It’s a four-way race for two seats on the Manteca City Council.

Incumbents Steve DeBrum and Debby Moorhead both filed nomination papers by the deadline as did challengers Ben Cantu and Sheila Raya. Pat Rabelo had taken out papers to collect signatures but opted not to return them.

Raya is the political newcomer in the Nov. 6 election.  She is a former director of the Manteca Pregnancy Help Center. Raya also has been involved with the Christian Worship Center for the past 13 years.

She’s married with two sons and two daughters. Raya is an East Union High graduate and works for the San Joaquin County Superior Court. She’s also does substitute yard duty for Manteca Unified schools.

Cantu finished a strong third in the race for two Manteca City Council seats in the 2008 election. He finished second behind Willie Weatherford and ahead of Moorhead in the 2010 mayor’s race.

Cantu worked almost 36 years for the city as a planner with the Community Development Department before retiring.

Cantu is a member of the Manteca Kiwanis – the same service club Weatherford is a member of along with Councilman John Harris.

Cantu is president of the Valley Community Action Programs (CAPS) board. He also has his own business providing planning services for clients.

DeBrum is a 10-year council veteran.  He serves as the Dairy Farmers of America’s Northern California manager which covers the Northern California and Northern Nevada area.

He is currently serving his third Council term sitting on the City’s Criminal Justice Task Force, the Manteca Unified School District 2x2 Common Goals Committee, as a member of the San Joaquin Council of Governments, the Valley Regional Policy Advisory Committee, the Second Harvest Food Bank Board and as a member of the League of Cities Transportation, Communication and Public Works Committee

The councilman is the past president of the Manteca Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, and is also a past president of the Manteca Chamber of Commerce and board member for the Manteca Boys and Girls Club.

Moorhead is nearing the end of her first four-year term on the council. She is the chief executive officer of the Manteca Chamber of Commerce.

She has served on the Doctors Hospital of Manteca board and served for five years as executive director of Leisure Manor.

The deadline to register to vote in the general election is Oct. 22.