By New York Post (U.S.) | Created at 2026-09-02 13:06:41 | Updated at 2026-09-02 14:04:16
1 hour ago
A California mayor is scrambling to explain why a campaign video appeared to put a $50 discount on the ballot.
Manteca Mayor Gary Singh, a Democrat, posted a social-media video featuring local chiropractor Dr. Alexander offering $50 off to people who vote for Singh in November — a move that quickly triggered a request for a public-integrity inquiry with the San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office.
The video is now gone, but Jacob Naven, his Republican competitor, reposted it.
And Singh is left trying to explain how a supposed effort to promote local businesses turned into a potential election-law mess.
California law does not treat vote-buying as a harmless campaign gimmick.
Elections Code § 18522 makes it a misdemeanor or felony to promise, pay or offer something of value to induce someone to vote for a particular candidate or reward them for doing so.
Federal law, under 18 U.S.C. § 597, likewise prohibits offering an expenditure to induce someone to vote for a specific candidate for federal office when applicable.
The crucial issue now is who, legally, owns the offer.
Singh says he doesn’t.
“The business owner independently offered a discount. That offer was not created, funded, requested or coordinated by me or my campaign. Neither I nor my campaign would ever offer anything of value in exchange for someone’s vote,” Singh said in a statement posted to his social-media accounts.
But the mayor did acknowledge one major piece of responsibility: He posted the video to his campaign page.
Singh said the $50 pitch was made spontaneously by Dr. Alexander and was not something Singh or his campaign had requested, funded or coordinated, according to KCRA.
He described the video as part of his regular effort to promote local businesses and apologized.
“I am sorry for what happened, and I take responsibility, and I’m ready to move forward. And if there is something that needs to be done, I’m willing to accept that too,” Singh said.
He also said Dr. Alexander later clarified that the $50 discount is a standard deal offered to every new client.
Authorities, meanwhile, are keeping their cards close to the vest.
The San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office said it would not comment further on whether an investigation will take place.
The Secretary of State’s Office directed questions to the Fair Political Practices Commission, which declined to comment specifically on the matter according to KCRA.
The controversy lands on a mayor who has already faced scrutiny over his past.
In 2006, before entering politics, Singh was arrested during a federal DEA sting targeting his family’s business, Manteca Mart.
Singh, his father and an employee were arrested over the sale of pseudoephedrine, a cold medicine, in quantities exceeding the federal 3.6-gram legal limit.
The case arose during a period when federal rules involving logbooks and packaging weights were highly unclear.
It was eventually resolved in 2010 as misdemeanors through a plea deal.
Singh has openly discussed the incident, including in a TEDxManteca talk, calling it a major turning point that motivated him to enter community service.
Then, during his 2022 mayoral campaign, political opponents accused Singh of a conflict of interest involving City Council votes connected to the Austin Road/Highway 99 interchange project.
The project was near land partially owned by his father.
The California Fair Political Practices Commission reviewed the complaint and formally dismissed the allegations in October 2023, concluding that no conflict of interest had occurred.
