"New taxes cannot be avoided no matter what the politicians tell you," said Ruth Goulet, co-chairwomen of the recently formed Citizens Against Cityhood.  That is just one of the many news bites that caught my eye this week about the potential cityhood of Menifee and the candidates to be on the first Menifee City Council.  I've already posted on the GOP endorsements for this race, here. And here are my initial thoughts on starting a new city.

Let's start with the council candidates.  Now let me preface this by saying that I have only met or heard a few of the candidates on this list but a few key phrases did catch my eye.

The good stuff was seeing Darcy Kuenzi encourage employers to comply with immigration laws, Dina L. Biedermann and Chris R. Thomas say the magic words "limit and lower taxes" and "reducing bureaucracy" respectively.  Any Dean Deines ideas will be done "without new taxes" and Tom Fuhrman wants to be "preserving property rights."  Jason Reeves wants "In God We Trust" as city's motto, to keep property taxes low and city government small.

John Denver does not want to see any "overspending." and Louis G. Mazei wants to contract out municipal services and hire permanent employees only as budget allows.

The bad news is that, unfortunately, Denver also supports preserving mobile home park rent control and Louis G. Mazei is going to be pushing for a city funded scooter system and trolley system.  Dorothy Wolons will be "fostering environmental health by pursuing solar energy panels for city and developer incentives to build green" and support "rent control." Other socialized rent control supporters are Dean Deines and Gerald Wayne Walker.  Deines, Walker and Sue Kristjansson also join 36-year-old Jason Roth in supporting "senior-only" areas.

And finally Frederick Allen Twyman III wants to ensure "that community is listened to." Oh brother.

As far as cityhood is concerned, the big debate seems to be whether the incorporation of the City of Menifee would cause taxes to go up or not.  If I was a voter in Menifee, that would be a big deal to me.  Especially after Ruth Goulet's arrogant declaration, "New taxes cannot be avoided no matter what the politicians tell you."

Here are the details from a recent PE article:

Residents have say on Menifee cityhood proposal
Monday, May 19, 2008
By JULISSA McKINNON: The Press-Enterprise

...Joe Daugherty, who heads the Menifee incorporation committee and Pete Petersen, a Sun City resident who started advocating for incorporation in 1988, argued that cityhood would give the area much-needed representation and control over its own tax revenue.

Anne Pica and Ruth Goulet, co-chairwomen of the recently formed Citizens Against Cityhood, countered that now is not the right time to incorporate because of falling house prices and a sliding economy.

...Pica and Goulet questioned the validity of a study by the Local Agency Formation Commission of Riverside County that concludes cityhood is financially feasible because the report uses figures from 2005-06, when the economy was on an upswing...

Daugherty and LAFCO officials have said the study accounted for fluctuations in the economy by using conservative figures, a 2 to 3 percent growth rate for the area over the next 10 years...Daugherty stated that the new city would garner $6.2 million in vehicle license fees from the state if it incorporates now. In July 2009, that offer will end because the state is looking to cap its total number of cities.

Daugherty said the greater Menifee and Sun City areas are losing $6 million in sales tax revenue to surrounding cities, partly because cities can actively recruit retail businesses to their area with certain incentives, while the county is not looking to lure development to any particular zone, Daugherty said...

The critics told the audience that incorporation will bring new taxes.  "New taxes cannot be avoided no matter what the politicians tell you," Goulet said.  According to Props. 13 and 218, taxes can be raised only with voter approval. School bonds require 55 percent of the vote, while most municipal bonds require two-thirds. "I don't think (a municipal bond) could pass here," Daugherty said. "It's up to the voters."

Some audience members, such as Muriel and Errol Holmes, of Sun City, said they remain wary of incorporation bringing higher taxation despite assurances. "With the tax issue I know one thing, there's no such thing as a free lunch," Errol Holmes said. "If things have to be fixed the money has got to come from somewhere."

And here are the complete candidate profiles:

MENIFEE CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATES
The Press-Enterprise - Wednesday, May 21, 2008

DARCY KUENZI
AGE: 45
RESIDES: Menifee
FAMILY: Married; four daughters
OCCUPATION: Legislative assistant to Riverside County Supervisor Marion Ashley; former executive director of Menifee Valley Chamber of Commerce
EDUCATION: Community leadership program at Mt. San Jacinto College; Dale Carnegie Leadership Advantage Graduate; pursuing B.A. in business administration
TOP PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES: Board member of Menifee Valley Community Cupboard; Eastern Municipal Water District Advisory Committee; chair and treasurer of Menifee Valley Incorporation Committee; Kay Ceniceros Senior Center Advisory Committee; chair for Committee for Measure Z, bond measure that built Heritage High School in Romoland
CONCERNS IN THE COMMUNITY: Reevaluating Improving public safety and emergency response times; initiating community-oriented policing programs to deter crime and graffiti; controlling traffic; creating a senior citizens advisory committee to give seniors a voice in city government; encouraging employers to comply with immigration laws
CAMPAIGN WEB SITE: www.DarcyKuenzi.com

 
MARC A. MILLER
AGE: 50
RESIDES: Menifee
FAMILY: Single
OCCUPATION: Rancher, businessman
EDUCATION: B.A. in business, National University; some coursework for master's in business administration
TOP PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES: Treasurer of Riverside County United Communities, group advocating for county's rural areas; chair of Menifee Valley Community Economic Development Council from 2000-07, studied the feasibility of cityhood and identified proposed boundaries; trustee of Antelope-Menifee Rural Center since 1999; helps to rent out and maintain community hall
CONCERNS IN THE COMMUNITY: More roads, less traffic; more police/fire, better emergency response; keeping up foreclosed homes and passing ordinances to promote foreclosed property maintenance; getting representation on Western Regional Council of Governments and other regional boards to have a say in how area taxes are spent
CAMPAIGN E-MAIL: marcmiller@aerosurf.net


DINA L. BIEDERMANN
AGE: 34
RESIDES: Menifee
FAMILY: Single
OCCUPATION: Clerk at Costco Wholesale
EDUCATION: Political science student, preparing to transfer to UCR
TOP PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES: Co-chair of Inland Empire Women's Alliance for Mitt Romney 2008 presidential campaign; president, Southwest Region Young Republicans; Campaign researcher for three 2008 congressional campaigns; member of Riverside Elected Officials Association
CONCERNS IN THE COMMUNITY: Encouraging business and growth that would benefit families; limit and lower taxes; bolster and improve public safety; select representatives from homeowner's associations to communicate with city
CAMPAIGN E-MAIL: dina@dina2008.com

 
JOHN DENVER
AGE: 61
RESIDES: Sun City
FAMILY: Married; one son; two grandchildren
OCCUPATION: Real estate broker
EDUCATION: B.A. in economics, Long Beach State College; M.A. in elementary education, Cal State San Bernardino; Masters of Boardsmanship from California School Boards Association; Real Estate Brokerage Management from California Association of Realtors
TOP PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES: Honorary Mayor of Menifee/Sun City 2007, 2008 from Menifee/Sun City Chamber of Commerce; member of the board and past president of Menifee/Sun City Chamber of Commerce; member and past president of the Menifee Rotary Club; Riverside County Workforce Development board member; Family Resource Center (Perris) board member; Perris City Homeless task force
CONCERNS IN THE COMMUNITY: Not overspending; promoting slow, deliberate growth; bringing in new businesses for tax base; planning streets and infrastructure in advance of developments; keeping local identities by letting each area get planned by its own people; preserving mobile home park rent controls and 55-plus status for Sun City's core; helping schools, libraries and parks improve

 
WALLACE WAYNE EDGERTON
AGE: Stated as "senior"
RESIDES: Menifee
FAMILY: Married 30-plus years; four children
OCCUPATION: Political science teacher at Menifee campus of Mt. San Jacinto College
EDUCATION: B.A., M.A., M.P.A., USC
TOP PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES: Former Long Beach councilman for 17 years; formerly on board of directors with Los Angeles County Sanitation District; past president, Southern California Coastal Waters Research Project; former acting coordinator for the Juvenile Delinquency Control Center at USC
CONCERNS IN THE COMMUNITY: Preserving the senior areas; controlling traffic and growth; coordinating school districts; promoting more parks; preserving rural areas; better police coverage
CAMPAIGN E-MAIL: jedgerton@ahslink.com

 
TONY AMATULLI
AGE: 49
RESIDES: Menifee
FAMILY: Single
OCCUPATION: Co-owner of family business, Amatulli Auto Parts
EDUCATION: Some college
TOP PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES: Former youth coach at St. Thomas Catholic Church in Riverside for eight years; member of Menifee Valley Chamber of Commerce since 1983; member of Moose Lodge for past year
CONCERNS IN THE COMMUNITY: Bringing in new businesses to cut commuting; connecting side streets to help traffic flow; promoting a sports park; preserving 55--and-older status of Sun City communities
CAMPAIGN WEB SITE: www.voteamatulli.com

 
CAROL A. SULLIVAN
AGE: 64
RESIDES: Sun City
FAMILY: Married for 4 ½ years; two sons
OCCUPATION: Clinical research associate managing clinical drug studies
EDUCATION: B.S. in business administration, Redlands University; A.A. in vocational nursing, Fullerton College
TOP PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES: Member of Menifee Valley Chamber of Commerce and Sun City-Menifee Rotary Club; past chair of board of directors, Orange County Mortgage Brokers; owned and operated four small businesses; former teacher's aide
CONCERNS IN THE COMMUNITY: Promoting and reviewing adequate sheriff's deployment in area; improving fire and ambulance response times; properly spending monies for the county's designated redevelopment areas (Romoland, Quail Valley, downtown Sun City); balanced budget
CAMPAIGN E-MAIL: carol_red_sullivan@yahoo.com

 
JERRY P. STAMPER
AGE: 66
RESIDES: Menifee
FAMILY: Married for three years
OCCUPATION: Owner of Rancho Plaza Realty Inc., residential property management
EDUCATION: Some college; courses in economics and business
TOP PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES: President, Menifee Lakes Master Association; member of Menifee Valley Chamber of Commerce executive board; member of Southwest Board of Realtors
CONCERNS IN THE COMMUNITY: Reevaluating general plan for trail systems, parks and school locations; identifying commercial and industrial development to provide tax base; managed growth; ensuring quick response times from law enforcement
CAMPAIGN WEB SITE: www.jerrystamper.com

 
LOUIS G. MAZEI
AGE: 62
RESIDES: Sun City
FAMILY: Married for 20 years
OCCUPATION: Planning technician
EDUCATION: B.S. in extended social science, Northern Arizona University; graduate courses in urban planning, University of Arizona
TOP PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES: Member of Menifee Valley Residents Against Poor Planning; represented Quechan Indian tribe by sitting on Imperial County Social Services Transportation Council and other committees; member of Miami, Ariz., library board; co-founder of Gila Community Food Bank in Globe-Miami, Ariz.; co-founder of Copper Community Rural Action Council in Globe-Miami, Ariz.
CONCERNS IN THE COMMUNITY: Establishing community councils to preserve identities of Sun City, Quail Valley, Romoland, etc.; starting a recreation commission to promote youth sports and found Boys and Girls Club; advocating for neighborhood parks; contracting out municipal services and hiring permanent employees only as budget allows; pushing for more public transportation, scooter system and trolley system
CAMPAIGN WEB SITE: Mazei2008@aol.com


JASON ROTH
AGE: 36
RESIDES: Menifee
FAMILY: Married for 10 years; one daughter and one son
OCCUPATION: Financial analyst for government agencies
EDUCATION: B.A. in economics, Cal State San Marcos
TOP PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES: Member of PTA at Ridgemoor Elementary School; member of First Baptist Church, Sun City; volunteer with local youth sports
CONCERNS IN THE COMMUNITY: Maintaining the dynamics of existing community by preserving senior-only and rural areas; controlling number of residential developments; increasing retail development; promoting parks with sports fields; improving law enforcement and cutting response times by adding centrally located sheriff's substation; ensuring fiscal responsibility
CAMPAIGN WEB SITE: J.ROTH@DSLExtreme.com

 
GERALD WAYNE WALKER
AGE: 46
RESIDES: Sun City
FAMILY: Divorced; one daughter
OCCUPATION: Public works plumber for Orange County
EDUCATION: Apprenticeship and Journeyman Training from Trust of Southern California Pipe Trades Industry; four-year journeyman certification, 1985
TOP PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES: President, Plumbing Industry Progress and Education Certification; County of Orange Backflow Technician Certification; school fundraising; church activities; volunteer with senior home entertainment
CONCERNS IN THE COMMUNITY: Public safety; fighting crime; no new taxes; protecting senior zoning and rent controls; development of parks and recreation and improvement of roads, storm drain and sewer systems; well-planned growth

 
DARCI CASTILLEJOS
AGE: 47
RESIDES: Sun City
FAMILY: Married for 24 years; one son; one daughter; one grandchild
OCCUPATION: Business owner, French Valley Café; chief petty officer, U.S. Navy Reserve, Deep Submergence Unit, San Diego
EDUCATION: Some college, Mt. San Jacinto Community College and Saddleback Community College; management courses while employed by Bank of America
TOP PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES: Chair, Menifee Valley Chamber of Commerce; president, Menifee Valley Community Cupboard; president, Rancho La Vita Homeowners Association; member of Sun City-Menifee Rotary Club; member of Quail Valley Women of the Moose.
CONCERNS IN THE COMMUNITY: Improving law enforcement in community; promoting economic development and new businesses; beautifying area to create curbs, sidewalks, walking/biking trails and landscaping; protecting senior status in Sun City and senior quality of life
CAMPAIGN WEB SITE: www.darcicastillejos.com

 
CHRIS R. THOMAS
AGE: 40
RESIDES: Menifee
FAMILY: Married 15 years; three daughters; one son
OCCUPATION: Business owner, insurance and financial services
EDUCATION: Bachelor of accountancy, University of San Diego; master's of business administration, UC Irvine; certified public accountant
TOP PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES: Member of the board of directors of the Temecula Sheriff's Mounted Posse; Eagle Scout
CONCERNS IN THE COMMUNITY: Reevaluating zoning of housing and retail land use to address traffic and growth issues; protecting senior-designated areas; coordinating with homeowner and community groups to support their needs; establishing a sheriff's substation in Menifee and centrally located fire stations; planning at least two multiuse parks; establishing system of walking/biking/cart trails and open space; reducing bureaucracy
CAMPAIGN WEB SITE: www.cthomascitycouncil.com

 
FREDERICK ALLEN TWYMAN III
AGE: 43
RESIDES: Menifee
FAMILY: Married 15 years; four daughters
OCCUPATION: Teacher at Paloma Valley High School in Menifee
EDUCATION: B.A., mathematics; M.A., educational administration
TOP PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES: President of Menifee Union School District governing board; trails commissioner for 3rd District of Riverside County
CONCERNS IN THE COMMUNITY: Keeping tax dollars local; promoting quality rather than quantity development; ensuring that community is listened to
CAMPAIGN WEB SITE: www.smartvoter.com

 
JASON REEVES
AGE: 32
RESIDES: Menifee
FAMILY: Married; three children
OCCUPATION: Owns production business in Anaheim producing events for nonprofit organizations; Sunday schoolteacher
EDUCATION: Working toward theology degree at Calvary Chapel Bible College in Murrieta
TOP PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES: President, Riverside Republican Assembly in 2000-01, now chairman of R.R.A's second amendment committee; President, Riverside County Christian Hunters and Shooters Association; past board member of Revival Christian Fellowship's Men's Ministry
CONCERNS IN THE COMMUNITY: Overdevelopment, traffic and crime caused by poor planning; promoting low-density development; "In God We Trust" as city's motto; keeping property taxes low and city government small
CAMPAIGN WEB SITE: www.ReevesForCityCouncil.org


DEAN DEINES
AGE: 52
RESIDES: Menifee
FAMILY: Married for 32 years; four sons
OCCUPATION: Deputy county executive officer for Riverside County, public finance
EDUCATION: B.S. in computer science, Cal State Fullerton; M.B.A with financial emphasis, National University
TOP PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES: Youth baseball coach; youth pastor; church elder
CONCERNS IN THE COMMUNITY: Improving public safety by adding more police; protecting senior-only status and rent control of senior areas; living within city budget without new taxes; protecting rural areas; promoting parks; bringing in retail businesses to help people shop closer to home and spend less on gasoline
CAMPAIGN WEB SITE: www.DeanDeines.com


TOM FUHRMAN
AGE: 63
RESIDES: Menifee
FAMILY: Single; two daughters; five grandchildren
OCCUPATION: Rancher; tool- and dye-maker; retired production control specialist and business owner
EDUCATION: A.A. in business, Penn State University
TOP PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES: Trail Boss, organizing 41 miles of multipurpose trails in Menifee Valley; host and organizer of charity fundraisers for Little League, Lions Club, Boy Scouts and Esperanza Fire victims; organizing Christmas caroling on horseback; putting on annual Civil War reenactment
CONCERNS IN THE COMMUNITY: Holding developers accountable to promises; connecting and enhancing existing trail systems; keeping developer impact fees local rather than seeing them spread out over the county; preserving property rights; reducing code enforcement to be complaint-based; resisting annexation to surrounding cities
CAMPAIGN E-MAIL: WoodenNickelRanch@gmail.com


DOROTHY WOLONS
AGE: 43
RESIDES: Menifee
FAMILY: Single/widow; two sons, one daughter
OCCUPATION: Chief executive officer of Menifee Valley Chamber of Commerce
EDUCATION: B.A. in journalism, with emphasis in marketing and advertising, Wayne State University, Mich.
TOP PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES: Member of the Sun City-Menifee Rotary Club, Women of the Moose, PTA and Lake Menifee Women's Club; honored in March by state Assemblyman Paul Cook as 65th District's woman of the year
CONCERNS IN THE COMMUNITY: Supporting quality growth to create local jobs and reduce commutes/traffic promoting a business-friendly city that actively recruits businesses, especially retail; fostering environmental health by pursuing solar energy panels for city and developer incentives to build green; tending to senior concerns about traffic, rent control and safety; more community education available for seniors
CAMPAIGN WEB SITE: Dorothy.Wolons@yahoo.com

 
ANTHONY CUOMO
AGE: 43
RESIDES: Menifee
FAMILY: Married for 2.5 years; one son; two daughters
OCCUPATION: Manager of Menifee auto parts store. Retired lead trustee and senior political action committee member for union representing New York City's Fire
Department/emergency medical services
EDUCATION: B.A. in business law, criminal justice; post-college studies in fire suppression, advanced emergency medical care and personnel management and logistics (U.S. Navy)
TOP PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES: Member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and Freemason
CONCERNS IN THE COMMUNITY: Declining housing market and "mass exodus" from area; halting residential building until market recovers; hold home investors accountable for appearance of their properties; invite more commerce to area to create jobs; create own municipal services that must answer to a local government
CAMPAIGN WEB SITE: www.cuomoforcouncil.com


SUE KRISTJANSSON
AGE: 41
RESIDES: Menifee
FAMILY: Divorced; one son
OCCUPATION: Energy efficiency analyst and contract manager for Southern California Gas Co.
EDUCATION: B.A. in business administration, minor in criminal justice; M.B.A with emphasis in organizational leadership
TOP PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES: President, Paloma Valley High School PTA; past board member for Menifee Chapter of the National Junior Basketball Association from 2003-07
CONCERNS IN THE COMMUNITY: Holding banks accountable for the upkeep of foreclosed homes they now own; developing cost-effective contract with county to provide better police presence; preserving senior-designated areas through protective city ordinances; promoting recreation for youth; demanding assessment and revision of property taxes in light of housing market collapse; attracting businesses and jobs to area


SCOTT A. MANN
AGE: 45
RESIDES: Menifee
FAMILY: Married for 24 years; two daughters, one son
OCCUPATION: Risk manager for Menifee Union School District; retired U.S. Navy officer
EDUCATION: Master of business administration, National University; B.A. in business administration, National University; enrolled in School of Business Management, USC
TOP PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES: Member of Menifee Valley Municipal Advisory Council; board of directors, Riverside Schools Insurance Authority; board of directors, Riverside Schools Risk Management Authority; member of Southwest Committee for disaster preparedness; Appointee to California Interscholastic Federation parent advisory committee
CONCERNS IN THE COMMUNITY: Bolstering public safety by contracting with the Riverside County Sheriff's Department and putting more boots on the ground; maintaining quality of life in senior communities; improving infrastructure; attracting new businesses to expand tax base
CAMPAIGN WEB SITE: www.MannforMenifee.com


KEN GAUNT
AGE: 67
RESIDES: Sun City
FAMILY: Married for 42 years; three children; six grandchildren; one great-grandson
OCCUPATION: Retired for six years from mostly retail business
EDUCATION: Some college
TOP PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES: Former county supervisor in Washoe County, Nev.; served on board of trustees for Washoe Medical Center; past fire department commissioner; past member of the Sheriff's Mounted Posse; formerly active in Boy Scouts Of America, Eagle Scout
CONCERNS IN THE COMMUNITY: Preventing wasteful spending; cracking down on criminals to improve area safety; promoting well-organized, controlled growth with parks and recreation areas; reducing tax burden on residents and spending within the budget