On Tuesday, the Antioch City Council agreed to an appointment process to appoint the city clerk after the resignation of Melissa Rhodes. Applications will be due September 11.
The process was approved in a 3-0-1 vote with Councilmemebr Torres-Walker abstaining and Councilmember Monica Wilson absent.
Torres-Walker argued the process did not include enough community engagement and public input while questioning why it would all happen on September 23.
Interim city attorney Derek Cole explained the council will get a packet with the applications with statements along with a staff report summarizing the qualifications of each candidate. A dialogue, could only convene in an open public setting—noting, it will happen “the process does move pretty fast”.
“I am assuming this council committed to a community inclusive process, if you are saying that is what this is, it is not. As a community member who has been involved in appointment processes where people who have wanted to be appointed have been in a public space and have had conversation with community members and taken questions and done other things, if this is as public as the process is going to get, I would say we engaged the public.”
The council agreed with staff, they will follow the same process used in 2011 under the following timeline:
- Applications would be due in the City Clerk’s Office no later than 4:30 p.m., Thursday, September 11, 2025.
- The City Council would hold applicant interviews and consider appointment at its regular meeting of Tuesday, September 23, 2025.
The process used in 2011 was as follows:
- Applications and Required Materials. Interested applicants were required to submit:
- A Letter of Interest (not to exceed 400 words) describing interest, qualifications, background, and other relevant information
- A Nomination Paper signed by at least 20 but not more than 30 registered Antioch voters; and
- A completed Statement of Economic Interest (Form 700), as required by the Fair Political Practices Commission.
- Eligibility. Applicants were required to be registered voters of the City of Antioch, consistent with the statutory qualification for an elected City Clerk.
- Filing Deadline. Applications were required to be filed in the Office of the City Clerk by a fixed date and time.
- Public Review. All completed applications were deemed public records and made available for public review.
- Oral Presentations to Council. Each applicant was invited to make a brief oral presentation (no more than five minutes) at the Council meeting at which the appointment was considered. The Council had the opportunity to ask questions of the applicants.
- Appointment at Open Session. Following applicant presentations and any public comment, the City Council deliberated and made the appointment during open session of the Council meeting
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- Aug 13 – Antioch Agrees to Appointment Process for City Clerk Position
- Aug 8 – Antioch City Clerk Resigns, Council to Look at Options
