OAKLEY – It was a bittersweet and emotional start to the week as some east Contra Costa County cities bid farewell and welcomed new leadership who will govern for the next several years.
On Monday and Tuesday, Pittsburg, Antioch, Brentwood, and Oakley councilmembers took their oaths of office and deliberated on their next mayors and vice mayors. Only Antioch and Brentwood were the exception, as their mayors were chosen in the Nov. 5 general election.
In Oakley and Brentwood, Dr. George Fuller and Jovita Mendoza, both reelected, failed to secure the top posts on their respective councils.
The Oakley City Council on Tuesday instead appointed Shannon Shaw as mayor and Hugh Henderson as vice mayor, bypassing Fuller, who is next in line as mayor according to the city’s rotation system.
This is the second time Fuller has failed to secure nominations from his fellow councilmembers. In 2023, Fuller was slated to be appointed vice mayor but did not get the council’s support. Shaw was instead nominated.
City Attorney Derek Cole said under the rotation system set by Oakley, District 5, represented by Fuller, would have a mayor in 2025, and District 4, represented by Shaw, would have a vice mayor.
“Ultimately, the council has the pleasure,” said Cole. “If you go against the rotation, our code says that the council has the right to decline a (councilmember scheduled) to be mayor or vice mayor, but you need to do so based on six circumstances and requires the majority of the vote.”
The six circumstances include:
– A violation of law or city policy, or has been or is being investigated for a violation of law or of policy.
– Intemperate, rude, or disparaging remarks or conduct toward the public, staff or city council.
– Lack of leadership or communications skills.
– Excessive absenteeism as a councilmember.
– Any other conduct that would be considered to be unprofessional or unbecoming of the position of mayor or vice mayor.
– Determination that the person does not have the available time to assume the additional duties of mayor or vice mayor.
District 1 Councilmember Aaron Meadows nominated Shaw as mayor and stated that Fuller should not have been appointed due to several of the circumstances cited by Cole, such as a lack of leadership or communications skills.
Fuller interjected and said, “If you are going to bad-mouth me, then say the words.”
Meadows then read out the grounds for bypassing Fuller and proposed Shaw as mayor. The motion was seconded by Anisa Williams and passed 4-1, with Fuller in opposition.
Williams then nominated Henderson as vice mayor and the motion passed with Fuller dissenting.
In Brentwood, newly minted Mayor Susannah Meyer nominated Mendoza as vice mayor. Meyer took over from Joel R. Bryant, who did not seek reelection. However, Councilmember Tony Oerlemans proposed his fellow Councilmember Pa’tanisha Pierson from District 2.
Oerlemans said Mendoza would not be a bad vice mayor “by any stretch of the imagination” because she has love for the city and is always looking out for residents.
“But I also think that with Councilmember Pierson’s experience of being a judge and sitting on a bench, she should be considered as one of the options for the vice mayor’s position,” said Oerlemans.
Pierson said it was a difficult choice for her as she did not want to be pitted against Mendoza and left the council to vote. Meyer said her personal choice would be Mendoza as her “backup.” While agreeing that Pierson also makes for an “incredible choice,” she preferred Mendoza.
“I know very well, if I need her to do something even at the last minute, she will jump on it because it’s for the good of the residents,” said Meyer.
Meyer said Mendoza has spent more time on the council, has a track record of “doing her homework” and is available to the residents when needed. Meyer tabled the motion, seconded by Mendoza, and it was put to vote.
Prior to the vote, Pierson said that while she values Mendoza as a friend and would be an “amazing vice mayor,” she too has the same qualities as Mendoza.
“I think I have all those qualities as well. I read all the agendas, I come with great stuff, so I don’t think years of tenure should be the reason (to pick a vice mayor),” said Pierson. “I am just as passionate and available throughout the day, so I would be a fool to not fight for myself as vice mayor.”
Mendoza said she would like to work with Meyer.
“We’ve always supported the person the mayor chooses because it is who they have to work with,” said Mendoza. “I’d like the vote to go forward and see how Faye (Maloney) feels.”
The final decision fell on newly elected District 1 Councilmember Maloney, who had to break the tie. Maloney, who was in Germany, agreed with Pierson and said it was only right for her to become the next vice mayor as she only has two years left on council, as opposed to Mendoza, who has a fresh four-year mandate.
“I do believe both Councilmembers Pierson and Mendoza would be amazing at this job and I respect both of them dearly,” said Maloney. “The fact that Councilmember Pierson only has two years left on her term and Councilmember Mendoza can finish out the last two years, I would vote no on this motion and give the opportunity to Councilmember Pierson.”
The motion to appoint Pierson as vice mayor passed 3-2.
In Antioch, District 2 Councilmember Louie Rocha was appointed as mayor pro tem. He will be serving alongside former City Manager Ron Bernal who recently defeated Mayor Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe for the position.
In Pittsburg, the mayor is selected by councilmembers and serves a one-year term. On Monday, Mayor Juan Antonio Banales passed the reins to Vice Mayor Jelani Killing. Both Banales and Killings have been councilmembers since 2016.
Killings said he is eager to serve residents.
Councilmember Shanelle Scales-Preston, who is set to become the next county supervisor for District 5, proposed that Councilmember Dionne Adams serve as the vice mayor alongside Killings.