City Council to consider Mann censure again tonight

The Menifee City Council tonight will consider for a second time a censure of Mayor Scott Mann regarding his admitted misuse of campaign funds.

The Council voted 3-2 against such a motion at a special meeting on Oct. 19. Council members Matt Liesemeyer and Lesa Sobek voted in favor of the censure, while council members John Denver, Greg August and Mann voted against it. City attorney Jeffrey Melching told Menifee 24/7 Mann was allowed to vote because there was no conflict of interest, in that "the City Council’s vote to censure did not have a material financial effect on the mayor within the meaning of the Political Reform Act."

The Fair Political Practices Commission announced on Oct. 14 that Mann has agreed to pay a $60,000 fine as part of a settlement after admitting to personal use of campaign funds. Mann is accused of using a total of $44,894 from campaign funds in 2012 and 2014 for personal use, 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.

Mann previously admitted to the violations and issued a public apology through the media, but he has refused to resign as mayor or as chairman of the Riverside County Republican Party, despite requests from Senators Jeff Stone and Mike Morrell and Assemblywoman Melissa Melendez that he do so. He remains on the ballot for re-election Nov. 8, with Neil Winter his opponent.

The issue of a censure was put back on the council agenda when Sobek requested it last meeting, saying council members should have more time to consider it. It appears the outcome would be different this time only if Denver or August change their vote.

At the last meeting, both said they believed no action should be taken against Mann before the results of the election are known.

August said, "I made a comment to Menifee 24/7 that pretty much echoed what the others (Liesemeyer and Sobek) said. It's a reflection on all of us. He's known about this for 3 1/2 years and it's the first time we've heard about it. I'd like to know why Scott never told us.

"A month and a half ago, Scott asked for my endorsement and I gave it to him. If I had known about this, I never would've given it to him."

Yet moments later, August said he would not withdraw his endorsement of Mann and agreed with Denver that no action should be taken before the election, when "the people will decide."

That night and in the weeks since, a large number of Menifee residents have criticized Mann's decision to vote on his own censure and the council's 3-2 vote not to censure.

Menifee 24/7 will broadcast live on Facebook from tonight's meeting.