In a first in Manteca municipal politics, a council hopeful is demanding the district leader of an international service organization conduct an “independent investigation” of a candidate’s forum.

Lei Ann Larson — who is challenging District 3 incumbent Dave Breitenbucher in the Nov. 3 election — on Tuesday sent a 3,101 word email to Rotary District 5220 Governor Pete Hermnann who oversees roughly 50 local clubs from Galt to Chowchilla and Tracy to Twain Harte including Manteca, Lathrop, and Ripon.

Interact is a youth service club sponsored and mentored by Rotary.

The Manteca Interact Club was sponsored by the Manteca Rotary Club of which three members were among the seven candidates at Sunday’s forum at the Moffat Community Center/VFW Hall. Those candidates are Mayor Gary Singh and District 4 incumbent Mike Morowit and one of his challengers, Dani Bettencourt.

(Full disclosure: Dennis Wyatt — who authored this story — is also a member of the Manteca Rotary.)

In the email, Larson asked that “District leadership to determine what occurred, who possessed authority to establish and enforce forum rules, whether established procedures were followed, and whether candidates were treated fairly and equally.”

She also questions the “relationship” between 17 year-old Nihar Jain — an East Union High graduate who helped found the Manteca interact Club and is now a student at the University of the Pacific — and Singh.

Larson pointed to a May 29 Facebook post by Nihar where he publicly thanked Mayor Singh for being his “mentor and role model.”

She also e-mailed the District Governor that “At approximately 7:20 p.m., while the forum was still underway, I received a Facebook Messenger message from Bob Roberts questioning the neutrality of moderator Ricardo Jimenez. (Jimenez is also a Manteca Rotarian).

“The message included image or video material depicting Mr. Jimenez with Mayor Gary Singh.

“Because I was participating in the forum, I did not see this message until after I returned home.

“That timing is important. This communication played no role in my original objection concerning the no-prewritten-notes restriction. I had already raised that procedural issue directly with Nihar and Mr. Jimenez before the forum began.”

The no-prewritten notes restrictions for all candidates apparently is at the heart of what prompted Larson to send the email questioning the legitimacy of Nihar’s status as an Interact member even though he doesn’t turn 18 until Dec. 19.

Interact membership is open to youth ages 12 to 18 who are generally middle school or high school students.

Larson crashed while riding

& e-scooter days before

Larson objected to a rule that no other participants disagreed with — no pre-written notes could be used.

She argued an exception should be made for her given she had crashed several days prior while riding an e-scooter without a helmet.

In the email she noted, “on September 25, two days before the forum, I was involved in an e-scooter accident and suffered injuries that included a concussion, facial injuries, a torn rotator cuff, and a head wound.”

“I provide this information solely to explain my physical condition at the time of the forum and why I had prepared written material to assist me. I was dealing with a concussion, significant pain, and injuries that had required medical treatment only the day before.

“Despite those circumstances, I appeared and participated because young people had worked hard to organize the forum and I did not want my injuries to interfere with their event.

“Because of my concussion and physical condition, I had prepared written material to help me communicate clearly, remain focused, and participate effectively.

“When I attempted to use my prepared material during my introduction, the no-prewritten-notes restriction was publicly applied to me.

“I nevertheless completed the forum despite my concussion, injuries, pain, and difficulty concentrating because I did not want this procedural disagreement to interfere with an event young people had worked hard to organize.”

Larson, in her email, stated the 20-page Candidate Information Packet contains no rule prohibiting candidates from bringing or using prewritten notes.

The email continues, “At 2:11 p.m. on September 27, only hours before the forum, Nihar Jain emailed candidates: ‘If you did not already know, no prewritten notes will be allowed today!’

“The email further stated that candidates would receive pens and paper to take notes during the forum but could not bring their own prewritten notes. Moderator Ricardo Jimenez was included as a recipient of that email.

“By the time that email was sent, my injuries had already required medical treatment the previous day, including fentanyl for pain and two staples to my head.

“The wording of the email raised a question for me. The phrase ‘If you did not already know’ appeared to present the restriction as something candidates may previously have been expected to know.

“I am not asserting that this restriction was adopted because of my medical condition, nor am I asserting that any individual acted with an improper motive.

“I am asking District 5220 to determine when the restriction was created, who created or authorized it, whether it existed before my accident, and why it did not appear in the written Candidate Information Packet.

“If this was an established rule before September 27, I respectfully request identification of the documentation showing when it was adopted and how it was communicated to candidates,”

Questions Larson wants

Answered about moderator

Her specific questions about moderator Ricardo Jimenez as they appeared in the email are as follows:

“The Candidate Information Packet describes the moderator as an “independent facilitator responsible for maintaining fairness throughout the evening.” It assigns the moderator responsibility for explaining forum rules, enforcing speaking order, maintaining civility, addressing procedural issues, and ensuring equal participation.

“My objection presented a procedural question: Was the restriction being enforced an established forum rule, and if it did not appear in the written Candidate Information Packet, who had authorized it?

“I do not contend that membership in Rotary, acquaintance with a candidate, or another organizational or professional relationship, standing alone, prevents an individual from serving impartially.

“I do ask District 5220 to examine how Mr. Jimenez was selected as the “independent” moderator, what independence meant for purposes of this forum, and what procedures existed for addressing potential conflicts or relevant relationships.

Mr. Jimenez was also included on Nihar's 2:11 p.m. email. Once I informed Mr. Jimenez that the restriction did not appear in the written Candidate Information Packet, I believe it was reasonable to seek clarification concerning its source and authority.

“I therefore ask District 5220 to determine: What did Mr. Jimenez do when he went inside? Whom did he consult? What information was provided to him? Did he review the Candidate Information Packet? And who ultimately made the decision that the restriction would be enforced?

Questions Larson wants answered

About Nihar’s status and authority

Regarding Nihar, Larson states in her email, “The Candidate Information Packet identifies Benevolence Wa and Melanie Chavez as President and Vice President of the Interact Club of Manteca. Nihar Jain signed the Candidate Information Packet as “President Emeritus.”

“My understanding is that Nihar graduated from high school in June 2026 and subsequently began attending the University of the Pacific.

“I do not contend that graduation, standing alone, necessarily terminated Nihar's Interact membership or authority.

“Instead, I respectfully request that District 5220 identify the Interact constitution, local bylaws, and other governing provisions applicable to the Interact Club of Manteca on September 27, 2026, and determine:

• Nihar's membership status on September 27, 2026;
• Whether “President Emeritus” was an office or designation recognized by the club's governing documents;
• Who approved or authorized that designation;
• What responsibilities or authority accompanied it;
• Whether that authority included organizing or administering the candidate forum; and
• Whether that authority included establishing, modifying, communicating, or directing enforcement of candidate forum procedures.

“These questions are relevant because the Candidate Information Packet identifies other individuals as the current President and Vice President while identifying Nihar as President Emeritus.

“My purpose in raising his graduation and organizational status is not to assert that he lacked authority. I am asking District 5220 to determine what authority he possessed and the source of that authority.”

Larson asked that the district take steps to preserve eight specific items as part of its investigation.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com