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2010 Mayoral Race

The Mayor of Manteca Willie Weatherford has announced plans to run for a third term. He is a two ter Mayor uncontested in the 2006 election that has failed to lead Manteca through these diccicult economic times. His programs have not benefited citizens of manteca in fact the residents of Manteca pays the highest sales tax rate in San Joaquin County. Before the state imposed a 1% sales tax increase Manteca sales tax rate was 8.25% with surrounding cities sales tax rates hovering at 7.75%. Manteca has a budget deficit of $2 million or more but the Mayor refuses to revistit Public Safety Officers contract and pension -as recommended-to bring the budget in line with income.

With that backdrop and Perverted Ideology, the Mayor has laready declared his cadency for the 2010 election. The probles is ( Ideology). He believe that under his leadership Manteca  has prospered. That is absurd. However, what has occurred during his tenture is the giving of million dollars bax breaks to businesses to locate to Manteca, COSTCO, Bass Pro Shops, and Kohl's. At first thought that might seem to be the job of the Mayor to lure businesses and jobs to Manteca but at what cost? The direct opposite has occurred-sure jobs were created-by giving those businesses million dollar tax breaks created a $3 million dollare budget deficit because the city did not receive any direct revenue from those businesses-tax dollars. Thereby, resulting in a negative tax loss in lieu of a positive gain to the city. He lists those as accomplishments but I consider those bad decisions. Although, jobs were generated. Those positions did not result in higher paying jobs, the pay is comparable to minimum wage positions-paying a minuscule more.

I and others have criticized the Mayor questing the huge tax breaks given to businesses, the increased sales tax from 7.75% to 8.25% and the failure to reduce cost to bring the budget in line with income. Report after report from citizen ADHOC committees and the Manteca Budget Advisory Committee recommending 15% salary reduction to upper level managers have been totally ignored. The Mayor, City Manager and City Council members refuse to implement any recommendations that would have addressed the budget shortfall by reduicing pay and benefits for select positions.

Changing the Status Quo

The Mayor made his announcement to a very  supportive -Status Quo- audience at the Main Street Cafe. His base support comes from the Manteca Kiwanis Club where like minds formulate maintaing the Status Quo.

Therefore, it is apparent the Mayor will  continue to be the -Buffer-between Special Interest Groups (the city elites) that consist of upper level Managers (city employees), Public Safety Officers (represent 80% of city budget), that will impede citizens from making positive changes to the Political structure and city management. By staying in office the Mayor will impede Manteca from becoming a vibrant city that lives within it means by making Prudent -sound management decisions that's best for its citizens, including lower paid city employees. And by not decentralizing the shared reduction in loss work days and pay -lower lever employees will be disporportionally (financially) effected.

Citizens must attend City Council meetings or stay informed to have an impact on decisions maid by the Mayor and City Council members. I have attended several meetings and noticed that routinely only about 6 to 10 citizens attend-normally those same citizens. The Mayor is more patronizing to those in attendance because few citizens take interest or attend meetings. Consequently, citizens are misinformed an tends to vote for the incumbent without any knowledge of performance.

Citizens must be involved in the process and hold elected officials accountable-by voting them out of office.

Manteca needs a Mayor that wiil put the best interest of Manteans first; a Mayor that will not pander to Special interest groups: that will formulate budgets that will mirror its income, that will not increase our cost to live in Manteca; that will solicit Citizens input and implement sound reasoned recommendations favored by citizens; that will be responsive to citizens complaints; that will have a shared value philosophy (no protected class) and will create a cooperative enviornment at all City Council Meetings. And lastly, Manteca need a Mayor that will change the Perverted Ideology that prohibits creative discussions.