Menifee Mayor Remains Silent Regarding Alleged Violations

Four days after allegations that he was involved in a smear campaign against his opponent in 2012, Menifee Mayor Scott Mann still has not issued an official response.

Mann's only communication with local media has been through emails, in which he told Menifee 24/7 he has not admitted to any wrongdoing.

During the Menifee City Council meeting Sept. 17, resident Anne Pica accused Mann of paying for the printing of fliers with crude negative statements and delivering them to her home for distribution as part of a smear campaign against his mayoral opponent, Darcy Kuenzi, and District 1 council candidate Sue Kristjansson prior to the 2012 city elections.

Fliers were distributed anonymously to many residents and Mann went on to defeat Kuenzi in the mayoral race. Kristjansson lost to Greg August in the District 1 race.

Mann was not present at the Sept. 17 meeting because he was out of town on business. Over the next four days, he has responded to only one phone call from Menifee 24/7, saying he was between conferences and would have a statement later.

Friday night, in an email to Menifee 24/7, Mann said he was in Salt Lake City for a family function and would be back in Menifee on Wednesday. "If I have a response, I will most assuredly contact you directly," he said in the email.

In response to further questioning about the allegations, Mann said in a subsequent email "I have not admitted to anything." Asked if that statement was a denial of the allegations, Mann failed to respond.

There have been several developments in what is fast becoming a campaign season of controversy:

-- Paul Wiggins -- Mann's opponent for mayor and the only city council candidate not to respond previously to interview requests by Menifee 24/7 -- emailed this news website a written campaign platform statement on Sept. 6 -- nine days after an Aug. 28 Menifee 24/7 commentary suggesting Wiggins was being manipulated by supporters who were spreading false rumors about an affiliation between this website, the City of Menifee and the Menifee Valley Chamber of Commerce.

Asked by a Menifee 24/7 reporter to elaborate on his platform statements, Wiggins initially hesitated, saying everything readers needed to know was included in the written statement. Later, after briefly answering some questions about city issues, he claimed he was misquoted.

-- On Sept. 14, Mann announced that he was the target of "scurrilous, repulsive and false" fliers being distributed around town in a smear campaign against him. While not accusing Wiggins of the actions, Mann cited the Code of Fair Campaign Practices in demanding Wiggins publicly denounce the attacks.

Wiggins responded that day by saying in a phone interview that "I know nothing about that flier, and if I do hear about it, I will demand that it be stopped." He also told a reporter, "Scott Mann should be the one calling me about this. I don't have to talk to you. If I have something to say, you'll hear from me."

As of today, he has not made the public announcement Mann sought.

-- Neither Mann nor Wiggins attended a Sept. 17 morning candidates forum sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce. It was announced that Mann was out of town on business. One of his supporters was allowed to read a statement on his behalf. No statement was read on behalf of Wiggins. According to a Chamber of Commerce official, Wiggins never responded to the invitation to appear at the forum.

-- During the public comments portion of the City Council meeting that night, Pica announced her accusations against Mann, who was still reported to be out of town. Saying "What a hypocrite you are, Mr. Mayor," Pica said that in 2012, Mann paid for and delivered fliers critical of Kuenzi to Pica's home for distribution.

"It was OK for you to deliver negative fliers on your opponent in 2012, but when the table is turned, you can’t take it and you cry foul," Pica said, referring to Mann's demand three days earlier that Wiggins denounce the attacks against him.

Ironically, Pica was a supporter of Mann in the 2012 election and was outspoken on several occasions against Kuenzi before apparently turning on Mann during this election year. Pica has not answered the phone during attempts by Menifee 24/7 to interview her.

-- Although telling Menifee 24/7 in a brief phone conversation Sept. 19 that he would "have something for you" later that day, Mann still has not answered Pica's allegations.

Meanwhile, Menifee 24/7 has been told by at least three people that there are discussions about presenting a write-in candidate for mayor to give residents another choice.

Stay tuned.