Manteca has had nine people serve as mayor since the city went to direct elections for mayor in 1980.

See if you can answer the following questions:

*Only one mayor was born in Manteca. Who was that?

*Three mayors graduated from Manteca High. Who were they?

*The closest election for mayor ever was decided by less than 50 votes. Who were the candidates and why did one believe they lost because voters may have been confused?

*What mayor was an immigrant?

*Who was the only woman elected mayor?

*Who was the first directly elected mayor? 

*Who was the first and only mayor to be recalled?

*Who was the longest serving mayor?

*Which mayor was raised in Lathrop?

*What mayor was a city manager?

*Name the four living mayors.

*What two mayors ran for the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors?

*What was the primary occupation of each mayor?

*Has there ever been a mayor elected who graduated from East Union High?

The answers:

*Bill Perry was the only mayor born in Manteca.

*Bill Perry, Carlon Perry, and Ben Cantu were Manteca High graduates.

*Bill Perry beat Carlon Perry in 1994 by less than 50 votes. Carlon Perry believed there was a good chance he lost because of confusion about their names.

*Gary Singh immigrated to the United States from India as a 5 year-old.

*Trena Kelley was the only woman elected mayor.

*Kelley was the first directly elected mayor.

*Kelley was the first and only mayor successfully recalled.

*Willie Weatherford was the longest serving mayor with three terms covering 12 years.

*Carlon Perry was born in French Camp and raised in Lathrop.

* Weatherford was city manager/police chief in Galt before serving as Manteca’s police chief.

*The four living mayors are Weatherford, Steve DeBrum, Cantu, and Singh.

*Both Snyder and DeBrum ran unsuccessfully for the Board of Supervisors.

*Kelley was a housewife, Snyder a manager at Libbey Owens Ford glass plant in Lathrop, Warren was a downtown businessman — first as a shore store owner and then as a partner in Manteca Bedquarters, Bill Perry was a real estate agent, Carlon Perry was a newspaper publisher, Weatherford was Manteca’s police chief, DeBrum was a field representative working with dairy owners, Cantu was a Manteca city planner, and Singh is a real estate agent.

*No one that graduated East Union High has been elected mayor. Singh is the first Sierra High graduate to serve as mayor.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com