Two candidates in Manteca’s upcoming Nov. 8 municipal election for the first time in recent memory have declined to sign the California Code of Fair Campaign Practices pledge.

Candidates not signing the voluntary form are the two newcomers — Lei Ann Larson who is seeking the mayor’s post and  Nancy Jean Watson who is running for the district 4 council seat.

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.”

“The purpose in creating the Code of Fair Campaign Practices is to give voters guidelines in determining fair play and to encourage candidates to discuss issues instead of untruths or distortions.”

The filing period ended Friday to set up the official ballot.

Larson is in a three-way race with incumbent Ben  Cantu and Councilman Gary Singh. Voting for mayor is citywide.

Watson along with former councilman Mike Morowit is seeking election to the newly created District 4.

The district represents Manteca north of Louise Avenue except for east of Highway 99.

This is the first election Manteca will be electing council members by district. Both the candidates and those that vote for them must reside within the same district.

Dave Breitenbucher is seeking a second four-year term in. He is running unopposed in the newly created District 3.

However just like with the mayor’s seat and District 1, a write-in candidate could still try and qualify to have votes cast for them counted.

District 3  essentially encases all of incorporated Manteca that existed prior to 1965. Including all of downtown It is bounded on the north by Louise Avenue, on the east by Highway 99, and on the south by the 120 Bypass.

The western boundary starts at the 120 Bypass and Union Road, jogs to the east on Wawona Street and then swings north on El Portal for a block before shifting slightly to the northwest onto El Capitan. It then heads east on Nevada Street for a block and then heads north on Walnut Avenue before turning east on Alameda and then heading north along the Tidewater to Louise Avenue.

What the voluntary fair

campaign pledge covers

The state’s voluntary campaign pledge covers the following seven points of conduct:

*I shall conduct my campaign openly and publicly, discussing the issues as I see them, presenting my record and policies with sincerity and frankness, and criticizing without fear or favor the record and policies of my opponents or political parties that merit this criticism.

*I shall not use or permit the use of character defamation, whispering campaigns, libel, slander, or scurrilous attacks on any candidate or his or her personal or family life.

*I shall not use or permit any appeal to negative prejudice based on a candidate’s actual or perceived race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, marital status, age, sexual orientation, sex, including gender identity, or any other characteristic set forth in Section 12940 of the Government Code, or association with another person who has any of the actual or perceived characteristics set forth in Section 12940 of the Government Code.

*I shall not use or permit any dishonest or unethical practice that tends to corrupt or undermine our American system of free elections, or that hampers or prevents the full and free expression of the will of the voters including acts intended to hinder or prevent any eligible person from registering to vote, enrolling to vote, or voting.

*I shall not coerce election help or campaign contributions for myself or for any other candidate from my employees.

*I shall immediately and publicly repudiate support deriving from any individual or group that resorts, on behalf of my candidacy or in opposition to that of my opponent, to the methods and tactics that I condemn. I shall accept responsibility to take firm action against any subordinate who violates any provision of this code or the laws governing elections.

*I shall defend and uphold the right of every qualified American voter to full and equal participation in the electoral process.  

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com