Manteca Mayor Gurminder “Gary” Singh said he plans to address misdemeanor election-related charges filed against him, breaking his public silence after San Joaquin County prosecutors announced the case Friday.
“I am prepared to address these charges through the appropriate legal process, and I look forward to the facts being fully heard,” Singh wrote in a Facebook post Saturday.
Singh said he would continue serving as mayor while the case proceeds and would not allow the charges to distract him from his responsibilities to Manteca residents.
“My focus remains where it has always been: serving our residents, supporting our community and local businesses, and continuing the work I was elected to do,” Singh wrote.
The San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office filed two misdemeanor charges each against Singh and Manteca chiropractor Matthew Alexander following an investigation into alleged election-related offenses between Aug. 12 and Aug. 31.
The case stems from an August social media video filmed during Singh’s visit to Alexander Chiropractic and Wellness.
At the end of the video, Alexander offered $50 off a first visit to people who said they voted for Singh in the Nov. 3 mayoral election. Singh responded, “It does pay off to vote for your mayor.”
Prosecutors charged both men with offering payment or consideration to vote or register to vote and offering payment or consideration to vote for a particular person or measure, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
Both men will appear in San Joaquin County Superior Court on Oct. 16 at 1:30 p.m.
Before prosecutors filed charges, Singh said Alexander made the offer independently and did not coordinate it with his campaign. Singh also previously acknowledged that he should have been more careful about his response to Alexander’s offer.
Alexander has said the offer was spontaneous and that he had not discussed it with Singh or anyone associated with him before filming the video. In a letter to the Manteca city clerk, Alexander said no one received the $50 discount and that he withdrew the offer after learning more about state election laws, according to the Manteca Bulletin.
Singh said Saturday that the case would not change how he approaches his reelection campaign.
“I have always run a positive campaign focused on the good things happening in Manteca and the people who make our community special,” Singh wrote. “That will not change.”
Singh is running for another term as Manteca mayor against Jacob Naven in the Nov. 3 election. Naven’s campaign previously filed a complaint with the District Attorney’s Office regarding the video.
Singh said he does not plan to discuss the allegations further while the criminal case is pending.
“Because this matter is now before the court, I will respect the judicial process and will not comment further on the specifics of the case at this time,” he wrote.