Lei Ann Larson has complained to city officials about how Councilman Gary Singh is using social media and the city logo.

Both Larson and Singh are challenging Ben Cantu who is seeking his second term as mayor on Nov. 8.

Larson’s complaints are based on:

*Singh converting a website he first launched in 2016 when he first ran for council to his website for his current mayor’s race.

*Singh converting the Facebook page he used to communicate with people regarding his council service into a Facebook page for his mayor’s race.

*Singh’s use of the city logo on his social media sites.

Singh indicated his website — singhformanteca.com — since 2016 has gone from being focused on campaigns then focusing on his council service and back to focusing on his 2020 re-election campaign, and back again to his council service and now focuses on his race for mayor.

In doing so he has met all of the requirements outlined by the California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC).

His conversion of his Facebook page to a campaign page follows what Gov. Gavin Newsom has done recently to his Twitter account that went from one with him as governor to one of his  running for re-election.

Singh — like Newsom — does not block anyone.

Followers also have the right to “unlike”.

It should be noticed that social media platforms will police pages — including those of political candidates for those who log in and engage in foul langue and such invent. Those actions are independent of whoever is running the website.

City Attorney Dave Nefouse indicated the judgment of whether social media sites such as Singh’s are operated properly according to fair political practices laws adopted by California are the call of the FPPC and not the city.

Larson contends it is unfair that Singh, who has thousands of followers, was able to convert his website and Facebook page into campaign sites.

Her rationale is simple. Others — including herself — had joined Singh’s page he runs to talk about his council actions and his take on city business  “just to keep up with what the city was doing” only to find out they are now “liking” Singh’s social media in his race for mayor.

Singh said Larson, like anyone else, is free to unfriend him.

Singh also stressed he does not block access to his social media.

Larson outlined her concerns earlier this month in an email to City Clerk Cassandra Candini-Tilton.

In the email Larson contends, “. . .  This is deceptive and intended to mislead voters and to give Gary Singh an unfair advantage with his campaign.  It also allows him to send blast messages out to all the followers of the page which were deceptively obtained for his own campaign purpose.  I discussed this issue with Mayor Cantu and how it is an injustice to both him and me equally, as well to the citizens of this city who deserve a free and fair election.  This is unacceptable conduct by a sitting member of the City Council.”

Larson also brought up Singh’s use of the city logo on his website.

Nefouse noted that is a lawful use of the logo when it is posted on web sites as part of flyers that involves city business an event. What the logo can’t be used for is part of someone’s official campaign running for council or mayor

Singh’s pointing out  the city’s conversion last year of the city seal/logo into one observing Pride Month, as an example, was an appropriate use.

Singh has since removed the Pride logo.

At one point Larson emailed Acting  Assistant City Clerk Marco Martinez to complain about the Pride version of the city seal being on Singh’s Facebook page.

Martinez replied referencing page 16 of the campaign handbook Larson received from the city clerk’s office.

Martinez noted the Manteca Municipal Code prohibits the use of the city seal or city logo in any campaign.

That said, Singh said the logo was posted prior to the social media page being converted into a campaign page.

It should be noted that Singh is not barred from wearing a polo shirt with the city logo on it given he is a sitting councilman even though he is running  for mayor. Whether it would be appropriate for Singh to wear the shirt at an official campaign event or going door-to-door may be another issue.

For the record, Singh wore a suite and tie to his fundraiser at the Veranda last month.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletim.com