to Hire Former San Francisco Police Captain as Interim City Manager
- Nov. 10, 2021: Antioch City Council Agrees to Hire Cornelius Johnson as Interim City Manager in 3-2 Vote
- Dec. 16, 2021: Antioch Mayor Announces Hiring of Interim City Manager
- Sept. 10, 2022: Antioch Council Takes No Action on Hiring Con Johnson as City Manager
- Sept, 27, 2022: Antioch City Council Agrees to Appoint Con Johnson as City Manager
- Oct 26, 2022: Con Johnson Hired as Antioch City Manager After Split Council Vote
7 comments
And the saga of incompetence and cronyism continues. Not a surprise that Thorpe and Torres-Walker manage to be conveniently absent. These are your elected “leaders”, voters!
EBT said Torres-Walker had “car trouble”. Riiiiiiggghhhttt, glug glug. I guess Uber wasn’t an option.
Not surprised about this. I am surprised about other items in this article. Just another day in Antioch. 🤷♂️
Lamar where were you?? Speak out and let us hear what you think about your Con man.
The timing of this is so unfortunate. Right after Rosanna leaves for Piedmont. She should have been Antioch City Manager in the first place. This city repeatedly breaks my heart with poor decisions.
So sad! Council Members Barbanica & Ogorchock fought as hard as they could Thorpe was getting this approved and passed no matter the cost or effort. Hopefully theres a way that the city’s attorneys can find a loophole get out of the contract. The City of Antioch continuously gets themselves in trouble, for anyone new to the area citizens tried to recall Thorpe or for him to step-down, tried to get Torres-Walker to step-down it didn’t happen. The city council meetings have been dealing with business issues with not so much drama the last couple of months. Should have known something was gonna happen soon.
His first name wasn’t enough of a clue?
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