On Tuesday, after much controversy and heated exchanges, the Antioch City Council agreed to hire Bessie Marie Scott as its next city manager.
Scott will receive a 2-year contract at $263,888k per year, along with $20k in moving expenses. The hiring was approved in a 3-2 vote with Mayor Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe, Tamisha Torres-Walker and Monica Wilson in favor. Councilmembers Mike Barbanica and Lori Ogorochock voted against.
The hiring comes with controversy as this publication was made aware of Scott’s social media use over the past few years (see screen shots below). During the meeting, several public comments offered support to hire Scott, however, others questioned Scott’s experience, social media postings and why the hiring was so close to an election and the next seated council should pick who they want to work with.
(Note, for all public comments/lack of civility, watch the city council video, will not rehash it on this website).
Council Discussion:
Councilmember Mike Barbanica stated acting City Manager Kwame Reed was doing a good job and should continue on as city manager until after the election.
“It’s a bad business decision when you have three positions that we know are going to be vacating, whether people are re-elected or they are not in 70-days,” said Barbanica. “Let’s get through the election and then make a decision, or at least the new seated council can make a decision. If the best person for the position is this person, fine. But it would be a new council who will be working with this city manager for the next 4-years. They should have a say in who that person is and who they are working with.”
He added in 70-days, there could be a new council who wants to make a change. If so, it will cost the taxpayers with a severance package.
“Nobody wants that,” said Barbanica. “It’s very costly and would be authorizing a severance package. What is wrong with waiting 70-days when this election goes, see where this is? It’s a smart business decision. Leave city manager Reed in his current position; he has been doing it for over a year now and working with every one of us.”
Councilmember Tamisha Torres-Walker stated she wanted to do the job she was hired to do which was hire a city manager after a lengthy process and multiple candidates. She added they had 1 person who dropped out and a lot of people they didn’t even want to interview.
“To say there was no process, that is absolutely not true,” said Torres-Walker. “To say that this individual is unqualified just because you do not like their opinion based on their own personal experience is ridiculous. This didn’t have to be divisive. This just could have been the public allowing us to do the job we were elected to do.”
She continued stating no one could predict how the future election would turn out.
“You know what I said when I read all the comments, I said if she was smart she wouldn’t come,” said Torres-Walker. “Because I wouldn’t want to serve none of you all. I think its tragic to say hold off until the new council as if we could predict what is going to happen in this election.”
She continued.
“We shouldn’t have to be like this in our community, but then you get people saying if you are not the respectful negro we need you to be then bow your head down and do the bidding of clear folks then we don’t want you here,” shared Torres-Walker. “If you really want to know what I was educated on in this process is there is not a lot of people of color who are city managers nationally. Or city attorney’s nationally who are people of color or black people. The pickings are slim, even women nationally there are not a lot of city managers who are women.”
She further explained the city had gone through a process that was transparent and public.
“Still, there is little to no grace. And there are social constructs that uphold white supremacy, patriarchy, said anti-blackness, that she (Scott) was right about,” explained Torres-Walker. “We see it play out every day in this community. I am sorry you were hurt by those words, but some of us are hurt everyday.”
She added, “no, I don’t think every white person is racist, but I know a racist when I see one.”
Councilmember Lori Ogorchock appreciated all the comments and agreed its been a long process, but felt Scott was a “bright and intelligent woman” but was not qualified for the city manager position. She suggested she could make a good assistant city manager until she gains more experience.
Ogorchocks statement provoked Mayor Pro Tem Monica Wilson.
Wilson explained she too believed it to be a long process but what impressed her was Scott’s connection with federal government and federal dollars to get “dollars in” and she has those connection. She also didn’t like Ogorchocks suggestion to suggest Scott would be better in a lower position.
“We have never had that since I have been on council,” said Wilson. “We finally have someone who can bring that money in and that impressed me and its something she can bring that our city has never really had. I am for Bessie. And I am for all women. And all people who all people of color who are a lot of times pushed to lower positions because everyone wants to make an excuse why they can’t be in the higher position.”
Mayor Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe said he met with Scott in Seattle and a host of references—2/3 being white women.
“Everything I have heard tonight in this room doesn’t even come close to describing who that woman is. Every reference I met with, had lunch with, had a meeting with, talked about how she brings people together,” explained Hernandez-Thorpe. “Brings people together was the common theme of all the people who I had the opportunity to visit with while I was in Seattle.”
Hernandez-Thorpe then suggested Barbanica had the opportunity to go with him to Seattle but he chose not to go.
“We got the most qualified, most experienced, by the way, she is coming from the City of Seattle, not Brentwood not Pittsburg, the City of Seattle to join us here in the City of Antioch. We have done our due diligence to be sure we brought the right person. If you have heard it any other different way, they have gotten it wrong. You have gotten the facts right here,” said Hernandez-Thorpe.
Barbanica responded in an attempt to clear the air.
“Lets clear some things up, Mr. Mayor, you asked me to go to Seattle with you. We were sitting right up here and you asked me if I would go. I said I would try to arrange my schedule. Two days later we met in the parking lot of city hall and I said please call me and tell me when you want to go. I am still waiting on that call. Nobody changed their mind, I didn’t get a call, I didn’t get a text with any dates,” shared Barbanica.
Barbanica said because he never got a phone call from Thorpe, he arranged a call with the city attorney to have a second interview with Scott.
The meeting turned heated between Hernandez-Thorpe and Barbanica before the city attorney interjected warning them about conversations that were closed session.
Hernandez-Thorpe stated he did get a phone call and an email and then the next day was in the papers saying “we should all resign.”
Barbanica responded, “after the grand jury report, yes I did.”
Torres-Walker, preventing more exchanges between Thorpe and Barbanica, then moved the discussion to pay and moving costs which ended up with a 2-year contract at $263,888 with $20k in moving expenses. It was approved in a 3-2 vote with Barbanica and Ogorchock voting against.
Scott was hired after the city hired MGT of America Consulting to conduct a national search for its next city manager – Scott was selected as the final candidate and has completed the background process.
Scott has a Masters degree in Public Administration from the University of Washington and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Law and Society/Philosophy from the University of California, Santa Barbara. She has public sector experience in areas such as public safety, housing programs and municipal policy administration. Currently, she is working as a Deputy Inspector General for Public Safety with the City of Seattle. In her role, she ensures consistent policy interpretation across all functions of public safety, including audits, Investigations, Policy and Standards and Compliance,. Some of her career accomplishments include:
- Managed a Home from School Program, which was a pilot initiative that paired Housing Choice Voucher with a family experiencing homelessness and living in a shelter near a school in Seattle. The program was a success and housed over 250 families in the first year.
- Managed a grand-funded Education and Outreach Initiative Statewide Fair Housing testing program.
According to Scott’s LinkedIn, she has jumped around several positions (5) since 2018 with the City of Seattle, Public Defender Association, Seattle Community Police Commission and the Seattle Housing Authority.
Related Stories:
- Aug 26, 2024 – Antioch City Council to Talk City Manager Hiring, Pay Raises, Grand Jury and Just Cause Evictions
- July 2, 2024 – Grand Jury Finds Evidence Antioch City Council Committed Brown Act Violations
- June 30, 2023 – Antioch City Manager Cornelius Johnson Resigns
- June 23, 2023 – Kwame Reed Named Acting Antioch City Manager
- June 14, 2023 – Acting Antioch City Manager Puts in Notice
- March 15, 2023 – Antioch City Manager Con Johnson Placed on Administrative Leave
- Sept. 27, 2022 – Antioch City Council Agrees to Appoint Con Johnson as City Manager
- Sept. 7, 2021: Antioch City Manager to Retire at End of 2021
- May 2017: City of Antioch Names Ron Bernal New City Manager
14 comments
she’s perfect for Antioch, just what you lib morons deserve. 2-year contract at $263,888k per year, along with $20k in moving expenses. enjoy
Ms. Torres-Walker speaks of “doing the job she was elected to do.” After all this time, the public is STILL waiting for any evidence of that.
Torres-Walker has no room to talk until the city releases her body camera footage. A total disaster and she can spin and label people all she wants, but we all know what she truly is by her words and actions. Hint, it is not a good thing for Antioch.
I submitted a public records request for the video today. Interested to see what code is cited for refusal. I also came across this information:
02002963163 | THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA vs. WALKER, TAMISHA TORRES (10/2/07) Misdemeanor (DUI; CVC 23152(a)/CVC 23152(b))
02002997096 | THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA vs. WALKER, TAMISHA TORRES (9/10/08) Misdemeanor (DUI: CVC 23152(a)/CVC 23152/CVC 23152(b)/CVC 14601.2(a)/PC 273a(b))
02003013604 | THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA vs. WALKER, TAMISHA TORRES (2/10/09) Felony (Arson/Burglary: PC 451(b)/PC 459/460(b))
04002031433 | THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA vs. WALKER, TAMISHA TORRES (11/9/21) Misdemeanor (Resist/Obstruct: PC 148(a)(1))
Thank the city attorney for not releasing that…
This move to hire the city manager is to prevent the release of the body cam on TW and other things that expose the 3-2 racists majority.
She will not last two years!!
She won’t last two years , but by the time every thing is said and done , this black women will be about 10 million dollars richer. Antioch ,your gonna get what you voted for.
The last thing Antioch needs is another racist person working for the city. My god! Can’t people just do their jobs without constantly referring to race?
Few decades ago had a coworker who walked around with a permanent chip on their shoulder that had to be the center of attention and could be counted upon to pull out the race card any time their poor work product was brought up. Voters in Antioch a word of advice be extremely careful who you vote for because city’s future and property values depend on it. ONLY voters can turn Antioch around.
Elect people without a rap sheet.
What is very clear to me is that Walker is the one who is a racist!!!
Way to go Antioch — you continue to waste tax payer’s $$$’s as well as make horrific decisions!!!
Good luck! Someone with no experience in the city manager’s office isn’t going to magically fix the dysfunction that is Antioch gender and skin color aside.
Seattle is coming to Antioch! Yes, a filthy crime ridden city is going to impart their many successes in failure to Antioch. Applause applause.
Antioch City Council, you are an embarrassment.
I’ve read everything and agree with all said. Would anyone like to comment on the approval of this racist that the City of Lamar? Can’t wait to read any good reason. Just saying.
Vote the Major out! He is the racist bully! oh and let’s not forget the sexual harassment suits the county had to settle! How is it woman of color seem to let that pass???
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