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Antioch's incumbent mayor is not running for re-election.
First-term Mayor Jim Davis pulled candidate filing papers Thursday to run for Antioch City Council, saying that he does not have to hold the top position to serve the community.
"Basically, I had my four years. It's been a tough four years, but I take pride in the fact that we were able to keep the city out of bankruptcy," Davis said.
The four candidates that have thrown their hat into the ring for the mayor's seat are Donald Freitas, Antioch's mayor from 2000 to 2008, Mayor Pro Tem Wade Harper and Councilman Gary Agopian and newcomer Manuel Anthony Leon.
Davis said he supported June's failed ballot measure that would have made Antioch's mayor a position rotated among council members. Either way, Davis said he favors someone who hasn't already served as mayor for the position.
"My vote will still count just the same" as every other council member, Davis said.
"I've been on the council 14 years. I still want to serve and feel there's a lot more to do," he said, noting that work must still be done to ensure Highway 4 is completed, the police department is restored to its former staffing levels and enhanced if possible, and the city stays fiscally solvent.
Being on the council will also allow him to be "more of a driver" on issues, he said.
Davis, a lifelong Antioch resident, was elected to the City Council in 1998 and was re-elected in 2002 and 2006.
He will run for one of two council seats along with Antioch school trustee Walter Ruehlig, Oakland parking director Noel Pinto, and Monica Wilson, who sits on the city's economic development commission.
Incumbent Councilwoman Mary Rocha, coincidentally the last Antioch Mayor to not seek a second term in 2000 when she opted to run for county board of supervisors, has said she will run for re-election but has not yet pulled filing papers.
Three-term Councilman Brian Kalinowski said last year he will not run for re-election.
Arne Simonsen, a councilman from 2000 to 2008, and Argentina Davila-Luevano, a social worker and president of the California LULAC Institute, have thrown their name in for city clerk. Incumbent Donna Conley is the lone person to pull papers for city treasurer.
The Aug. 10 filing deadline will be extended to Aug. 15 if incumbents do not file paper to run for reelection by the deadline.
Contact Paul Burgarino at 925-779-7164. Follow him at Twitter.com/paulburgarino.
