Daly City Candidate Faces Resignation Demands Over Years of Alleged Misconduct

Seven candidates vie for three seats in Daly City's upcoming November 3 election, but one name dominates the conversation. Pamela DiGiovanni faces intense scrutiny before she even steps into the voting booth. Community members have loudly demanded her resignation. They point to a long history of troubling behavior that stretches back more than ten years.

The latest blow came during a council meeting on September 28. Officials accused DiGiovanni, who turns 70 soon, of attacking a female colleague. The committee also alleged she used city vehicles for personal trips and never paid back borrowed money. Worse, they say she assaulted members of the public. These complaints piled up over years of service starting in 2018.

DiGiovanni denies every single charge. She told The San Francisco Chronicle that her critics target her because she is an outspoken Italian-American woman. "I am direct," she claims, adding that Californians might not understand or appreciate that style. She calls the current situation a witch hunt designed to embarrass her right before the election. In her view, political opponents have formed a conspiracy against her just because she vows to tell it how it is. That honesty has allegedly caused strife on the council.

The trouble first surfaced in 2022 involving Council Member Juslyn Manalo. Manalo said DiGiovanni slammed a heavy door into her back before a virtual meeting. The impact left a bruise on Manalo's body and forced a trip to the hospital. She obtained a restraining order against the fellow councilmember immediately after the incident.

An outside investigation followed Daly City's lead. It concluded in October 2025 with a formal censure of DiGiovanni. The committee ordered her to complete anger-management classes and take anti-harassment training courses. She refused to meet those requirements. Now, Mayor Glenn Sylvester is reviewing a 2024 report on the censure. He says the city is considering next steps for this troubled office.

"This person should not be a council member," Sylvester told reporters. "We are dysfunctional with her." DiGiovanni insists she will only do what an elected official is expected to do without admitting guilt. She has no plans to step down or attend the classes anyone demands. The risk here goes beyond one woman's career. It touches on how communities handle accusations of harassment and intimidation within their own local government.

A neighbor's frustration boiled over into a direct accusation: "The community wants something done, and I'm concerned she's a liability to the city." That was the tone set early at a tense council meeting where residents demanded answers about DiGiovanni's conduct. This latest incident involving Manalo is not the only time DiGiovanni has faced claims of violent behavior.

Luis Landos sat in the room, recounting a story from 2016 that still stings. He told the outlet that his friend DiGiovanni allegedly slapped him moments after he learned his mother had died. "I remember just looking at her," Landos said. "And then I said, 'I just lost my mom. I need to think about what I'm going to do and you just slapped me.'" He explained that in his grief-stricken state, he seemed to ignore her attempts to talk, which apparently triggered the physical reaction from DiGiovanni.

DiGiovanni, seated on the extreme left during the session where council members reviewed a 2024 report on censure, denied every allegation thrown at her. She told the San Francisco Times that she will not be stepping down. The facts behind the accusations are stark. The 2024 report found that DiGiovanni used city cars to attend golf tournaments and run personal errands. In 2018, she allegedly borrowed $500 from an employee for a tablet and refused to pay her back despite multiple requests.

The repayment saga was messy enough to make the most casual observer uncomfortable. The report stated she returned the money in parts: she allegedly threw $200 in wadded-up bills on the city clerk's counter, then weeks later tossed the remaining $300 through the employee's car window. She denied the whole ordeal, calling it "a story someone made up."

DiGiovanni has served on the council since 2018 and is now one of seven candidates competing for three seats in the upcoming elections on November 3. Despite the criticism piling up, she is looking forward to her re-election. She has so far raised nearly $20,000 from a mix of individual donors and unions. "I have a strong faith and belief that if I'm to serve in that seat, it will be the will of the people," she said. "I don't give up."

The Daily Mail has contacted DiGiovanni and Manalo for comment. But with limited information available to the public right now, many residents feel left guessing about what kind of leader they are getting. The risk to the community remains high if officials ignore these accusations. Why should citizens fund a campaign while their representatives allegedly use city resources for personal gain? And how can anyone trust an official who admits to no wrongdoing despite clear evidence in the report?