Retired Manteca Police Chief Dave Bricker — who got pulled into the Manteca mayor’s race when he made an inquiry about the fledgling Retired Peace Officers Association — has endorsed Gary Singh.
The RPOA was formed after the Manteca Police Officers’ Association that represents frontline law enforcement officers patrolling Manteca’s streets backed Singh in the three-way race for mayor.
Shortly after being formed, the RPOA endorsed Lei Ann Larson.
The third mayoral hopeful in the Nov. 8 election is incumbent Ben Cantu.
The RPOA site indicated it is open to all retired police officers that live in Manteca’s whether they worked for the local department or not. Two of the founding members worked in law enforcement in the Bay Area.
They have openly questioned the fitness of both Singh and Cantu to be mayor alluding to various things such as not increasing police staffing levels in recent years to appearing at a Black Lives Matter event in Manteca.
The RPOA is planning on being an informal group where retired law enforcement can meet as well as offer suggestions on how to improve law enforcement in Manteca where they reside.
Another website addresses
Manteca mayoral race issues
There is now another website seeking to influence the Manteca’s mayor’s race.
And because the group isn’t raising funds for — or distributing money to — candidates it doesn’t fall within campaign laws just like the Retired Peace Officers of Manteca site supporting Lei Ann Larson’s mayor bid doesn’t.
It is dubbed “The Unified People’s Voice of Manteca” and can be accessed at peoplesvoicemanteca.com
Characterized on its home page as an information and opinion log, it states “our mission is to provide every citizen with the opportunity to educate themselves with the truth.
Let’s just say it isn’t favorable to Larson.
Meet and greet
for Singh Thursday
Gary Singh is conducting a meet and greet on Thursday at 6 p.m. at the Del Webb at Woodbridge clubhouse.
The event is open to Del Webb residents only.
To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com
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