Wade Harper looks over the shoulder of AUSD board hopeful Vincent Manuel as the election numbers roll in. Harper was the top vote-getter; Manuel was unsuccessful in his bid for a school board seat.
Photo by Justin Lafferty
Photo by Justin Lafferty
Newly-elected city councilman Gary Agopian speaks with Devi Lanphere, the President/CEO of the Antioch Chamber of Commerce, during Agopian’s post-election party on Tuesday.
Photo by Justin Lafferty
Photo by Justin Lafferty
Tracy Police Lt. Wade Harper, who also serves on the Antioch Unified School Board, will be one of the new councilmen. Harper garnered an impressive 24.17 percent of the overall vote, and said he’s eager to roll up his sleeves and tackle the main issues facing the city, such as the budget and public safety.
“I really do want to make it a safer community,” Harper said at a post-election party at the home of a friend. “I think that message got out. At the same time, this a pretty serious time and that was a huge mandate by the voters to vote me number one.”
While Harper won his seat by a large margin, the race for the second open seat on the council was neck-and-neck. Agopian, a real estate salesman, trailed former city councilman Arne Simonsen in early returns, but finished the night with 6,316 votes (20.56 percent), a mere 70 votes more than Simonsen’s 6,246.
With a handful of supporters at Antioch sports bar and restaurant Bases Loaded, Simonsen constantly consulted his laptop Tuesday night as votes trickled in. Agopian attended a party at a friend’s house with a couple dozen friends and supporters. If the results hold true, he looks forward to doing whatever he can to hit the ground running.
“There were a lot of quality candidates to choose from,” said Agopian of the close race. “The voters were dissatisfied with the current council and wanted a change, so they’re going to get it.”
Harper and either Agopian or Simonsen will take office on Dec. 14.
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