Two challengers seeking to gain election to the City Council on Nov. 8 made it clear Monday night — they are gunning for Interim City Manager Toni Lundgren.

Mayoral hopeful Lei Ann Larson and District 4 City Council candidate Nancy Watson took aim at Lundgren during a series of three-minute presentations under public comments regarding items on Monday’s special council session that included  a closed door evaluation of Lundgren as well as the homeless shelter.

District 4 covers all of Manteca north of Louise Avenue except east of Highway 99.

Both Larson and Watson as members of Mantecans4Change have opposed the proposed homeless navigation center. They have also made it a big part of their campaigns as both have submitted proposed petitions in an attempt to collect signatures to force a citywide vote.

Lundgren had requested the evaluation to make sure she was doing what council expected of her since assuming the role of interim city manager in mid-March.

Her contract as interim city manager expires in December concurrently with the term of the present council. Her contract stipulates that if she is relieved of interim city manager duties once the council decides on a permanent city manager, that she would be returned to the role of deputy city manager that she held prior to mid-March.

Council and/or mayor candidates publicly calling for the removal of a city manager, interim or otherwise, or as part of their campaign platform is a first for Manteca.

Larson listed several reasons she believes Lundgren should not be interim city manager.

*Lundgren had the California state flag replaced on several occasions to fly other flags. Included was a Pride flag that staff requested to boost employee morale and a Ukraine flag that the council wanted to show Manteca’s solidarity with the Ukrainians.

*She wasn’t prepared for Inner City Action to give notice they wanted out of their contract to operate the emergency homeless shelter. Inner City Action gave notice in July and vacated the site Aug. 9. The city manager’s office was able to secure His Way Recovery to operate the shelter through June 30, 2023 starting Sept. 1.

*Lundgren along with Councilman Gary Singh worked to secure a $16 million state grant for a homeless navigation center without council direction, according to Larson. The interim city manager was directed by the council to seek out funding for the shelter. The council, however hasn’t voted yet as to whether they will accept the $16 million. A formal vote is expected in October.

*Lundgren didn’t stop a request for a proclamation promoting a yoga event from advancing to the council that ended up creating a “rift” — as Larson put it — in the Indian community and “embarrassing” the City of Manteca throughout Northern California.

At one point Larson advanced her theory that the council got rid of Toby Wells as city manager after just 139 days on the job so they could replace him with Lundgren.

Mayor Ben Cantu — who Larson is challenging on Nov. 8 — cut her off noting Wells’ employment with the city wasn’t the subject of an agenda item. As such under the Brown Act, they couldn’t discuss it.

City Attorney Dave Nefouse backed the mayor up. Larson agreed to stop talking about Wells but then as the finals seconds ticked down on her allotted three minutes she brought up Wells’ firing again.

Larson also characterized the City of Manteca as “corrupt”.

Lundgren was the deputy city manager before Wells was hired. She also was the deputy city manger during Wells’ term as well as under Interim City Manager Michael Harden and former City Manager Miranda Lutzow.

Watson also spoke against Lundgren continuing as interim city manager.

She wanted to find someone like Tracy City Manager Michael Rogers who has nearly 30 years in the public sector.

Lundgren has nearly 25 years of public service between the cities of Stockton, Escalon, Lodi and Manteca as well as the Elk Grove Community Services District.

Rogers has been in contact with Lundgren to see how Manteca has approached its homeless issues.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com