A group intent on recalling Manteca Mayor Ben Cantu is making a second run at triggering a special election.

Three weeks after Lei Ann Larson of Mantecans4Change was informed by City Clerk Casandra Candini-Tilton that their initial notice of intent lacked the required 20 signatures of registered city voters given four of the 21 submitted were not valid, the group has launched a second attempt at meeting legal requirements to start circulating petitions to try to trigger a recall election.

Cantu was served with the second letter of intent at Tuesday’s council meeting by John Sasser who is part of the grassroots Matecans4Change organization. Group members were expected to also provide the city clerk’s office with the original that requires 20 valid registered City of Manteca voters.

If there are 20 valid signatures this time that are verified by the San Joaquin County Registrar of Voters, proponents of the recall will have 120 days to gather the necessary signatures to trigger such an election.

Based on state law they must secure signatures of 20 percent of the valid registered Manteca voters as of the day they submitted their initial paperwork.

That will require at least 9,040 signatures based on the number of registered voters within the City of Manteca as of Sept. 27.

Should there be 20 valid signatures on the initial petition and a statement not exceeding 200 words in length regarding the reason for the proposed recall filed and published by Dec. 20, it would mean the group would have until April 19 to collect 9,000 plus signatures of registered voters within the City of Manteca that must also be valid.

If that occurs, the recall would take place on the June 7 ballot. The election would cost Manteca taxpayers at least $202,000 to conduct.

The certified letter dated Nov. 18 from the city clerk’s office noted that the word count for the statement that accompanied the notice of intention was over 300 words and did not meet the 200 word limit.

The letter also pointed out the name “Benjamin A. Cantu” on the initial letter of intent was incorrect and should read “Benjamin J. Cantu”.

And while neither the city clerk’s office nor county registrar of voters rejected the first letter of intention for that reason, state law would require the rejection of the petition for recall that requires 9,000 plus signatures if the mayor’s name is spelled wrong.

Larson, Sasser, and other proponents of the effort to recall Cantu spoke out against legalizing storefront marijuana sales in Manteca during Tuesday’s council meeting arguing it was deteriorating community standards given Manteca officially promotes itself as “The Family City”.

Cantu made legalizing storefront retail marijuana sales one of his key campaign issues when he ran three years ago for mayor. He has repeatedly noted legalizing the sale of cannabis was something that people approached him on repeatedly while campaigning.

Cantu on Wednesday said he respects the right of those that wish to recall him to use the established legal process to do so but questioned the wisdom of doing so close to the November 2022 election when he faces re-election.

“(If the recall election bid) qualifies, the election would be six months before my term ends,” Cantu said. “There can be better use of $200,000 in Manteca tax dollars.”

He noted it would make more sense if those that don’t want him office to work to prevent his re-election to a second term instead of pursuing a recall election.

The original intent petition listed three grounds for Cantu’s recall:

*Inexcusable neglect. Organizers based that on the San Joaquin County Grand Jury report that found after Cantu got elected the city got rid of department heads and replaced them with people who “lacked the experience, qualifications, and financial acumen” respective positions required to completely perform their jobs. That, according to the Grand Jury, created a dysfunctional situation that triggered chaos and turmoil throughout city government.

*Investigations/settlements of lawsuits: The petitioners cite the haphazard execution of administrative leaves that were precursors to department heads leaving the city as the catalyst for several lawsuits resulting in investigations costing between $40,000 and $60,000 each. That, combined with several packages and settlements cost the city over $1 million in two years. Since the grand jury report the city paid another $499,000 in settlements.

*Failure to enforce laws: The intent states for “three long years after taking office, the mayor has intentionally failed to enforce laws and address the growing homeless encampments in the City, and specifically in city parks enjoyed by all citizens. Failure to address these issues has created a public safety issue and is detrimental to nthe citizens of Manteca and out qualify of life.”

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com