Five contenders have filed the necessary documents to legally raise donations to campaign for the Manteca council or mayor’s post.

Incumbent Councilman Steve DeBrum and retired municipal planner Ben Cantu are raising money for their respective campaigns to replace Willie Weatherford as mayor. Weatherford opted not to seek election to a fourth term in the Nov. 4 election.

Council incumbent Vince Hernandez as well as businessman Mike Morwit and retiree Richard Silverman are running  for two available council seats. Incumbent John Harris is not seeking ere-election.

Candidacy papers will become available on Monday, July 19, through the Manteca City Clerk’s office. They must be filed with 20 valid City of Manteca registered voters by 5 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 8.

There is space for 30 signatures on the nomination papers.

City Clerk Joann Tilton advises candidates to collect 30 and to turn them in early enough in case some are disqualified.

She noted about 12 years ago Wayne Flores was trying to return to the council. He turned in nomination papers with the minimum 20 signatures. After verification by the registrar of voters, two were invalid. He was notified on the final day of filing. He then got a supplemental nomination form, secured two more signatures but it turned out those signatures were not valid either. He ended up not qualifying for the ballot.

The only election-related expense that a candidate can incur for appearing on the ballot is roughly $1,200 if they opt to have a statement to appear with the sample ballot.

Should DeBrum get elected to mayor that would create a council vacancy as he is currently in the second year of a four-year term.

The last such vacancy was created when Willie Weatherford was elected mayor 12 years ago. It led to the appointment of Jack Snyder. Should a vacancy occur the council has the option to appoint or call for a special election. 

If Cantu is elected mayor there would be no need for a special election.