The contracting firm that is constructing the new Save Mart supermarket and Tractor Supply Co. in Manteca — and is in a partnership with the Brocchini Family Trust — is being slammed by mayoral hopeful Jacob Naven for supporting efforts to re-elect incumbent Gary Singh.
The reason?
The Sonora-based firm — California Gold Development — built a 19,000 square-foot office building for the Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency in Reno. The work was completed in 2010.
A press release from Naven’s campaign referenced that information that is basically accusing a developer that built an ICE office building 16 years ago of hiding behind a political action committee to support Singh\. The ICE building was built during President Barack Obama’s administration.
The Nevada Immigration Coalition noted the ICE staff operating out of the Reno office that is under the umbrella of the Salt Lake City field office and handles check-ins also “focuses on identifying, arresting, detaining, and deporting individuals who are unlawfully present or subject to removal under federal immigration law.”
It is not a detention facility.
“Manteca voters deserve to know who is funding political mailers in our local elections and what interests may be seeking to influence the outcome,” according to statement released on behalf of Naven who is seeking to defeat Singh on Nov. 3. “Transparency and accountability are essential to maintaining public trust in our local government.”
Naven is seeking to draw a connection between Singh and ICE.
California Gold contributed $2,500 on Oct. 27 to the Grand Terrace-based Committee for Manteca’s Future Political Action Committee (PAC).
PAC committees are not controlled by candidates but can campaign for or against candidates or ballot issues.
That committee reported spending $10,276.65 in independent expenditures for mailers and postage supporting Singh’s candidacy.
The mailer that hit Manteca mailboxes was entitled “Why are corporate developers attacking Mayor Gary Singh?”
The mailer referenced news stories where another PAC — the California Homeowners Association — was spending money $15,000 on a digital advertising blitz to defeat Singh.
The biggest donor to the anti-Singh PAC over the years has been the Building Industry Association of Southern California. The overall donations from the BIA reached $330,000 as of June 30, 2026.
The BIA of Southern California board membership includes representatives of Pulte Group, Taylor Morrison, Trumark and Lennar Homes that are home builders in Manteca.
Lennar is building the Cedar Point neighborhood on Austin Road.
Pulte as well as Tayor Morrison has new homes in Oakwood Trails in Southwest Manteca.
Trumark is building new homes in The Collective on Louise Avenue east of Highway 99.
Singh has accepted no campaign donations this election cycle from developers.
California Gold Development is not a residential builder,
Although the firm has built several office buildings such as the ICE facility, they primarily construct shopping cenyte5rs, stand-alone retail, such as Chipotle Mexican Grill, Ross Dress 4 Less, Starbucks, Save Mart, Tractor Supply, Durch Bros, and Lowe’s as well as medical buildings.
It is California Gold Development that constructed the widening of South Main between the 120 Bypass and Atherton Drive that was not tied to their Marketplace Main project anchored by Save Mart.
The company will be reimbursed for those costs as the city collects growth fees from other developers. California Gold widened the complete width of South Main between Atherton and a point north of Main on their dime.
The firm agreed to do the additional work after negotiating with the council economic subcommittee of Singh and Mike Mortowit that was trying to avoid partial arterials being built as has happened in previous developments.
The Brocchini family has generation farming and business ties in Manteca including the former ACE Hardware in Downtown Manteca that was located for decades across the street from the Vernada Events Center. The family trust is partnering with California for the Marketplace@Main shopping center being anchored by Save Mart.
The release that tied spending on behalf of Singh to a developer that built an ICE building 16 years ago stated that the Naven for Mayor campaign is calling for greater transparency surrounding independent political expenditures and the outside financial interests participating in Manteca’s mayoral election.
Some, but not all, developers have been grumbling about efforts by Manteca — led by Mayor Singh — to step up how much money new residential projects invest in Manteca beyond growth fees for parks, fire, roads, and associated infrastructure.
This is the first election cycle in local Manteca campaign history that an independent PAC has financed a targeted campaign beyond making a contribution to a specific campaign or adding a candidate’s name to a flyer.
The first to break new ground with the $15,000 expenditure was on behalf of an effort to defeat Singh. The current one was to spend $10,200 to support Singh.
To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com
