That is why I was so surprised that, according to this PE article, the main issues are controlling growth; ensuring that developers fund and build their "fair share" of park, road and storm-drain improvements; and expanding the city bureaucracy that doesn't yet exist.  The area does struggle with the inevitable shift from agricultural use to residential, but government planning will make that transition longer and more inefficient than the invisible hand would.

A check of the 19 candidates who have filed produces only two candidates I am familiar with.  John Denver, longtime GOP Central Committee member and a former school board member; and Darcy Kuenzi, a legislative assistant for Republican Supervisor Marion Ashley.

I'd have to think that they would both be able to capture one of the five possible seats, but I'd be interested to hear from the other conservative candidates in the field of 19.  The start of a new city is a critical time for conservatives who care about limited government. 

Will the city hire union employees?  Will they have their own unionized police and fire?  Will they have their own unionized trash service?  Or will they make some effort to contract out for services and protect taxpayers far into the future.

19 residents joining Menifee cityhood on ballot; they seek seats on first council
Tuesday, March 11, 2008

By JULISSA McKINNON
The Press-Enterprise

Nineteen people are running for five spots on a new Menifee city council that would come into being if voters approve cityhood for the region in June.

The candidates' names will be on the June 3 ballot along with the cityhood question. The aspiring council members range in age from 32 to 67 and come from various walks of life, from ranching to government work.

They share several concerns regarding the Menifee area. All support cityhood, which would bring Menifee, Quail Valley, Sun City and parts of Romoland -- an area with a population of about 60,000 -- under the control of the council.

In statements filed with the county's registrar of voters, most candidates acknowledge the need to better monitor development in the quest for "well-planned" and "balanced growth."

Many candidates said it is important to make sure that developers fund and build their fair share of park, road and storm-drain improvements. Some stated the new council should focus on establishing the area's own local police and fire departments to improve what some allege are substandard response times.

Several candidates also vowed to advocate for Sun City's predominantly senior population and to preserve the strictly senior status of Sun City's "core."

Six of the 19 candidates are from Sun City. They are:

Darci Castillejos, 47, a restaurant owner; John Denver, 61, a businessman and mortgage broker; Louis Mazei, 62, a Riverside County planning technician; Chuck Reutter (he has not yet filed age and occupation information with the registrar of voters); Carol Sullivan, 64, a businesswoman; and Gerald Walker, 45, a county maintenance plumber.

The remaining 13 candidates are from Menifee. They are:

Tony Amatulli, 49, a businessman; Dina Biedermann (age and occupation information not yet filed); Dean Deines, 52, a public finance officer; Wallace Edgerton (age not provided), a Mt. San Jacinto Community College political science instructor; Tom Fuhrman, 63, a businessman and owner/operator of Wooden Nickel Ranch in Menifee; Ken Gaunt, 67, a retired businessman and former county commissioner in Nevada; Darcy Kuenzi, 45, a legislative assistant; Scott Mann (age not provided), a risk manager for the Menifee Union School District; Marc Miller, 50, a rancher and businessman; Jason Reeves, 32, a businessman and Sunday school teacher; Jerry Stamper, a real estate broker; Fred Twyman, 43, a high school math teacher and Menifee Union School District trustee; and Dorothy Wolons, 43, a businesswoman and mother.

The county registrar of voters' office will begin mailing out sample ballots and other election information April 24, according to Leticia Flores, elections coordinator for the county registrar of voters' office.

Mailed absentee ballots will be accepted May 5 through 30.