Manteca Mayor Gary Singh and local chiropractor Matthew Alexander are each facing two misdemeanor election charges tied to a promotional video in which Alexander offered a discount to anyone who said they voted for Singh. The San Joaquin County District Attorney's Office announced the charges after investigating the exchange, which stemmed from a routine social media clip highlighting a Manteca business. Both men have been issued notices to appear in San Joaquin County Superior Court on October 16, just weeks before Singh faces re-election.
What Happened in the Video
During a recorded segment at Alexander Chiropractic, Dr. Alexander told viewers he would offer “$50 off their first visit” to anyone who voted for Singh, and the mayor replied, “It does pay off to vote for your mayor,” according to the Manteca Bulletin. The clip was part of Singh's ongoing weekly social media series spotlighting local businesses, the mayor has said. He posted the video and later took it down, and according to CBS Sacramento, the district attorney's announcement did not provide additional details about the evidence supporting the charges.
The alleged offenses are said to have occurred between August 12 and August 31, and the resulting charges include offering payment or consideration to vote for a particular person, as well as offering payment or consideration to vote or register to vote. Singh did not respond to CBS Sacramento's request for comment. He has previously said he respected residents' right to vote for the candidate of their choice, and that he did not create, fund, request, or coordinate the discount himself. He also said he recognized, in hindsight, that he should have been more mindful of how the exchange could be interpreted, and that the video's intent was simply to promote a local business.
Who Filed the Complaint
The formal complaint that triggered the investigation was filed on Monday by the campaign of mayoral challenger Jacob Naven, whose campaign spokesperson is Tim Rosales, per the Manteca Bulletin. Naven is Singh's sole opponent in the November 3 mayoral election, and the timing of the complaint — filed just as both candidates head into the final stretch of campaigning — has made the case as much a political flashpoint as a legal one.
Alexander, for his part, said his on-camera discount offer was unscripted, the Manteca Bulletin reported. He noted the $50 introductory rate was already available to any first-time patient, discount for votes or not. Under California Elections Code Section 18001, misdemeanor election campaign violations can carry fines of up to $1,000 per count, county jail time, or both, according to the California Globe. Election-code investigations may be turned over to the Attorney General or a local district attorney for possible prosecution, per the California Secretary of State.
A Tense Race for Manteca's Top Office
Singh made history in 2022 when he became Manteca's 10th directly elected mayor at age 40, becoming the city's youngest mayor, first immigrant mayor, and first Punjabi-American mayor after previously serving six years on the Manteca City Council. The Singh-Naven race has drawn such intense scrutiny this cycle.
Singh has also been the chief political champion of Measure Q, the 20-year, 0.75% sales tax that Manteca voters approved by just 490 votes in November 2024 to fund police, fire, and street infrastructure. Opponents have targeted him over the tax increase throughout the campaign. The atmosphere around the race turned uglier when at least two Singh campaign signs were burned in recent days, according to Stocktonia News, raising local concern about potentially racially motivated political vandalism given Singh's status as Manteca's first Punjabi-American mayor.
Despite the legal cloud, the campaign has continued in public view. Singh and Naven met for their first live mayoral debate on September 4 at the M.R.P.S. Social Hall, covering public safety, infrastructure, and fiscal growth, according to a post on the Mayor Gary Singh Of Manteca Facebook page. Both men are now set to appear in San Joaquin County Superior Court on October 16, just over two weeks before Manteca voters decide the mayoral race on November 3.
