Career Profile

Mayor Thorpe, a dedicated citizen and the 41st Mayor of Antioch, has long been a driving force in his community. Before his mayoral term, he served on the Antioch City Council as Mayor Pro-Tem from 2016 to 2018. <br> <br>Thorpe holds the honor of being the second African American mayor, succeeding the Honorable Wade Harper. His background includes the United States Navy service and a degree from The George Washington University. <br> <br>As mayor, his primary goal is to enhance the quality of life in Antioch and elevate the city&#039;s profile to reflect the pride of its residents. <br> <br>Mayor Thorpe&#039;s personal journey is a testament to his perseverance and determination. Born in prison and raised by a Mexican-American foster family, he managed to graduate from high school despite initially struggling with literacy. Today, he stands proud as a bilingual US Navy veteran, fluent in both Spanish and English, a graduate of George Washington University, and a devoted public servant. <br> <br>In 1981, Lamar Thorpe was born in prison to a heroin-addicted mother. At just two days old, he was placed into foster care, becoming a ward of the state until his 18th birthday. <br> <br>Raised by immigrant foster parents from Mexico, Lamar was part of a large family with seven siblings. He grew up in a working-class, Latino community in East Los Angeles, California. Due to his mother&#039;s inability to speak English, Lamar was raised speaking Spanish and later learned English as a second language in elementary school.