ANTIOCHAntioch Mayor Professional Tem Mike Barbanica and Councilwoman Lori Ogorchock have for the second time in six months known as for Antioch Mayor Thorpe to resign.
The announcement got here following the report of a $350,000 settlement in an employment matter involving the now-defunct Los Medanos Healthcare District and its former government director, who was not named although Thorpe was the final individual to serve in that capability. The council members beforehand known as for his resignation after he was arrested for suspected driving below the affect, a cost through which he has pleaded not responsible.
Within the newest case, the Contra Costa Board of Supervisors, appearing as successor company for the District, on Aug. 16 unanimously authorized the settlement, which had included claims from two former staff of a hostile work setting, worsened by board members, and sexual harassment. The cash shall be paid out from the district’s legal responsibility insurance coverage provider, minus a $29,000 deductible from the District’s healthcare fund.
Based on the settlement, all claims have been disputed and the allegations have been denied by the county to keep away from bills and inconveniences of additional authorized proceedings. County counsel requested to dismiss all proceedings – if any – “with none discovering or admissions of fault or legal responsibility by any individual or entity.”
However late Thursday afternoon throughout a press convention through which solely a handful of media have been invited, Barbancia and Ogorchock mentioned that the alleged conduct confirmed an absence of management and the mayor ought to resign.
“This can be a distraction for our metropolis,” Barbanica mentioned on the convention, which was held at his workplace. “Now we have a metropolis of 114,000 individuals and the council has very critical enterprise to do, but we're sidetracked in these conferences by most of these points.”
Barbanica mentioned he emailed the mayor asking him to resign however had not heard again.
“I don't imagine that the conduct that's suspected – not convicted, however suspected – right here is just not indicative of a frontrunner inside our neighborhood; our council and our mayor must be held to a better normal,” Barbanica mentioned.
The mayor professional tem, who would grow to be mayor if Thorpe resigned, stopped wanting suggesting one other recall, noting it was “as much as the voters.” Thorpe’s time period goes by means of 2024.
Ogorchock, in the meantime, thanked the 2 girls, whom she mentioned she had by no means spoken with, for coming ahead with the claims.
“Ladies for a lot too lengthy have needed to endure any such conduct and it must cease,” she mentioned. “If we as elected officers don't come ahead and ask the mayor for his resignation, will probably be inexcusable.”
The 2 girls filed equivalent claims in March, saying they have been pressured to resign in 2021 because of sexual harassment, hostile working situations – from board members and administration – and alleged misconduct by the previous government director of the district, which was dissolved that very same month. They sought compensation for misplaced wages and emotional misery and blamed the district for its inaction.
Late on Thursday, Thorpe issued an announcement responding to the allegations.
“I'm wholeheartedly heart-broken by these allegations, as they're fully false, “ he mentioned. “After I served as the chief director of the Los Medanos Neighborhood Healthcare District (LMCHD), I labored to create an setting that gave alternatives to members of our neighborhood that have been traditionally marginalized, as I've at all times sought to make change by means of empowerment.
“Because the members of my staff on the LMCHD can attest, the setting that I created was certainly one of positivity and respect.
“Though saddened by the allegations, I cannot be making any remark concerning the people concerned, as I wish to proceed believing within the good in individuals, and never enable for this second to close down my spirit of neighborhood.”
Former LMCHD Board Chair Patt Younger additionally denied the allegations.
“As the previous chair of the Los Medanos Neighborhood Well being Care District (LMCHD), and as a girl, I can say unequivocally that the allegations made in opposition to Mr. Thorpe are fully false.
“When introduced with the knowledge, it was clear that they lacked info and proof. Within the thoughts of the board majority, had this gone to courtroom, it will have been very clear to any jury that Mr. Thorpe is totally harmless.”
Dennisha Marsh, a former Los Medanos Neighborhood Healthcare District trustee, mentioned she was “outraged” that Contra Costa County settled the case.
“Having served on the Board of Trustees of the Los Medanos Neighborhood Healthcare District, I'm conscious of all of the info of those allegations, and I can assure you that had the case made it to courtroom, the claimants would have misplaced.”
Fellow Councilwoman Monica Wilson additionally lent her assist in an announcement Thursday night time, accusing Barbanica and Ogorchock of being opportunistic and persevering with their long-standing marketing campaign of in search of to take away Thorpe from workplace.
“Because the longest-serving councilmember, I'm right here to say that any such racially divisive grandstanding by Councilmembers Ogorchock and Barbanica is disgusting,” she mentioned. “They've been on the forefront of opposing each single concept that Mayor Thorpe has pushed to maneuver our metropolis ahead.
“Though they don't prefer it, we're now not the Antioch of 1876. We're a racially various neighborhood that embraces everybody’s perspective.”