Pro-Silva Protesters Interrupt Mayoral Candidate's City Hall Speech
STOCKTON (CBS13) — Protesters interrupt a scheduled speech by Stockton council members in Monday.
City Councilman Michael Tubbs planned the news conference, the first public comments by Tubbs since Mayor Silva's arrest.
"We have a lot of work to do to move this community forward," said Tubbs.
"The vast majority of the council is still focused on doing peoples business," he continued.
Before long, Mayor Silva supporters drowned out Tubbs remarks by changing "Silva, Silva, Silva."
"It's a small group that doesn't speak to the vast majority of Stocktonians that voted for me in the primary," said Tubbs.
"It just irritates me because of the hypocrisy," said Kathleen Gapusan, one of the protestors.
The protesters brought up Tubbs' skeletons. He was arrested for DUI in 2014 and pleaded no contest.
"It's a clear political character assassination," said Steven Bojorques, Anthony Silva's campaign manager.
Bojorques says he was pleased with the interruption.
"I think you're going to see a huge difference in the campaigns I think you're going to see you a lot more people coming out and supporting Mayor Silva," said Bojorques.
In January, Bojorques was brought on to run Silva's campaign. Bojorques says Silva has done great things for the community and accused his November challenger of stealing credit.
"I see him taking a lot of credit for and Anthony's work. And that's not right," he said.
Bojorques says Silva will be vindicated soon. He says the recent allegations of misconduct around minors at the mayor's youth camp are coming to light at a questionable time.
"He's been doing this for 15 years. Now there's a problem. Three months before the election. That's suspicious."
The Stockton City Council meets Tuesday night. It will be the first time Silva and Tubbs are in the same room since the mayor's arrest.
