Lake Elsinore Assemblyman Formally Annouces His Supervisor Bid

“It’s with a little bit of humility” that Assembly Member Kevin Jeffries, R-Lake Elsinore, formally announced his intention to run for Riverside County Board of Supervisor, 1st District, in 2012.

Jeffries, who currently represents the 66th District in the State Assembly, made his announcement official at The Diamond Thursday night during opening day of Storm Baseball.

Supervisor Bob Buster currently holds the 1st District seat with the county and is campaigning for re-election in 2012.

Followed by a brief introduction from Lake Elsinore Councilman Bob Magee, Jeffries delivered his short announcement speech to several hundred invited guests at the stadium’s Diamond Club.

Supportive local officials on hand for the pre-game campaigning included 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, and others.

Jeffries, who calls Lakeland Village home, 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 Thursday’s 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 to turn the local economy around.

Businesses have moved out of the county and that has “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 for 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 that 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.