Anthony Silva

Anthony Silva (born 1974) is an American politician who served as the 78th mayor of Stockton, California from 2013 until 2017.

Anthony Ray Silva was born on November 22, 1974 in Stockton, California to military veteran Anthony Ray Silva Sr. and registered nurse Diane Cecile Pearce Westcott.

His mother was the daughter of June Westcott Fisher, a teacher at Cleveland Elementary, who's great-grandfather Hiram Fisher was among the early settlers of Stockton and founder of Fisher Bros. House Movers.

On August 6, 1976, the senior Silva became a fugitive when he escaped the honor farm in French Camp while serving a sentence for burglary.

He and Silva's mother divorced, at which point Silva's mother raised him for a time as a single parent.

The young mother would eventually remarry; consequently Silva has two half-siblings, Jonathan and Rebecca.

Silva attended the now defunct Village Oaks Elementary and Lincoln High School where he developed a passion for swimming, water polo, and musical choir.

Silva describes having had a rough childhood resulting in his running away from home on multiple occasions.

Eventually, Silva's repeated truancy landed him in the care of social services briefly, which was an eye-opening experience for the youngster.

During his first semester at San Joaquin Delta College, Silva's mother passed away from bone cancer in October 1993, an event Silva describes as the single most difficult moment of his life.

Subsequently, Silva lived with his maternal grandmother for a few years, with whom he was very close.

Silva also attended Humphrey's University in Stockton.

At the age of fifteen, Silva began working as a swim coach and lifeguard at the Village Oaks swimming pool.

This early experience would eventually see Silva hold various related positions in the community including Health and Safety Director of the American Red Cross, Stockton Parks and Recreation commissioner, and CEO of the former Boys and Girls Club of Stockton.

Silva also served on the board of directors for Silver Lake Camp and the Miss San Joaquin County scholarship program as well as working with the county's Human Services Agency as the Aquatics Program Director.

Silva cites his personal experience and exposure as a child to other troubled youth in the community as what motivates him to champion programs for at-risk kids.

Silva was president of the Stockton Unified school board, representing the southeast area from 2004-08 before winning the mayoral candidacy in 2012.

That same year, an anonymous email containing a 2005 police report would be sent out to hundreds, potentially thousands within the community.

The report stemmed from an investigation wherein Silva allegedly bragged about filming underage girls changing in his home via a hidden camera when he was coaching water polo at Franklin High School.

The incident was investigated by Stockton Unified Police, with the District Attorney electing not to file charges.

Silva was elected mayor in the Stockton's 2012 mayoral election, unseating incumbent mayor Ann Johnston.

Throughout his campaign, Silva had advocated for a safer Stockton, suggesting a tax increase that would assist the embattled police department in fighting the city's rising crime.

Silva also pledged not to collect a paycheck until the city's budget was balanced and crime had abated.

Six months into his term, however, Silva announced that he felt compelled to take the salary after being advised repeatedly by the City Attorney's office that he may still have tax liability on the reportable income.

Silva vowed to donate the $18,000 in backpay to local charities such as the Boys and Girls Club, Stockton Shelter for the Homeless, and animal rescue services

According to the 2012 allegation, a 19-year old teen formerly employed by the Boys and Girls Club as a lifeguard was performing housework for Silva when he began to pressure her to drink alcoholic beverages in the summer of 2011.

The accuser alleged Silva then pulled her across his lap and spanked her buttocks.

The chairman of the Boys and Girls Club Guy Hatch defended Silva, saying that the allegation had been investigated by the organization and was determined to be retaliatory in nature due to the young woman being fired.

The District Attorney would also later conclude that the witness was not credible.

In 2013, the San Joaquin District Attorney's office announced it had concluded an investigation into alleged sexual battery committed by Silva.

On May 15, 2014 Silva slept in a cardboard box outside to draw attention to the problem of homelessness and highlight his initiative to establish an employment resource center for misplaced persons.

This proposal was met with support by many within the homeless community.

In December 2015 Silva announced a development plan for Stockton.

The plan would build on the city's waterfront and create an airport.

The plan also included the establishment of an ordinance prohibiting sagging, a fashion trend.

LGBT groups protested Silva's appointment of Motecuzoma Sanchez to the city planning commission.

The person was said to be intolerant of diverse communities, including discriminating based on race and sexuality.

LGBT organizations and atheist groups protested Silva hosting civic meetings in a church that opposed LGBT rights.

Silva responded that he was sensitive to the concerns and issued an apology.

Silva ran for re-election in 2016 but lost to Michael Tubbs, who received 70.4 percent of the vote.