Dr. Sean Wright Takes Oath of Office, Highlights Antioch’s Future Potential

On Thursday night, Antioch officially has a new Mayor as Dr. Sean Wright took the Oath of Office after winning the seat by 64-votes over Wade Harper.

In a packed room, Wright highlighted how much potential the City has and what the community could accomplish together.

Here is Dr. Wright’s statement in full:

I went outside today and it was raining and its been a little drizzly all day. I think that is appropriate. Most of us when it’s raining we get a little down and the truth is we say goodbye to some friends tonight, mayor Harper, thank you so much for yours service, Mary Rocha as well… Rain brings  about freshness, it cleans things, it gives us a fresh start so that in the spring as things come forward you have beauty. That is what I see in Antioch, an opportunity for a fresh start.

And opportunity for us as a new council to come together. To continue what’s already been good and make it better. What an opportunity to come together as a council. To come together as a family, as a community, to become one. To do things together that drives us to love our community. I personally am tired of friends moving away. I want this to be a place where my friends want to live. I want to start seeing more people move here. Friends that choose to stay here. We have all had someone close to us move and its time for us to make this a place they feel safe. The place they go to the parks and can enjoy it with their children. A place where they have jobs so they can work, worship and play. All in one place. Where we can come together as a community and go downtown because we have beautiful waterfront views that we take advantage of. Restaurants with entertainment that we can sit and enjoy live music, enjoy great food and enjoy each others company to really feel like community.

A school system we are proud to send our kids to because we know it’s a college going atmosphere. There are going to desire to go to MIT, Yale and Stanford. We have some wonderful students already doing that but we want that for all of our students and it can happen—we have a superintendent with a vision and I am excited about Superintendent Anello and working with her because we have some great things that we can do with our schools.

What an opportunity we have to let the rain come and the spring come up and as that happens make Antioch the place we all want to live. I have some words I wrote and would like to read.

Dr. Sean Wright officially signed in as Mayor

The Oath I have taken tonight is the same oath taken by many mayors of Antioch for over 100 years. I assume this position after one of the closest mayoral elections this town has ever seen. I will start my term with nervous trepidation of the things I don’t know, that I don’t know. Am optimistic excitement of the vision I have for Antioch. I am acutely aware that I did not win in a landslide. And that 65% of the voters voted for someone other than me. I am also aware that 65% of you voted for change. My goal is to bring us all together as one Antioch and guide us to the future that we all desire for our town. Whether you have lived here forever or recently joined us, I ask you to confirm me as your mayor with your prayers and I hope such prayers will be the first of many. I sought this opportunity and understand the enormous responsibility.

Thank you to those who supported me with your time, donations, dedication in a campaign that never seemed to end. My supporters were diverse in party, age, gender and ethnicity. And truly represented the Antioch I will serve. Some were friends already, and some became friends as we toiled together to share our message. It is only fitting that I should pledge to you that I will be a mayor of all the people. Gandhi once said the only way to find yourself is to loose yourself in the serve is others. And Muhammad Ali taught that service to others is the right you pay for your room here on earth. I am excited for the opportunity to continue my service to this community in this important role.

I believe that truth is the glue that holds government together and keeps government accountable. Transparency is the prism of which we share that truth and I look forward to working with you to gain your trust. Whether its Measure C, the downtown specific plan, our police department and our caring for animals. I look forward and I look to shed light, find solutions and bring us together. All of my private and public acts as your mayor I expect to follow my instincts of openness and candor with full confidence that honesty is always the best policy in the end.

Friends and neighbors, A change is coming to Antioch. Our government works. Elections give us a voice the people do rule, but there is a higher power. Whatever name we honor him, I ask for his help and your prayers. Let us honor, respect and listen to one another as we come together to improve our city and our home. In the beginning  I asked you to pray for me. Before closing I again ask for your prayers for all of those who serve this city with their hearts. Thank you again Mayor Wade Harper and Councilwoman Mary Rocha for their years of service.  I pray for the wisdom of Solomon and affirm to you my promise to service this city with all my heart, mind and strength and to make Antioch the place that our friends want to live. Thank you for coming tonight.