New petition to remove Measure DD called 'deceptive'

City of Menifee officials have expressed concern about what one administrator called false information in a new petition being circulated to remove tax Measure DD.

“They’re lying to people,” City Manager Armando Villa said about the latest effort by a group of residents to recall Measure DD, the 1 percent sales tax increase approved by voters in 2016. “I can’t speak against the efforts of Mr. Smelser because it’s an election issue, but I get really frustrated with the techniques they are using. The things they are saying are not true.”

A year ago, Menifee resident John Smelser and former mayor Scott Mann sponsored a petition to remove Measure DD, which is designed to provide additional funds for public safety. They argued that Measure DD was no longer necessary because an estimated $7 million per year in vehicle license fees were restored to Menifee by the governor in 2017.

Concerns were raised by residents and city officials at that time, with accusations that those circulating the petition were misleading the public in trying to get enough signatures to put a recall on the ballot. Last May, the petition was rejected by City Clerk Sarah Manwaring, who said the purpose of the recall was not properly explained in the petition – a violation of Election Code regulations.

Resident Gabe Perez says Smelser is using the same techniques this time around to mislead the public in another attempt to get a recall on the ballot.

“John Smelser is going door to door with another petition and he’s using deceptive tactics,” Perez said recently in a phone interview with Menifee 24/7. “He came to my door and asked me to sign a petition. All he said was, ‘Here’s a petition to lower taxes in Menifee.’ I saw or heard nothing about Measure DD.

“I engaged him right away. I said, ‘You’re Smelser. Is that about Measure DD?’ He seemed surprised and said, ‘Oh, so you’re familiar with me.’ I countered everything he said and he left.”

Perez said the new petition is sponsored by Smelser and Anne Pica, another resident often critical of city officials. Smelser did not respond to an interview request by Menifee 24/7.

Perez was one of those who told Menifee 24/7 a year ago that a person representing Smelser was deceptive in trying to gather signatures and didn’t even know what the petition was about. A Menifee 24/7 reporter had the same experience when checking out the allegations.

The reporter approached a woman collecting signatures in front of the Target store in Menifee Marketplace one day in December 2017. When asked the reason for the recall effort of Measure DD, the woman – who did not give her name – said it was because "the people never had a chance to vote on it." When told that was not true, the woman appeared to get very nervous and said she meant to refer to the recent gas tax increase.

Told the gas tax is a state tax and a different issue, the woman said she was "tired and kind of confused. I’ve been out here all day and I’m getting ready to leave." She admitted that she was actually in favor of continuing Measure DD to improve public safety but was collecting signatures against it because she was being paid by Smelser to do so.

Villa said Measure DD remains necessary to ensure proper police and fire protection in the city. He said $9.5 million will be generated by Measure DD this year, with 80 percent going to police and fire and the remainder going to road improvements.

“This is not just about police,” Villa said. “Fire protection rates aren’t increasing as fast as rates with the Sheriff’s Department, but they are going up. We own our own fire station now, and we need over $1.3 million for a new fire engine.

“When people are asked to sign a petition, there has to be a clear definition of what they’re signing. Last time, the petition was rejected because there was no heading over a bunch of signatures. I’m deeply concerned they are using the same technique this time.”

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