Kuenzi, Sobek Pull Papers to Run for Council Seat

Former Menifee City Council member Darcy Kuenzi and current Planning Commissioner Lesa Sobek have become the first to pull nomination papers to run for the vacant council seat.

Monday was the first day potential candidates could schedule an appointment with the city clerk to pull papers for the seat left vacant upon the May 26 death of Wallace Edgerton. That seat will remain vacant until a new council member is elected on Nov. 3 to serve the remaining one year of Edgerton's term.


Kuenzi (right) was a member of the original Menifee City Council in 2008 and served until 2012, when she lost an election for mayor to Scott Mann. She has remained active in local community affairs. Kuenzi has been a Menifee resident since 1992.

Sobek (below) was appointed to the Planning Commission by Mann in December 2012. She has been actively involved in many community issues in addition to her Commission duties. She has been an integral part of the "Menifee Better Together" service project and has served as chair of the Menifee Interfaith Council.

In a letter to council members and selected other individuals before his death, Edgerton named Sobek as one of three suggested replacements. Residents spoke on Sobek's behalf at a June 3 council meeting, but council members voted to select the new council member by special election, not appointment.

The new council member will represent District 3, the southeast part of the city. Only District 3 residents will vote in the election and only residents of that district may run for the position. Candidates have until Aug. 7 to be certified for the election, a process including the return of a petition with at least 20 signatures of registered voters.