Editorial: Monica Wilson Being Held Accountable for Doing Nothing

There is no doubt in my mind that Karen Mitchoff is the best candidate for State Assembly in District 15.

Mitchoff, Ana Marie Farias, Monica Wilson and Sonia Ledo are all running for Assembly District 15 after the seat will be vacated by Assemblymember Tim Grayson who is running for the State Senate.

What is surprising to me are things I’ve said, and many members of the Antioch community have said for years, regarding Antioch City Councilmember Monica Wilson, is now being confirmed in the East Bay Times and San Francisco Chronicle as both publications are issuing endorsements in the Assembly District 15 race.

Here is whee the endorsements stand:

• ContraCosta.news – Karen Mitchoff
• San Francisco Chronicle – Ana Marie Farias
• East Bay Times – Karen Mitchoff

As I said in my Feb 6 podcast with Mitchoff, she is by far the best candidate (listen here).

I could never support Farias because of her protest in not celebrating the Fourth of July, among other reasons. Meanwhile, she is also costing cities money by forcing them into district elections–we can debate if they have helped or hurt representation, but either way, cities are now paying more for elections which is not a good thing.

Ironically with Farias, while I admit she is the best speaker of the bunch as she has an answer for everything and could sell ice to an Eskimo. A true talent and I will give her that, but delivery of promises is where she falls short–she is also not as first responder friendly as she appears while her tenure on the Martinez City Council was a disaster.

I will never support Monica Wilson for her role in the regression of the City of Antioch. Wilson, the longest serving member of the Antioch City Council has done little to improve the city, nearly prevented Measure W from hitting the ballot. She is a “follow the leader” and failed to support women who earned a $350k settlement from Costa Costa County involving Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe sexual harassment claims were made public –along with his DUI arrest.  Wilson defended him calling it a “witch hunt”.  Wilson, who is on her 4th term on the council, I still cannot determine three things Wilson could legitimately take credit for in the progress of the City of Antioch. She is a great soldier for a second or third vote on an issue, but is no leader nor does she have any vision.

Finally, this description of Mitchoff being “aggressive or dismissive” may be accurate. However, if she were a man, it would be celebrated and praised for being a “no nonsense’ leader for standing up for what they believe in. The double standards are real.

Anyway, here is a snip-it from the East Bay Times and San Francisco Chronicle of what they have said about Wilson. And remember, for these very same things I’ve said over the last two years, I’ve been attacked and called every single name in the book and even attempted to be “cancelled” this publication over telling truths.

Per the East Bay Times (see full article endorsing Karen Mitchoff)

“As for Wilson, her record on the Antioch council has been troubling and lacking in principle.”

Most disappointing was Wilson’s defense of Hernandez-Thorpe’s behavior. An independent investigation sustained sexual harassment allegations that Thorpe grabbed the buttock of one woman and the bare leg of another, both of whom were subordinates when he was executive director of a troubled health care district. The district was subsequently disbanded, with its assets and liabilities turned over to Contra Costa County, which subsequently settled legal claims by the two women for $350,000.

When the harassment allegations arose, Wilson quickly jumped to the defense of Thorpe, who is Black. She branded calls for his resignation “racially divisive grandstanding” by his opponents — even though she later admitted she hadn’t read the allegations before making the comments.

After the 2022 release of the investigation, Wilson stood silent, saying only that she wouldn’t be “pulled into the middle of this.” Asked again last month to explain her position, Wilson said commenting would be unfair to Thorpe because, she claimed incorrectly, the county had not released the investigation findings.

The Times nailed this… and essentially are saying the same thing many Antioch residents have stated for years. I would also point out, the Times agreed when I called Mitchoff the most “centrist” of the three democrats. You know its legit when the Times Editorial Board and I actually agree on something, perhaps hell is freezing over?

Per the San Francisco Chronicle (they endorsed Anamarie Avila Farias)

However, it was clear in our interview that Wilson lacked an in-depth understanding of many key policy topics. We were also troubled by her response to scandals involving Antioch Mayor Lamar Thorpe, who was credibly found to have sexually harassed several women — forcing Contra Costa County to pay a $350,000 settlement — and arrested for drunk driving. Wilson, however, has stood by Thorpe, dismissing calls for him to resign as a “witch hunt.”

The Chronicle nailed this… and essentially are saying the same thing many Antioch residents have stated for years.

If Monica Wilson supports and fights for women as she claims, she sure has a funny way of showing it by remaining silent. By remaining silent, she is accepting the behavior. In fact, it was Mitchoff who doubled down on Hernandez-Thorpe by defending the settlement based on what they found during the investigation. Mitchoff sought accountability, not excuses. She also said if they didn’t settle, the payout could have been much larger.

The Play: Vote for “Most Moderate” Democrat

As the March 5 primary is quickly approaching, the Assembly District 15 race is wide open and essentially comes down to a popularity contest between three Democratic candidates—Mitchoff, Ana Marie Farias and Monica Wilson.

Sonia Ledo, who is running as the Republican, is not a serious candidate, however, she could sneak into the primary should the three democrats split the vote. She will be annihilated in any runoff scenario against Farias, Mitchoff or Wilson.

For independents or Republicans, the best choice here is not wasting a vote on Ledo, but instead voting for the “most moderate” democrat based on your voting preferences. Of the three, Mitchoff is most to the center and some could argue most “normal”.

Mitchoff will do fine in Sacramento and ultimately would bring Sacramento more to the middle, which is what we should all want given some of the bills that have passed in the last few years has driven people out of California, seen an increase in crime, and businesses shutting down.

Mitchoff is the best choice.

The Assembly seat became open when Assemblymember Tim Grayson decided to run for State Senate where that seat is being vacated by Steve Glazer.  District 15 includes all of the following cities; Antioch, Brentwood, Clayton, Concord, Martinez, Pittsburg, Pleasant Hill and a portion of Walnut Creek. It also includes the communities of Bay Point, Clyde, Crockett, Pacheco, Port Costa, and Vine Hill.

Mike Burkholder
Publisher of ContraCosta.news
[email protected]