Large crowd supports Zimmerman at campaign kickoff

Bill Zimmerman addresses the crowd at his campaign kickoff for Menifee Mayor. Zimmerman has been mayor since July 2018. Menifee 24/7 photos by Doug Spoon

A large crowd of Menifee residents, fellow City Council members and regional political figures packed Pitstop Pub on Newport Road today to support the kickoff of Bill Zimmerman's campaign for Mayor of Menifee.

Zimmerman has served as Mayor since July 2018, when City Council members chose to appoint him to replace the late Neil Winter rather than hold a special election. He previously served on a number of boards and committees, including the Menifee Planning Commission; Parks, Recreation & Trails Commission; Mt. San Jacinto College Board of Trustees; Arts Council Menifee, Menifee Valley Boys & Girls Club; and Menifee Valley Historical Association.

Zimmerman was portrayed as having a tough act to follow in replacing Winter, who died suddenly in May 2018. Winter, dubbed the People's Mayor after defeating Scott Mann in 2016, seemed to be everywhere around town during his tenure, interacting with residents, posting regularly on social media and convincing residents they truly had a voice in civic matters.

Pledging to continue Winter's legacy during the remainder of the term, the recently retired Zimmerman devoted most of his waking hours to public appearances in addition to displaying his experience in running public meetings. The comments of those in support of him at today's event showed the belief many have that he can continue that success in his first bid for a four-year elected term.

"Having the ability to work with Bill closely is a real pleasure," City Council member Dean Deines told the crowd. "You see him out in the public a lot and you see him on Facebook, but you really can’t appreciate him until you talk to him and see how he understands the issues the city faces. He has ideas on how to make the city better. No one does it better."

Elected officials appearing in support of Zimmerman included Deines, Lesa Sobek and Matt Liesemeyer of the Menifee City Council; Murrieta Mayor Gene Wunderlich and council members Christi White and Kelly Seyarto; Canyon Lake City Council member Jeremy Smith; and Riverside County Supervisor Jeff Hewitt, in addition to retired County Supervisor Marion Ashley, a Menifee resident.

"Bill has done everything and he's done it well," Ashley said about Zimmerman, who has lived in Menifee since 1989. "When the major’s position came open, it was a natural to pick him. We’re very fortunate the council had the wisdom to pick him, and now we have to show we have the wisdom to keep him."

Unlike the other four City Council seats, which are filled to represent specific districts, the mayoral position in Menifee is a separately elected position. Zimmerman has one declared opponent in the mayoral race -- Ricky Estrada, a 30-year-old, seven-year resident of Menifee. Estrada has never held office but has been actively campaigning through his Facebook page.

It was all about Zimmerman on this night, however.

"This is the kickoff to a campaign that will take almost a year," Zimmerman told the enthusiastic crowd. "It’s an honor to be serving all of you. And it’s just so heartwarming for me to look out and see all these people that are here. I’m very thankful to you for being a part of all this.

"There’s many public servants here, and there's so many people who are involved in service organizations … these are all of the leaders in this community. We are woven together like fabric. That’s what makes this place wonderful. There’s no way my colleagues and I on the city council could be successful unless we have all of these fine folks here working together to make it the best city it can be.

"We are going to be having a great year. There’s so many great things ahead of us with road widenings, new bridges, a theater coming in ... everybody wants those entertainment complexes and everybody on the City Council and economic development department have been putting the pedal to the medal to get these things done."

Prospective candidates can't officially file to run for office until this summer, but Zimmerman and Estrada filed statements of intent to run last fall to begin fundraising and campaign efforts. The election will be held in November.

From left: City Council member Matt Liesemeyer; County Supervisor Jeff Hewitt; Mayor Bill Zimmerman; former County Supervisor Marion Ashley; City Council members Lesa Sobek and Dean Deines.

Supporters cheer on Bill Zimmerman during his mayoral campaign kickoff today.