A familiar face within the City of Antioch is making a bid to be its next mayor as former city manager Ron Bernal is kicking off his campaign January 25.
On Sunday, it was confirmed that Bernal will be running for mayor in the 2024 election after an image of his campaign kickoff flyer was provided by a local resident. No other details were released.
“Excitement is in the air as we embark on a journey to shape the future of our beloved city, and I am thrilled to invite you to the official Campaign Kickoff Event for my mayoral candidacy” stated the flyer. (NOTE – this is a private event and invite only)
In March of 2017, Bernal was named City Manager after serving as the assistant city manager/public works director/city engineer. He retired in December of 2021.
Since Bernal retired in December of 2021, the city has not had stable staffing in place. Under the leadership of the Antioch City Council, the city manager position has seen Cornelius Johnson (placed on admin leave before resigning), Ana Cortez (acting for a few days), Forrest Ebbs (left for Modesto) and Kwame Reed (currently acting) all serve over a two-year period. The council has also cycled through multiple police chiefs/acting police chiefs and other department heads including paying out a $244k settlement to former Public Works Director and City Engineer John Samuelson after he was terminated.
The City has also been dealing with the fallout from the Antioch Police Department text message scandal, a growing homeless population and little to no economic development with businesses leaving the city.
Although many names are rumored to be running against Mayor Lamar Thorpe, Bernal becomes the first opponent to openly announced a candidacy against Mayor Thorpe.
From Dec 29, 2021: Thank You Antioch
The following is from Dec 29, 2021 when Bernal thanked Antioch for the last 23-years:
Thank You Antioch
Well, I knew this day was coming, just not so fast! Thinking about all of my experiences and encounters over the past 23 years, there’s one in particular that stands out.
In 2017 former Chief Brooks invited twenty or so members of our community, the youngest being in their 70’s and the oldest pushing the century mark, to share what it was like to be born and raised in Antioch. These amazing men and women told some of the most humbling and inspiring stories about their parents and grandparents, many immigrants who had called Antioch home and times long gone but fresh in their hearts and minds. The thing that struck me the most is that despite all of the challenges and change each of them had experienced during their lifetimes, none of them had anything bad to say about Antioch or the city it had grown to become.
In fact, all of them reminisced about how good Antioch was and is. About how their lives had been molded and impacted by the hardships and opportunities Antioch had to offer and how they were better people because of it.
There was a sparkle in their eyes as they remembered growing up in the town they still reside in and love. This special day has continued to remind me of the power of looking at what is good about Antioch, which is much.
For me, Antioch has always been about the beauty I see everywhere I look, every street I drive, and every hill I run. It’s the neighborhoods, whether old or new and the people who live and work in them. It’s the industry and home-based businesses. It’s people building their dream homes and others living on the streets just trying to survive. The true beauty of Antioch is its people, every part of the world represented, struggling to live in harmony and acceptance of each other, trying to overcome hatred and division, searching for hope and purpose and love. Everyday people like you and me, just doing their best to raise families, make a living, give back and live a life of peace, meaning, and significance.
Thank you for allowing me to accomplish all of those things and so much more. It’s been my privilege and honor to have played my small part in the Antioch story. May this place I’ve grown to love continue to look up and fulfill its destiny to become a community where every resident can find their purpose and proudly call this their home.
May God’s will be done.
— Ron Bernal
22 comments
We desperately need this guy to rescue our failing city. We need someone with a vision to end our business death spiral.
Thank God! I was hoping Antioch would have a qualified candidate step forward. Not sure many will be vying for the job. Whomever gets elected (outside of the current impostors) will need a huge mop and bucket on day 1 to clean up the mess.
Sideshows – The most ridiculous spectacle of disrespect, lawlessness and inconsideration of others.
This is the best news possible. Ron Bernal to the rescue. The other side is going to come after him for being a past city manager so be prepared to hear and read a lot of crap. Stand tall Ron and you’ll get the backing of citizens that want our city back. Go Ronnie B.
Wonderful! It’s possible to feel some hope for the future at last. Yes, stand tall and hold fast! You have support!
This man is a person of integrity, hard working and honest, he loves his city, his family and friends, he knows what this city needs and has the fortitude to get it done
He is our friend of many years but that isn’t why this comment is being left
The city needs his leadership desperately
He has my vote
Hope springs eternal! Please save our city. This is the best news in a long time.
This is the best news I’ve heard come out of Antioch in literally YEARS!
Yes! This the way to start the new year!
Mr. Bernal has my vote. Hope it is once again safe to come to a City Council meeting live.
Best news I’ve heard in a long time for Antioch! Go Ron!
Now the voters need to make sure it’s a two person race or Lamar will win again if votes get split.
I worked with Ron for many years. I believe he is the man that can help return Antioch to a city we can be proud of again. We’ve had enough of grandstanding and self serving leadership. Antioch is at a tipping point folks. We can no longer elect representatives that have no experience running a city. He’s been there and done that. Time to get behind someone who can return Antioch to the city we know and love. That said, attend campaign events, ask intelligent questions and vet the candidates. Vote for someone that has name recognition and doesn’t just check boxes. FOOS
Time will tell if he is elected. Is he willing to show the door to those playing on their phones for hours of playing games on computers? Will he be willing to hold code enforcement to task for selective enforcement and harassment under the color of authority? Will he require classes for code enforcement so the can recognize when they interact with the public elder abuse inflicted by neighbors? Will he also hold CE officers accountable for not reporting elder abuse as required under state and federal law?
Why? He folded like a tool under Thorpe. Believe me, he’s a push over. He had many opportunities to make some corrections and he did not because he was too damn concerned about his next job. Ain’t he the one that made the Tanisha investigation go away? Congrats Ron. I’m going to start airing out all the dirty laundry along with the receipt because the people can’t be fooled again.
Managers at APD and city staff are manipulating officers record jackets so that they can disciple them and please the mayor and council members . Some are even removing internal complain memos from officers who brought up a disturbing internal issues.
Lucky, these memos were backed up by someone who cared.
It be a shame if someone were to start leaking those.
#mayaswellstartlettingyouguysknoweverything
Not a savior for Antioch as he is portrayed by others, nor is Thorpe! Both have not done their jobs while or when working for the Antioch citizens. If either were good for Antioch then why has Antioch become more bad?
Both Ron and Thorpe have done little to protect our citizens, and should be ashamed of their records. They do not deserve to once more be leaders here! Too much to tell here so later in a campaign will be disclosed.
Ron should join Thorpe in their retirements, Thorpe’s is pending. Do not just join Ron in a quest and reasons since he did little to reduce or stop the various problems that formed, existed, now increasingly exist worse than before, and need change asap.
Ron does not have my vote, nor of those who know the facts, as does Thorpe. There will be better other choices to step forward soon enough and waiting to see who and not rush it is a smart move.
With a voting population of adults of about over 40,000 why commit to one now? Ron as your choice, as is Thorpe, is too premature.
He lost me when he said god’s will be done. Keep church and state separated.
Same, right at the very end when it was seemingly promising.
Trying to eliminate God is exactly why the world is spinning out of control. How arrogant to think that man can leave God out of anything, out of His creation, His Sovereign control. Trying to write Him out of the equation has always failed and will continue to fail.
I’m not sure how many others would run for mayor of Antioch, but I’m pretty sure most would be better than Thorpe, as it doesn’t get much worse than the black Trump that’s there now.
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