Barbanica calls for criminal investigation and demands resignation of mayor and city councilors of Antioch

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With the release of the Contra Costa County Grand Jury report on the City of Antioch, Councilman Michael Barbanica called for both a criminal investigation and resignations.

Barbanica calls for mayor Lamar Hernandez Thorpe to resign, together with the Council members Tamisha Torres Walker And Monica Wilson for violations of the Brown Act.

The release of the grand jury report confirmed what many had suspected for some time. Secret meetings between the mayor and two council members – including discussions about hiring/firing staff, but also discussions about redistricting the city council districts – ultimately led to the redistricting of the council districts. Lori Ogorchock to vacate her seat on the city council and transfer her to another district. The grand jury admitted that it had no evidence beyond a reasonable doubt, but believed that violations of the Brown Act had occurred.

“Two independent judges, the district attorney and the civil jury say we believe this happened. That’s what happened. I’m calling on the mayor and two council members to resign and do the right thing. This is not how cities should operate,” Barbanica said. “This should be public, fair and transparent. This is not transparency. Second, I’m calling on District Attorney Diana Becton to reopen a criminal investigation and investigate this to the fullest extent possible under the law.”

The grand jury report also emphasized that the city of Antioch needed to hire an experienced city manager and address the personnel situation, while also calling on the mayor and city council to stop interfering in personnel matters.

In the 5-minute video:

“This report highlights violations that the grand jury believes occurred, including violations of the Brown Act, but they believe there is evidence to support that,” Barbanica explained. “Let me back up: Last year, the District Attorney’s Office received a report from someone who said that these Brown Act violations occurred and gave that information to the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office. At that time, a criminal investigation was conducted and the results of the investigation were that the District Attorney’s Office had serious concerns about these violations, that they may have occurred, but could not prove it beyond a reasonable doubt at that time.”

He explained that the case was therefore referred to the grand jury for investigation, which concluded that they believed the “secret meetings” took place at Mayor Hernandez-Thorpe’s home.

“With all three members out of public view and no other council members present, the public cannot participate in the meeting,” Barbanica said. “This is a secret meeting where people are colluding, and that is exactly what the Brown Act is designed to prevent.”

Problem areas include:

• Firing an employee and hiring an outside lawyer costs taxpayers $280,000
• Cornelius Johnson’s appointment, a 3-2 vote with Barbanica and Ogorchock voting against
• Reorganization of electoral districts

“The district attorney’s office was concerned enough to believe something was wrong, we just couldn’t prove it beyond a doubt, and they sent a letter to the city and referred the matter to the grand jury for a secret investigation,” Barbanica explained.

He continued.

“We have two independent judges, a district attorney and a civil jury saying we believe this happened. That is the case, I call on the mayor and two council members to resign and do the right thing. This is not how cities should operate,” Barbanica stated. “This should be public, fair and transparent. This is not transparency. Second, I call on District Attorney Diana Becton to reopen a criminal investigation and investigate this to the fullest extent possible under the law.”

Barbanica admitted that he knew of past relationships between Becton and members of the city council, but she could refer the matter to the attorney general for an investigation.

“This has to stop,” Barbanica explained. “Many of us have felt this is happening for some time, but now the district attorney’s office is saying it could be just as true and the civil grand jury is saying they think it could be just as true. I urge them to investigate this further and find out if there was indeed criminal conduct. If so, then prosecute them criminally. I urge all members again to do the right thing and just resign.”

He also asked the County Board of Supervisors to support him in this effort.

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