Gary Singh
Candidate for Mayor, Manteca · Manteca Businessman/Mayor
Gary Singh was born Gurminder Singh in a small village in northern India. His family had no running water and grew sugar cane and wheat. His grandfather wanted a better life for the family. They mortgaged the farm so Singh's father could travel to the United States. His father worked as a farm laborer in the Salinas lettuce fields, then in restaurants and doughnut shops. He later bought a liquor store, then a market, in Manteca. Singh moved to California as a young child and grew up in Lathrop and Manteca. He went to Sierra High School, the same school his sons later attended. He served six years on the Manteca City Council before he was elected mayor. He is Manteca's first immigrant mayor and its first Punjabi-American mayor.
Positions in brief
Singh points to new police officers and firefighters as wins from his term. He also points to a new police station and a big state grant for a homeless shelter. He wants to keep adding things like parks and a community center.
Singh says the city added eight new police jobs and a full new fire crew during his time in office. He led the push for a local sales tax that added money for city services. That money has paid for more street fixes and new fire engines, with more on the way. He helped bring in a big state grant for a homeless shelter in Manteca. He calls it the biggest such grant given to a Central Valley city its size. He wants to build a new pool complex, a community center, and a large park in north Manteca. He also wants a plaza for veterans, a bigger animal shelter, and more shops and restaurants.
On the issues
- Public Safety & Policing
Points to adding police officers and a new fire engine crew, and building a new police station, as achievements, and wants to keep adding public safety resources.
Source → - Taxes & Cost of Living
Was the driving force behind the Measure Q local sales tax, which he says has funded more city services and street repairs.
Source → - Infrastructure & Transportation
Points to major street repair projects and new rules requiring developers to help pay for infrastructure near their projects.
Source → - Housing & Homelessness
Helped secure a large state grant to build a homeless navigation center in Manteca.
Source → - Economy & Jobs
Helped create downtown's first business improvement district and wants to keep drawing new shops and restaurants to Manteca.
Source → - Government, Elections & Democracy
Would support term limits for mayor and city council if voters approved them at the ballot box.
“If that is what people decide, I'll support it.”
Source →
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