The continued theft and destruction of campaign signs in the Manteca’s mayoral race prompted Lei Ann Larson to propose a way the three hopefuls could set aside their differences and work together.

Her suggestion — sent in an email to opponents Ben Cantu and Gary Singh on Tuesday — suggesting they join her in issuing a joint press release regarding sign theft and vandalism.

Larson’s suggested wording: “Mayoral candidates ask the citizens of Manteca to respect the election process and ask the community members not to vandalize or steal candidate signs.  Not only does it interfere with a fair election, but it is a criminal offense.”

In her email Larson referenced the fact all campaign signs have been stolen from Moffat Boulevard and Spreckels Avenue and that she had a sign vandalized at Crom and Union Road but the Singh and Cantu signs at that location were untouched.  She had  a sign cut down at Main and Woodward with a chainsaw and stolen.

Singh agreed with the message Larson is trying to get out.

He has lost 17 signs so far — more than in any other campaign. That represents a $1,000 loss.

Cantu did send Larson a response.

“I saw your destroyed sign at Crom and Union today on my way home for lunch, and a half-hour later on my way back to the office I noticed it had been knocked down,” Cantu replied in an email. “I can’t imagine that in that particular location with all the traffic that someone would not have seen who did it.”

“I have lost seven signs, some of which were replacements from a previous vandalism.”

“I don’t mind participating in your proposal but I would like you to first join with us in signing the FPPC Code of Fair Campaign Practices agreement.”

Cantu is referring to the California Code of Fair Campaign Practices pledge.

Larson did not sign the pledge while Cantu and Singh did.

The form — which is optional and not mandated by state law — commits candidates to “follow the basic principles of decency, honesty, and fair play in order that, after vigorously contested, but fairly conducted campaigns the citizens of this state may exercise their constitutional right to vote, free from dishonest and unethical practices which tend to prevent the full and free expression of the will of the voters.”

Larson has been clear she did not sign the pledge not because she wasn’t going to run a fair campaign but had qualms with making a pledge that — based on her language — would commit her to “apologize” for questions someone not connected with her campaign raised about another candidate.

The wording of the FPPC section does imply however signs the form should do just that.

It should be noted given how the issue centers around free speech, the state wisely did not make it a mandatory pledge to sign based on concerns that such a requirement wouldn’t likely withstand being contested in court.

An added noted

about political signs

While some of the signs have been swiped by the homeless for use as part of their makeshift shelters, others are clearly being vandalized.

And while on the subject of signs, the most famous San Joaquin County campaign sign incident took place back in the late 1990s in Stockton.

San Joaquin County Supervisor Ed Simas was cruising to an easy re-election victory when someone caught him using a video camera — tearing up opponent Victor Mow’s sign.

Simas — who polls by both his campaign and Mow’s showed him with a  comfortable double digit lead — lost the election.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com