Temecula's Assemblyman to Run for Board of Supervisors

Temecula's state assemblyman announced his plan to run for Riverside County Board of Supervisor, 1st District, in 2012.

Assembly Member Kevin Jeffries, R-Lake Elsinore, who represents the 66th District in the State Assembly, made the announcement at the Diamond Thursday during the opening day of Storm Baseball.

Supervisor Bob Buster currently represents the 1st District on the Board of Supervisors and is campaigning for re-election in 2012.

After a brief introduction by Lake Elsinore Councilman Bob Magee, Jeffries delivered talked to several hundred invited guests at the stadium’s Diamond Club.

Supportive local officials, such as Lake Elsinore Mayor Amy Bhutta, Lake Elsinore Councilman Brian Tisdale, Wildomar Mayor Marsha Swanson, Wildomar Councilwoman Bridgette Moore, Wildomar Councilman Ben Benoit, Murrieta Mayor Randon Lane, LEUSD Trustee Kim Cousins were there.

Jeffries, who lives in Lakeland Village, said his tenure in the state assembly, which began in 2006 under Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, “has been a ride.” He noted that while there are differences between the former governor and Gov. Jerry Brown, “the problems are the same.”

During the speech, Jeffries said the most important issues facing residents are jobs, foreclosures and long commute times, and he promised to help bring business back to Riverside County.

Businesses moved out of the county and that “left us looking for work,” he said. “The county needs to prepare itself and position itself to say, ‘we want those businesses here.’”

But the assemblyman also advocated protecting the county’s open space.

“I’m not interested in seeing concrete from one end to the other,” he promised.

Jeffries criticized the county for not “living within its means.”

“Choices have to be made,” he said, but he criticized the idea of cuts to public safety and Gov. Brown’s decision this week to sign a law that could see thousands of felons, who have been convicted of nonviolent crimes, serve their time in county jails instead of state prisons.

Jeffries closed by saying transparency and accountability are government responsibilities.

“We have an incredible opportunity,” he said.

Lake Elsinore Councilman Bob Magee is expected to make a run for Jeffries’ job in the assembly, but has yet to formally announce his candidacy.