Sobek, Estrada, Greene announce intent to run for Mayor

By Doug Spoon, Editor

Three Menifee residents – including two current City Council members – have officially announced their intent to run for Mayor of the city.

Monday marked the beginning of the application period, which runs through Aug. 9. Those who previously filed the Form 501 “intent to run” paperwork must next meet with acting city clerk Stephanie Roseen to officially pull application papers. They become an official candidate after collecting the required number of signatures (at least 20) and having their submitted papers certified by the Registar of Voters.

The municipal election will take place Nov. 5, when votes will be announced for Mayor, District 1 council representative and District 3 representative.

One of the applicants for Mayor is Lesa Sobek, who has served the last eight years as a City Council member. Although she is terming out as a district representative, Sobel is eligible to run for Mayor because it is a separate at-large position. Sobek has been a known candidate for Mayor since she officially announced her intention to run last September.

The surprise applicant for the mayor’s position is Ricky Estrada, who still has two years to run on his term as District 2 council representative. If Estrada wins the Mayor seat, he will then resign his District 2 position.

A newcomer to the political arena in Menifee is Dameon Greene, the third Mayor applicant. He has been an active participant at city functions in recent months and regularly attends City Council meetings.

A potential fourth applicant, Don Slater, filed his Form 501 but has since informed the city clerk he will not be making an appointment to pull nomination papers, Roseen said.

There are also four applicants who filed their intent to run for the City Council seat in District 3, the southeast portion of the City. That is the district seat that will be vacated by Sobek. They include Daniel Temple, Jay Sno-Fly, Gene Recor, and Felix Montano.

The lone applicant at this point in District 1 – the northwest portion of the city – is Bob Karwin, the incumbent. He previously served on the Planning Commission before winning the District 1 seat four years ago.