Home Antioch Antioch City Council Agrees to Appoint Con Johnson as City Manager

Antioch City Council Agrees to Appoint Con Johnson as City Manager

by ECT

On Tuesday, the Antioch City Council voted in closed session to appoint Con Johnson as the next city manager for the City of Antioch.

The appointment comes in a split 3-2 vote with Mayor Lamar Thorpe and councilmembers Tamisha Torres-Walker and Monica Wilson in support with Mayor Pro Tem Mike Barbanica and councilmember Lori Ogorchock dissenting.

The vote came with no national search, application process or internal candidates considered. The council had met multiple times in closed session over the past few months on this appointment but took no action before Tuesday.

As negotiations begin, Johnson has yet to answer questions regarding his past including the misleading the public on his resume at the time of his interim appointment, his past bankruptcy, foreclosure and judgment against him—its also has come to light that three employee complaints have been filed against him.

All city council candidates, which include:  Diane Gibson Gray, Joy Motts, Shawn Pickett, Sandra White and Ogorchock (District 4) have all called for a national search that is transparent and open to the public.

Johnson was appointed City of Antioch interim city manager in November of 2021 in a 3-2 vote after the retirement of then City Manager Ron Bernal. Johnson was hired on a 1-year contract at $20,137 per month and was given full authority to hire and fire department heads—meaning he can hire the next Antioch Police Department Chief of Police.

Although a background check was apparently completed, the city has not publicly addressed the filing of bankruptcy by Johnson, several foreclosures on his record, nor clarify his statement in the cover letter and resume that he is a former San Francisco Police Captain which is not shown by his retirement records with the State of California as a police lieutenant.

Its still not clear if Mr. Johnson has misrepresented his experience. These items have all been brought up by many members of the public.

City Manager Background:

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7 comments

John Sep 27, 2022 - 8:17 pm

Where is the opportunity? To get robbed or shot. Maybe get ran over. Good job antioch, yeah no.

Never ending horror story! Sep 27, 2022 - 9:01 pm

Another clown in the circus ! Antioch is such a pathetic joke!

Rob S Sep 28, 2022 - 1:48 am

Our taxes are going to pay a city mayor $20K per month? That is nearly 1/4 million $’s per year!!! The city must be insane – VOTE ALL OF THEM OPUT!!!!!

Jim L Sep 28, 2022 - 3:54 pm

WHAT!! He gets 20 Large every month.

JOHN L Sep 28, 2022 - 9:42 am

Was Thorpes vote via zoom?

Arne Simonsen Sep 28, 2022 - 11:10 am

The first order of business for the new Council in December should be to fire this unqualified City Manager.

Joe Sala Sep 29, 2022 - 7:23 am

Arne, what exactly are the qualifications for City Manager. Can you articulate; why Con Johnson is not qualified.

Comments are closed.