About Don Freitas

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At 24 years of age, I competed against a 12-year incumbent and was elected to the Contra Costa Water District. My initial campaign focused on defeating the Peripheral Canal initiative. That initiative proposed diverting water from the Delta to Southern California. This action would have had devastating impacts, destroying our water quality for municipal, industrial, commercial, and agricultural users. Thankfully, it was defeated through a statewide vote in 1988. I continued serving Antioch and East County for 16 years, leading the charge to construct the $450 million Los Vaqueros Reservoir, the Randall Bold Water Treatment Plant located in Oakley, and implementing water conservation measures to residents. 

The opportunity to serve again came in 1998. I campaigned for a seat on the Antioch City Council, won, and served two years before being elected Mayor in 2000. I served as mayor for an additional eight years to 2008. In those roles, the needs of all residents came first! I pushed the city forward by:  

• Securing $1.2 billion to expand Highway 4 from four to eight lanes. Better traffic circulation brought new jobs and financial opportunities to residents and reduced their hour’s long commutes; 
• Worked collaboratively with BART and other East County Cities to bring public transit to Antioch, connecting our community to the greater Bay Area. The Antioch station attracts passengers from Oakley, Brentwood, and Discovery Bay further integrating our economic importance to the greater area; 
• Expanding “A” Street to Second Street in the Rivertown area to improve access and circulation to downtown businesses and the river; 
• Building the Prewett Family Park and Community Center giving families a public pool to take their kids during the summer and provide a gathering place where the community can meet; 
• Increasing police staffing and Community Services Officers as the city grew to protect residents from crime and violence. 

Transparency is important. Transparency gives residents an opportunity to know and understand what’s happening in their community. Without transparency, citizens have no idea how their tax dollars are being spent.

I implemented transparency measures throughout my two terms in office: 

• Joint meetings between the City Council and the Antioch Unified School District Board of Education to focus on improving the quality of life for students and their parents; 

• Community-wide public meetings for residents to address the entire City Council and staff. The meetings were held at convenient times so residents could address issues of concern and City Council could immediately take corrective actions; 

• Supporting the creation of a regional Delta 6 organization that was comprised of all East County Mayors and Supervisors to address regional issues such as transportation, homelessness, economic development, and law enforcement.

While I’m proud of my contributions there’s still so much more to do. 

It’s time to address today’s challenges and build a better Antioch for generations of existing and future residents. 

We must restore the respect and professionalism of the Antioch Police Department, develop a comprehensive approach in the East County to solve the unhoused/homeless issues, fully staff the Code Enforcement Department to attack urban blight, and aggressively address our deteriorating infrastructure (roads, streets, and sidewalks.) 

Experience and results count. Now, is the time for change!