Editor, Manteca Bulletin,

Steve DeBrum has my vote for Mayor.   I have known both Steve DeBrum and Ben Cantu for many years, I am a life time resident of Manteca and Lathrop.    I served with Steve on the Board of Directors for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Manteca, worked with him on the Community Thanksgiving Dinner, Pumpkin Fair, Street Fair and many other projects.  I have also worked with him when I was the Police Chief and he was a City Councilman. He has always been supportive of Public Safety while being fiscally prudent. He researches the issues, listens to all sides and makes a reasoned decision.   

He is dedicated to the city; he makes his decisions with the best interests of the city as a whole in mind, rather than any special interests.  He was instrumental in bringing Great Wolf, 5.11 Tactical and the Lowe’s Distribution Center to Manteca.  Mayor DeBrum’s experience as a City Council person and Mayor are essential in keeping Manteca at the forefront.   The relationships he has built with other cities and agencies in the county, state and nation are a tremendous advantage when working on regional issues such as traffic, growth, flood mitigation and others.  

Many of the issues that come before the City Council are complex and very personal to those persons involved.  They have the potential to be divisive and it is not always possible to satisfy both sides of an issue.  Mayor DeBrum strives to build a consensus and move forward.  He then makes then best decision possible and moves forward, agreeing to disagree.  It is easy as member of the pubic and even as a staff member, to be critical of decisions made by the City Council without knowing all of the facts and/or having seen all of the information.  Mayor DeBrum has the experience, knowledge, expertise and energy to continue to lead the city into the future.   He is a good man, a man of integrity and has my unequivocal support and my vote for Mayor.

Charlie Halford

Retired Manteca Police Chief