The days of big dollar campaigns for Manteca City Council seats may go on a hiatus for at least a few election cycles.
That’s because when the City Council meets tonight at 7 p.m. they are expected to approve the second reading of an ordinance establishing district council elections as well as the boundaries for four districts for the next 10 years.
The second reading is required by state law. If the ordinance is passed a second time it will go into effect by February.
Instead of reaching all 45,000 plus registered voters in 2022, those choosing to run for the initial council seats — District 3 held by Dave Breitenbucher and District 4 held by Jose Nuño — to be decided by in-district voting only will have to find ways to engage with roughly 11,750 voters.
But given districts are created based on overall population and not just those who vote some districts could have significantly less than 11,750 voters and some significantly more.
Reducing the voters a potential council candidate needs to reach could cut costs for those using direct mail and even for items such as door hangers and campaign signs given a need to target only a quarter of the community.
The last council election in 2020 when Gary Singh was elected to a second term and Charlie Halford to his first term saw $118,599 raised by all five hopefuls. That made the 2020 election campaign the third highest ever in terms of money collected behind the 2018 election at $175,931 and the 2014 races at $123,845. The 2018 and 2014 races involved the mayor’s post as well as two council seats.
It also will also make door-to-door campaigning more plausible. Candidates also would be able to concentrate efforts to secure exposure at specific community events tied to schools and organizations such as Little League that draw from specific areas within Manteca.
The race for mayor will still be citywide. Cantu is up for re-election in November.
District 3 is bounded on the north by Louise Avenue, on the east by Highway 99, and on the south by the 120 Bypass.
The western boundary starts at the 120 Bypass and Union Road, jogs to the east on Wawona Street and then swings north on El Portal for a block before shifting slightly to the northwest onto El Capitan. It then heads east on Nevada Street for a block and then heads north on Walnut Avenue before turning east on Alameda and then heading north along the Tidewater to Louise Avenue.
District 3 contains all of pre-1965 Manteca that includes downtown and Manteca High.
District 1 where Halford resides borders District 3 on the east, District 4 north of Louise Avenue and includes everything west of Union Road south of the 120 Bypass.
Sierra High as well as the Costco, Stadium Retail Center, and the family entertainment zone anchored by Great Wolf and Big League Dreams sports complex.
District 2 where Singh resides consists of everything south of the 120 Bypass that is east of Union Road as well as areas east of Highway 99 except north of Louise Avenue.
Woodward Park and The Promenade Shops at Orchard Valley are in District 2.
