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Stockton Residents Speak Out Against City Council Admonishing Mayor Anthony Silva

STOCKTON (CBS13) — The Stockton City Council voted to admonish Mayor Anthony Silva for what council members say was a Brown Act violation in the search for a new city manager.

Silva revealed on Nov. 5 that David Garcia would be named the new city manager for Stockton. Within days of that news coming out, Garcia announced he would be staying in Coachella as its city manager.

Council members contended Silva's release of those details from a closed-door meeting was a violation of California's open-meeting law.

An overflow crowd disagreed with the council's assessment, as an endless stream rallied to support the embattled mayor.

Dozens stepped up to the microphone, ripping the City Council for what they called political games and bullying the city's embattled mayor.

After 100 minutes of public comment, not one person spoke against him.

Before Tuesday's meeting, a defiant Silva stood outside insisting he'd done nothing wrong.

"This is nothing new in politics in Stockton," he said. "It just shows the City Council wants to show they're in charge. That's all it does. It doesn't kick me out of office."

Silva claims that when he leaked Garcia's name, the vote had already been taken and the contract was already signed.

Silva and Vice Mayor Paul Canepa were the only votes against Tuesday's admonishment.

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