Winter Joins Race for District 3 City Council Seat

Neil Winter, a 10-year resident of Menifee, has joined the race for the District 3 city council seat up for election in November.

Winter, 61 and a retired senior manager in software development and sales, pulled papers last week and submitted his application and required signatures from supporters Wednesday. He has not previously held or run for political office but is excited about the opportunity to address issues of concern to residents.

"I'll be sitting down with residents in block parties in the coming weeks," Winter said. "The term will be for a year and I don't think there's a need to re-invent the wheel. I do have some concerns about the city and after talking to a good friend following Wally Edgerton's death, I felt it was the right thing for me to do."

Edgerton died May 26 after serving on the Menifee City Council since the city's incorporation in 2008. His replacement will serve the southeast portion of the city until the term expires in November 2016. Planning commissioner Lesa Sobek, former council member Darcy Kuenzi and local businessman Stu Blaze have also pulled papers to run for that council seat.

Winter listed public safety, the need for light industry and traffic as some of his top priorities. He and some of his family members have been victims of assault, and Winter said he realizes the need to explore all options in making Menifee a safer community.

"I've heard the stories of people not feeling safe," he said. "Menifee is not the senior community it was before. We need a good policy in place to protect people in places of entertainment and elsewhere."

Winter said that although he understands that much of the city's traffic problems cannot be avoided during the current build-out, he believes there are options to improve congestion such as that created by vehicles stuck in a busy intersection like Newport Road and Antelope Road.

"The tailgating is severe," he said. "I'd like to see them change the timing of the lights -- make them longer and extend the yellow light to help keep the intersection clear."

The District 3 city council election will take place Nov. 3. Potential candidates have until Aug. 7 to pull papers and be certified for the election.