Senator Stone calls on Menifee Mayor Mann to resign

State Senator Jeff Stone called upon Scott Mann to resign as mayor of Menifee in light of a $60,000 penalty announced Friday because of Mann's personal use of campaign funds.

On his Facebook page, Stone (left) was very direct in his opinions about Mann, who also serves as chairman of the Riverside County Republican Party.

Stone wrote that he encourages Mann to "do the right thing for our party and for the City of Menifee. Resign from both entities immediately. It's this kind of activity that gives public service a blemish and makes people distrust government even more!"

Stone was a Riverside County Supervisor when he appointed Mann to a committee to help facilitate the incorporation of Menifee in 2008. He cited his previous relationship with Mann as even more reason he is shocked to learn of an announcement today by the Fair Political Practices Commission that Mann was fined $60,000 for using prior campaign funds for personal use, including a family vacation, car repair and attending a family wedding.

"There was a reason I did not endorse Mayor Scott Mann for Mayor of Menifee in this election," Stone wrote. "I helped get Menifee incorporated as a new city. I was alarmed that he had his city manager cut a check for over $15,000 (actually, $12,400) to Harvard University to pay for the mayor to attend a leadership class on the taxpayers without the Council or the public knowing.

"It was a City Council member that questioned the check, which turned out to be an inappropriate use of public funds. The check was quickly destroyed and the taxpayer-funded junkett was cancelled. Mayor Mann has agreed to pay the political watchdog governmental agency the Fair Political Pratices Commission $60,000, which is an admission of malfeasance. I had high hopes for this military veteran I considered a friend."