Ever wonder what would happen if all five Manteca City Council members were on an airplane that went down and they all perished?

Manteca Councilman Jose Nuño asked just that Tuesday during the City Council meeting discussion over how many council members should be allowed to attend the San Joaquin One Voice lobbying trip May 5-9 to Washington, D.C., on the public’s dime at $3,500 a pop. Specifically, he wanted to know if there was a succession plan in place in case they were all onboard the same plane.

City Manager Tim Ogden, off the cuff, said they’d probably be a special election called “pretty quick.” Given the city needs a council to operate, there are likely provisions in the state constitution that may allow the governor to make appointments until such time and election is held.

Regardless, the odds of all five going down in a plane crash going to or from DC this spring is zilch given Mayor Ben Cantu all but said he has no intention of partaking in a trip that he views as both a waste of time and a waste of money.

Cantu said given the “limited funds for public safety and roads” and other needs that the One Voice trip “was a waste of money” given that Congressional representatives all have district offices.

That drew a sharp rebuke from Councilwoman Debby Moorhead who told the mayor “you shouldn’t have a negative opinion” until he found out what it was about.

She said face-to-face meetings with elected leaders were just a small part of the effort that is jammed with meetings from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Not only do those attending from San Joaquin County and its various cities meet with key staff of Senators and Congressmen representing the county but key staff members as well of various agencies that essentially will recommend  how money set aside for a number of federal endeavors such as transportation is spent.

The San Joaquin Council of Governments — the agency that organizes the annual lobbying trip — notes on its website that the trips over the years have led to $122 million coming to San Joaquin County. The biggest benefactors have been Stockton Metro Airport, ACE rail service, San Joaquin Regional Transit Bus, and Port of Stockton that all serve the region. Manteca’s free tutoring service Give Every Child a Chance was able to secure a $1 million grant a few years back due to lobbying during a One Voice trip.

Cantu then noted based on information provided by COG that Manteca typically has the most council members attend — between three and five — while Stockton and Lathrop typically have between one and two, Lodi and Tracy one each, and Ripon either two or three.

“I don’t see that much good from going to Washington,” Cantu said. “I may be wrong, but that’s my opinion.”

DeBrum back

in the saddle

— well, sort of

Former Mayor Steve DeBrum is back representing Manteca.

The City Council Tuesday appointed DeBrum to serve as the Manteca representative on the citizens’ advisory committee for the San Joaquin Council of Governments as well as the City of Manteca Economic Development Committee

In a rare move, two of the six applicants for the post — former Councilman Richard Silverman and businessman/home inspector Kirk Dall — told the council given that DeBrum was among those applying that they should go with him calling him “better qualified” given he has served for 10 years on the actual SJCOG board including a stint as chairman.

That meant they passed over current member Leonard Smith who has served on the citizens’ committee for the past four years including a stint as chairman. Smith is also on the Manteca Planning Commission.

They also passed on another candidate with solid credentials tied into COG and transportation — retired Caltrans administrative staff worker Anna Brough. She has served as an executive assistant at Caltrans headquarters and for Caltrans District 10 and regularly attended SJCOG meetings.

The sixth applicant was retired truck driver Roland Stone.

The city economic committee appointment was to fill a space left vacant by the resignation of Frank Orr who filled the chair reserved for a real estate/business representative.

There were two other applicants besides DeBrum — real estate broker Carol Perdew and federal compliance auditor Susan Davis. DeBrum was the only applicant to attend the meeting and make a pitch for the appointment. 

Mayor Ben Cantu preferred filling the position with another representative for the real estate field given that was specifically mentioned as one of the driving qualification with the other broadly representing the business community.

Councilman Jose Nuño said he put a lot of stock in applicants that actually showed up to make their case. In the end, the council unanimously went with DeBrum.

Ex-mayor offers

invocation, flag

salute for council

When the scheduled person to offer the invocation and flag salute — New Hope Pastor Tim Kemptner was unable to do so to open Tuesday’s City Council meeting, Mayor Ben Cantu called on volunteers to fill in.

Steve DeBrum — who Cantu defeated just two months ago for the mayor’s post — stepped forward.

It’s the first time a former council member, let alone one that had just lost an election, provided a council meeting invocation.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com