Arguably the most convoluted mayoral race since Manteca went to the direct election of mayors in 1980 officially ends today at 8 p.m. when the polls close.

Peel back the social media acrimony, the largest political action committee spending in Manteca history, a debate that was soiled by claims of unfairness, the burning of campaign signs, and charges filed by the district attorney, plus a social media posting urging gun violence against the sitting mayor and there weren’t really many policy issues separating incumbent Gary Singh and challenger Jacob Naven.

Both back:

*public safety but Naven wants more than the 11 police officers and 9 firefighters that Singh has managed to help secure in the past four years in addition to getting Measure Q passed to help provide funding to build a new police station plus the city’s sixth fire station and to replace aging and problematic fire engines and police cars.

*increased road repairs beyond the stepped up activity in the past four years have has seen almost $14 million in road repairs and safety improvements citywide.

*financial transparency and accountability while Naven insists he can provide leadership to improve on Singh’s watch where the city not only became current on annual audits that were four years behind when he took over mayor but the city was also honored by an independent organization for financial transparency and was able to secure an AA bond rating.

Naven has not indicated how he would generate more funds to accomplish an even higher emphasis on pubic safety and road work spending except to suggest there could be cuts in existing operations to generate more money for those purposes.

The one issue Naven staked out a position that wasn’t simply wanting even more done than has happened in the past four years involved water and sewer rates.

Naven had said he’d push for a study to see whether the city could lower the wastewater and water rates that were raised two years ago for the first time in 13 years.

Outside political action committees have dumped $25,000 into October video and mailer blitzes during the campaign.

One for $15,000 was undertaken by a PAC funded in part by four national builders with developments in Manteca that conducted a campaign to insinuate Singh had knowledge the city contracted a cleanup firm that employed a registered sex offender.

Singh did not accept developer money this election cycle after spending the last four years securing development agreements that far exceeded amounts money per new home for community benefits than evert paid by home builders.

Singh ran on his record.

Naven ran on the promise he’d reach out to the community more than Singh did and that he would put the concerns and wants of residents first.

Singh had no less than six campaign signs burned including one where the fire got out of control and spread to nearby vegetation and trees.

Singh was charged with a misdemeanor for posting a video in a weekly series on his website focusing on Manteca business where a chiropractor he was interviewing offered a $50 discount to anyone who voted for Singh for mayor.

Manteca Police also in the waning weeks of the campaign investigated statements posted on social media pages from an individual encouraging the shooting of Singh.

That matter has also been turned over to the DA’s office.

And there was the candidate’s forum staged by the Manteca Interact youth service club that prompted one participant — District 3 challenger Lei Ann Larson — to raise a ruckus afterwards that she was treated unfairly.

She fired off complaints to Rotary at district level and to principals at the three Manteca high schools that the Interact students attend demanding an investigation.

Her issue was a rule that she said was changed regarding not being able to use notes during the debate.

No other candidate had an issue with the debate and they all universally praised the youth group for how it was conducted.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com