Estrada cuts into Sobek's lead; 'Yes' still leads Measure R

By Doug Spoon, Editor

The race for Mayor of Menifee remained undecided Friday night as Ricky Estrada continued to cut into Lesa Sobek’s lead.

Estrada, currently the City Council District 2 representative, moved 95 votes closer to Sobek in the ongoing count of mail-in ballots that were postmarked by Nov. 5. According to the latest update posted by the Registrar of Voters, Sobek now has 16,822 votes, or 44.65 percent of the votes cast. Estrada has received 16,412 (43.56 percent) and now trails Sobek by 410 votes.

The vote count is expected to be completed by Nov. 12. However, the Registrar’s Office has until Dec. 5 to certify the results, if needed. That’s the deadline for resolving issues such as voter signatures that don’t match the voter profile.

Dameon Greene, the other candidate in the mayoral race, has received 11.79 percent of the votes. The next update will be released Saturday at 6 p.m.

Bob Karwin in District 1 and Dan Temple in District 3 have already been projected as winners for their council seats. Measure R – a school bond sponsored by Menifee Union School District – continues to be headed for victory, with “yes” votes totaling 55.67 percent of the votes. A percentage of 55 is required for passage.

Measure I – a school bond sponsored by the Romoland School District – is headed for victory, with “yes” votes receiving 58.24 percent of the votes.

Here are the latest numbers:

Menifee mayor:
Lesa Sobek 16,822 votes (44.65%)
Ricky Estrada 16,412 votes (43.56%)
Dameon Greene 4,442 votes (11.79%)
58 of 58 precincts reporting

City Council District 1:
Bob Karwin 5,626 votes (58.01%)
Mark Harkay 4,073 votes (41.99%)
8 of 8 precincts reporting

City Council District 3:
Dan Temple 5,178 votes (67.19%)
Felix Montano 1,341 votes (17.40%)
Gene Recor 1,182 votes (15.34%)
Jay Sno-Fly (write-in) 6 votes
21 of 21 precincts reporting

Measure R - Bond Measure for Menifee Union School District
Yes 21,483 votes (55.67%)
No 17,106 votes (44.33%)
65 of 65 precincts reporting

Measure I - Bond Measure for Romoland School District
Yes 6,325 votes (58.24%)
No 4,535 votes (41.76%)
37 of 37 precincts reporting

Director, Valley-Wide Recreation and Park Dist. Area 4
Christopher Carnes 10,105 (52.13%)
Angela Domenigoni Little 9,278 votes (47.87%)
38 of 38 precincts reporting

U.S. Representative 41st District
Ken Calvert 133,976 (51.42%)
Will Rollins 126,596 (48.58%)
513 of 513 precincts reporting