Morrell, Melendez ask Mann to resign Republican post

State Senator Mike Morrell and State Assemblywoman Melissa Melendez told Menifee 24/7 today they have asked Menifee Mayor Scott Mann to resign as chairman of the Riverside County Republican Party.

Morrell (R-Rancho Cucamonga) and Melendez (R-Lake Elsinore) said they made the request of Mann following an announcement by the Fair Political Practices Commission that Mann used more than $44,000 of his campaign funds for personal use. Mann has agreed to pay a $60,000 penalty through a negotiated settlement that is scheduled to be finalized Dec. 15.

Morrell said he spoke personally with Mann and that Mann had not yet made a decision on whether to resign that position. Mann remains in office as mayor of Menifee heading into the Nov. 8 election, in which he is opposed by Neil Winter.

"I talked to Scott and told him I thought he should resign as chair of the Republican Party," Morrell said. "I told him he should consider both aspects, including his position as mayor. I don't want anything to be done to divide the people.

"The last we spoke, his position on mayor was that he prefers to let the voters decide. Regarding a resignation from the Republican Party position, he said he would give it consideration. I expect to speak to him again soon."

Melendez said she also asked Mann to resign his county position but that "he didn't indicate he would do so." She issued the following statement to Menifee 24/7:

"Mayor Mann's actions have violated the public's trust. I believe it is entirely appropriate that he do the right thing and resign from the leadership position he currently holds within the Republican Party.

"While I don't believe he should be allowed to continue to hold the privilege of being the mayor of the beautiful city of Menifee, I do believe that should be left to the residents of the city to decide through the election process."

State Senator Jeff Stone previously called on Mann to resign his position as mayor.

Morrell said he expressed his disappointment in Mann's actions, which include using campaign funds illegally for personal reasons, including vacation, travel, dining expenses, personal tax relief expenses, personal vehicle repair and registration, and personal expenses related to a family wedding in Malibu, according to an FPPC news release.

"In this age of public cynicism, we as politicans have to work extremely hard at being honest and full of integrity," Morrell said. "I'm very disappointed."

Two of Mann's fellow council members, Matt Liesemeyer and Lesa Sobek, voted at Wednesday night's City Council meeting to censure Mann and asked him to resign as mayor. Mann refused to resign and the motion to censure him failed 3-2 when Greg August and John Denver voted no. So did Mann, who for some reason was allowed to vote on the issue.

Asked about the issue after the meeting, city attorney Jeffrey Melching did not give a clear explanation of why Mann wasn't required to recuse himself from the vote because of the conflict of interest. August also had trouble explaining why he first reprimanded Mann for his actions, then turned around and voted against the censure.

In a poll of Menifee 24/7 readers that is ongoing, with 409 responding as of 2:30 p.m. Friday, 68 percent said they believed Mann should be prosecuted by the District Attorney's office. Asked who they would vote for in the mayoral election, 76 percent said Winter and only 5 percent said Mann, with 19 percent undecided. The link to vote in the poll can be found on the Menifee 24/7 Facebook page.