Gary Singh has raised a record shattering $128,803 so far in his campaign to gain election as Manteca’s mayor.

It’s more than double the previous high mark of $59,261 established by Steve DeBrum in the 2018 mayor’s race.

The $128,303 includes $25,000 carryover from his successful 2018 campaign.

The bulk of his donations are from small business people and independent truckers. Third and fourth tier donors are farmers followed by developers. Overall, the $103,000 that wasn’t a carryover has come from more than 250 different people.

It’s a complete 180 degree turn from elections in 2016 and earlier when developers were the top donors followed by farmers and then trucking firms/independent truckers and small business owners.

Singh has spent $35,858 as of Sept. 30. That includes $6,000 his campaign has donated to non-profits such as the Manteca Police K-9 Officers Association, the Sierra High Boosters, Give Every Child a Chance, Better World Rescue (that works with the Manteca Animal Shelter), Agape Villages (foster family agency), and HOPE Family Shelter.

Singh, as of Friday has $90,445 left that he could spend on this campaign.

As of Sept. 30, the combined amount for the Nov. 8 election for all five candidates running either for mayor or the District 4 council seat is $183,293. That’s $7,362 more than the previous overall campaign record of $175,931 set in the 2018 election cycle.

There are two other candidates running for mayor, incumbent Ben Cantu and Lei Ann Larson.

As of Sept. 30, Larson apparently has raised $9,645.

“Apparently” because Larson did not meet the legally required deadline Thursday at 6 p.m. to file the latest campaign disclosure statement.

City Clerk Cassie Tilton-Candini confirmed Larson did file the required form after the deadline has passed.

However, that was rejected due to failure to fill it out completely. Issues include using an XL spreadsheet instead of the state-required forms to list donors of $99 and more as well as a missing signature. Also, it was filed by email instead of the two state required options which is through a portal or a paper copy.

Because the form was not complete it was rejected

For the first time in recent memory, the Manteca city clerk’s office has issued a late notice that a 460/470 form has not been properly filed. The form covers campaign donations and spending between July 1, 2022 and Sept. 24, 2022.

The city clerk, by law, must turn the matter over to the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) after a third late notice is issued. Before that, if someone lodges a complaint with the FPPC, it will also start an investigation by the state organization.

Larson based on previous filings received a $1,000 donation plus donated $5,700 out of her own pocket. Not listed but posted on her GoFundMe account Larson set up to run for mayor, there is another $2,905 from 28 donors. However once donation — $1,000 —  may be a duplicate of what she reported on the FPPC forms that were properly submitted and filled out correct.

Cantu has raised $9,648 to date. That’s about a third of the $30,355 he raised in 2018 when he defeated DeBrum for mayor.

The amount of money raised and spent has an impact on how successful a candidate in Manteca elections, However, there have been a number of times when candidates that raise and spend more money end up losing.

The last time that happened was in the 2018 election when DeBrum raised and spent almost twice as much as Cantu — $59,261 versus $30,335 – and ended up losing.

In the District 4 City Council  race, Watson is only the sixth candidate in the last 30 years, to file forms that she intends to collect and spend no more than $2,000.

Opponent Mike Morowit has raised $28,657 as of Friday and has $11,132 left in his campaign account.

That’s $2,342 more than in his 2014 election when he was first elected to the council when he spent $26,315.Morowit lost his re-election bid in 2018.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com