Estrada supports new ideas to reduce costs for taxpayers

Editor's note: This is the second in a series of interviews with candidates for mayor and City Council in the City of Menifee.

By Doug Spoon, Editor

Ricky Estrada admits that his ideas are unconventional. He acknowledges those on Facebook who question his candidacy for mayor of Menifee with no previous experience in public office.

But as one of three candidates for mayor in the November election, Estrada stands by his convictions. He responds quickly to critics on social media and estimates he has knocked on 3,200 doors, with positive response.

“I realized that throughout the country, there isn’t much attention paid to local politics,” said Estrada, 31. “I decided that going door to door was the best way to reach people, to get their undivided attention.”

Estrada is single and is an eight-year resident of Menifee. A former minor league baseball umpire, he currently works as a substitute teacher. Having received a degree in public policy from UC San Diego, Estrada says he developed a “passion for helping others”, including motivating the younger generation to make their voice heard.

“The youth don’t participate like they should,” he said. “I hope to be a role model for others. I want to show that you don’t have to have a bunch of experience to be an effective leader in the community.”

Estrada’s campaign platform is built on a commitment to generating non-taxpayer revenue for the city. He supports the November ballot measure to repeal Measure DD, the 1 percent sales tax that generates about $11 million a year to support public safety in Menifee. Without giving specifics, Estrada said he believes the city can make up for that lost revenue in other ways.

“I’ve looked at the city budget and capital improvement plan for the next five years,” Estrada said. “I believe we can make up a large percentage of what would be lost from Measure DD. We will have developer fees and property taxes coming in as more projects are built. And things could be cut.”

Perhaps the most controversial aspect of Estrada’s campaign is his idea for the city to seek corporate sponsorship of city streets and structures. Admitting that he can’t cite precedent for this plan elsewhere, Estrada said he believes it’s an idea that should be explored.

“It’s a platform I stand by,” he said. “I don’t guarantee it can happen; I would be only one of five votes on the city council. But I think we should at least hear bids. If we solicited naming rights for building the Bradley Road bridge, what would corporations be willing to bid?

“I’m also in favor of having our parks renamed. We could find the highest bidder for that.”

Asked whether he had researched whether such a thing was legal or even possible, Estrada admitted it was a “brand new idea” and that he does not believe in the theory that “if you want to get something done, you have to tax the people.”

“I have two examples,” Estrada replied when asked to justify his ideas. “They already have an Adopt a Highway program. We could explore adopting highways or trails. Another example is what sports teams do by selling naming rights to their stadiums.”

Of course, Menifee has no 50,000-seat stadium for which to sell naming rights. If this were even possible, how much revenue could be generated if an $11 million Measure DD funding source were taken away?

“This could be a life raft if Measure DD was cut,” he replied. “I want to at least have a conversation about this. I want to explore alternatives to bring in revenue other than just taxing. I don’t expect it to happen overnight.”

Estrada said his idea for corporate sponsorship “is something that has been thrown around by Libertarians. Larry Sharpe, who ran for governor of New York, had ideas like this.”

Sharpe failed in a bid to become governor of New York in 2018 and was the Libertarian party’s nominee for vice president in 2016.

Estrada also favors improvements of parks, hiking trails and other “affordable destinations in Menifee.” To address the need for more transportation for seniors in the community, he advocates the creation of a Menifee Trolley system, paid for by grants.

“The outskirts of the city are underserved,” Estrada said. “They feel like they’re ignored. In Quail Valley, they want more progress in a sewer system. There’s also the issue of homelessness. I want to bring a new conversation about these issues.”