Elk Grove Mayoral candidate reportedly asked to drop out of race, run for other elected positions instead by Mayor Ly

Elk Grovemayoral candidate Michelle Kile. |  

In the ongoing political drama playing out in the Elk Grove mayoral race, one candidate in the contest says she was approached by Mayor Steve Ly to drop out of the race.

A verified source provided information that Michelle Kile was asked by Ly to drop out of the 2020 Elk Grove mayoral race. Before last week's entry of Elk Grove Unified School District Trustee Bobbie Singh-Allen, Kile was the only female candidate in the field that in recent days has expanded and could see as many as five people challenging Ly.

Instead of campaigning for mayor, Ly suggested she might run for other local offices. Among those was the Area 6 seat on the Elk Grove Unified School District Board of Trustees, a position that is occupied by Nancy Chaires-Espinoza, who is running for reelection this November.

Kile did not return a voicemail message as of posting seeking comment on the matter. With her entry into the race last September, Kile was the first candidate to announce her challenge to Ly.

The Elk Grove Mayoral race took a new turn when Singh-Allen entered following a tumultuous weeks-long period for Ly, who has endured accusations that his associates had threatened and harassed several women in the community. Those charges originated by Ly's 2016 mayoral campaign manager Linda Vu and have been followed-up with similar claims by Singh-Allen, Chairez-Espinoza, and Cosumnes Community Services District Director Jaclyn Moreno.

Throughout the imbroglio, Ly has denied wrongdoing and his involvement in any of the alleged threats and acts of harassment. The Elk Grove City Council will take up that matter during their August 12 meeting and could formally censure Ly or investigate further.  

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