Updated: Antioch City Manager Placed on Paid “Leave of Absence”

On Tuesday, the Antioch City Council agreed to place Antioch City Manager Bessie Marie Scott on paid leave of absence.

The move came after a 3-hour closed session in which the council voted 4-0-1 with Councilmember Tamisha Torres-Walker abstaining. The administrative leave is effective Wednesday, May 6, 2026. The city council named Human Resources Director Ana Cortez as acting city manager.

When the agenda was released to the public, it foreshadowed the nights actions:

• Item 1: being the performance evaluation of the city manager.
• Item 2  being legal counsel — litigation — perhaps from Scott or another party.
• Item 3: appointment of an acting city manager.

Scott was hired in a 3-2 vote back in August 2024 on a 2-year contract. Mayor Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe, Tamisha Torres-Walker and Monica Wilson in favor. Councilmembers Mike Barbanica and Lori Ogorochock voted against.

When hired, Scott was tasked, along with the council, of dealing with a $54 million budget deficit, a vacancy rate of nearly 24% of staffing levels and dealing with a DOJ investigation of the Antioch Police Department

Since being hired, the city has won 6 awards, closed the budget gap, updated city policies such as the 1979 Personnel Rules, the 2008 Records Retention Policy, and the 2013 Purchasing Ordinance. She also has worked to fill key executive level positions, added a public information officer and concluded the use of Acting Directors in order to begin strengthening internal operations.

With Scott, a new police chief, and a new city council, crime has been reduced where folks were talking about murders and stolen vehicles to now the focus being quality of life issues from traffic to illegal dumping. After a spike in homelessness, its been reduced to the five-year averages. The city has also received several grants that have helped areas of the city that had been ignored Meanwhile, the city has also reengaged with Contra Costa County bringing services and new opportunities to the city for services and programs.

With former city manager Ron Bernal retiring in December 2021, the city managers officer is a revolving door with several people holding the city manager job/acting city manager job.

• May 2026 – Ana Cortez named acting city manager after Scott placed on admin leave.
• Aug. 2024 – Bessie Marie Scott hired as city manager
• June 2023 – Kwame Reed Name Acting City Manager
• June 2023 – Forrest Ebbs puts in notice to take another job at another city.
• June 2023 – Cornelius Johnson resigns as city manager
• March 2023 – Forrest Ebbs named acting city manager
• March 2023 – Ana Cortez named acting city manager w/Cornelius Johnson placed on Admin Leave
• Dec. 2021 – Cornelius Johnson named interim city manager
• Dec 2021 – Ron Bernal retires as city manager
• May 2017 – Ron Bernal named city manager

Update. Press Release: City Council Appoints Acting City Manager Following Closed Session Action

ANTIOCH, CA — The Antioch City Council met in closed session on May 5, 2026, as agendized.

Following closed session, the City reported that effective Wednesday, May 6, 2026, City Manager Bessie Marie Scott will be on a leave of absence from work. Compensation and benefits will continue without disruption during this period. The City Council appointed Human Resources and Risk Management Director Ana Cortez to serve as Acting City Manager effective immediately during the City Manager’s absence.

City operations and services will continue without disruption.

As this matter pertains to a confidential personnel issue, the City is not at liberty to provide additional information at this time.

Update – Community Hosts Press Conference in support of Bessie Marie Scott

At approximently 12:30 pm Tuesday, in response to tonight’s Antioch City Council Agenda… a group of community members, including Police Oversight Commission Chair Porshe Taylor, came together outside city hall in support of City Manager Bessie Marie Scott after the agenda says they would be appointing a Acting City Manager.

Related

• Dec 2025 – City of Antioch Settlement Agreement Aligns with U.S. DOJ Reforms
• Nov 2025 – Podcast: Antioch City Manager Bessie M. Scott Gives 1-Year Update
• Oct 2025 – Editorial: I am Glad I Was Wrong About Antioch City Manager Bessie Scott
• May 2025 – Podcast: Antioch City Manager Bessie Marie Scott
• Aug 2024  – Antioch City Council Hires City Manager in Split 3-2 Vote
• July 2, 2024 – Grand Jury Finds Evidence Antioch City Council Committed Brown Act Violations