Harper, Rocha Bid Farewell in Roles on Antioch City Council

On Thursday night, with the Oath of Office being administered to Antioch Mayor Dr. Sean Wright, Mayor Pro Tem Lamar Thrope and Councilwoman Monica Wilson, the city bid farewell to Wade Harper and Mary Helen Rocha.

Antioch Mayor Wade Harper got his start in politics in 2009 when he was appointed to the Antioch Unified School District Board of Education. In 2010 he won a seat on the Antioch City Council and in 2012 he won the Mayors seat.

Mary Helen Rocha has more than 30-years of public service as a community volunteer with many organizations–including bringing the first subsidized childcare center to Antioch. She began her polical career on the Antioch School Board and followed with terms on the Antioch City Council and as Mayor of Antioch.

Here are comments by both Harper and Rocha as they left the dais.

Wade Harper’s Outgoing Comments

“I remember 4-years ago elected as mayor, after serving 2-years on council. I was at my church and was asked by someone, a publisher of a paper, I won’t say any names, do you know how historic this is for you to be elected. And wouldn’t come out and say it. He wouldn’t come out and say it, wouldn’t talk about race but asked if I knew how historic it was.  So my comment was yes I do realize I am the first Antioch mayor who owns an iPad.  And he published those comments and I knew that was going to be the beginning of a beautiful relationship.

But the position is always bigger than the person. I consider this to be a sacred position and role. I read that in 1850 brothers William and Joseph Smith founded a town slightly west of Marsh Landing and named it Smiths landing—and in 1851 the towns new minister persuaded the residents to change the name of the town to Antioch because of the biblical city where people were first called Christians… I have truly been blessed to serve the great city of Antioch. I say the great city of Antioch because I truly believe this city is great. I dedicated myself to serving this community…

I have served my community my entire career in law enforcement and ministry etc.  You know I visited a fourth grade glass at Mission Elementary School and received several letters. One letter I received said she could not image what it would be like to be mayor and asked if it was a big responsibility. I would say yes it is a big responsibility because I have been able to serve on several boards and commissions, I will not tout what I believe are my successes but I will talk about the commissions  not only city council but Tri Delta Transit, Delta Diablo, Chair of the Contra Costa Conference of Mayors, Delegate to Association of Bay Area Governments, Golf Course Committee, Antioch Community Foundation, Delta 6, East Bay Development Alliance, Martin Luther King Celebration committee, Antioch budget committee Antioch Community Foundation and people say you need to be more visible.

I have been proud to have sworn in over 40 police officers, have changed my schedule to be there to physically swear in every officer. That has been a highlight. I want to thank everyone who this council has appointed to serve on board and commissions. If you are serving now I want to thank you for your service to the community. I would like to thank the city manager Steve Duran for doing a good job and every staff member for putting up with our demands, the demands of this council. We have a lot, some more than others. I would like to thank the police chief for continuing to making our city safe and we still have some work to do. I would like to thank all the community partners, the chambers, all the rotaries and other groups. I have enjoyed working with you all, we have always agreed but we were very effective as a city council.

I believe we got things done and I believe a lot of things in the works at this time that we started that you will see to fruition. What would your life be like if you are not mayor Tania asked.  I am teaching at Antioch High School at this time. I am still a father, a husband, and also a grandpa. So that is neat.

So for now I am going to pass the torch. When I pass the torch I am going to keep mine lit.  But I am passing the torch into the hands of my friend Dr. Sean Wright. He is a man of integrity, he is a family man. He loves his community. He never needed a title to lead and its an honor to pass the torch to Sean Wright and I know he will do a great job. Thank you all for allowing me to serve this community. It has been my honor.”

Mary Rocha Outgoing Comments

“I am still around and I will continue and you will see me along the way in whatever I do. I do want to say thank you to the past mayors who I have served with. Joel Keller, Jim Davis, Donald Freitas and of course Wade Harper,” said Rocha. “I want to say they have all be excellent mayors when they were in charge and I am thankful that I had the opportunity to do that. I started in the school side and I enjoyed my 16-years there. I can be proud to say Mission Elementary School was one I started with… thank you again. I love all of you and I will continue to be involved.”

Rocha closed saying this had been the best council she had worked with and they were all very respectful of one another and hopes the new council will pick up the direction they had been carrying.