The group of Weston Ranch homeowners that bonded together to fight Manteca Unified for a reduction in their property taxes now has another goal in mind.
Get Dale Fritchen elected as Mayor of Stockton.
On Monday night, Free Weston Ranch – a consortium of homeowners who united to take their concerns about the way the district spent their Mello-Roos taxes sent out a text message to supporters that called for a unified front in backing Fritchen, who represented Weston Ranch for two terms on the Manteca Unified board and as a Stockton councilman representing the south Stockton, as a write-in candidate for Stockton Mayor.
“Out goal with Free Weston Ranch is to promote positive change in our community. In light of recent events, many people feel that they have been left without a strong candidate for Mayor,” the message wrote. “If we are going to clean up Stockton it will require honest leadership that is completely focused on this huge task. We cannot think of a more perfect person for this job than Dale Fritchen.
“We starting a campaign to write in Dale Fritchen for Mayor. His integrity and experience make him the best man for the job.”
After current Stockton Mayor Anthony Silva was arrested last week at a city-owned summer camp in Amador County for allegedly recording a strip poker game with a minor and a bunch of camp counselors who were under the age of 21 and drinking alcohol that he furnished, a campaign to push for Fritchen as Mayor began to mount on social media.
The former two-term Manteca trustee represented Weston Ranch and served on the Stockton City Council as South Stockton’s representative, Fritchen has remained active in local politics despite not holding public office – championing a recall effort against a Manteca Unified Trustee who has since been charged with election fraud and making a push to relax the Mello-Roos tax for all Weston Ranch residents.
It wasn’t just Silva’s alleged indiscretion that led to the push either.
His opponent, current councilman Michael Tubbs, was recently arrested for driving under the influence – prompting those on social media to post their mugshots side-by-side and wonder why in a town with almost 300,000 residents, they were the only two viable options for mayor.
“We know that this will be an uphill battle he has to be written in but Weston Ranchers here is something to consider – we have enough registered voters in Weston Ranch to sway the election,” the message said. “We can make this happen. As he has always done, Dale will fight for what is fair for Weston Ranch and the rest of the city.”
Because the cutoff for the November has already passed, Fritchen would have to be elected as a write-in candidate and if he receives more votes than the other two, according to the group, he will qualify as Stockton’s next mayor.

To contact reporter Jason Campbell email jcampbell@mantecabulletin.com or call 209.249.3544.