Strick Brings Young Voice as Murrieta City Council Candidate

Young blood is needed on Murrieta City Council, says candidate Dan Strick.

At 27, Strick says he is “the average Murrietan.”

“I see things from a different perspective as opposed to the candidates who are relatively more seasoned and have a different view on things,” Strick said. “I see it from a young family’s perspective.”

Strick is among six candidates vying in the Nov. 6 general election for two seats on Murrieta City Council. The others are: incumbent Randon Lane, 43; Paul Clay, 54; David Mueting, 41; Joel Phillips, 52; and Harry Ramos, 35.

Fresh from earning his bachelor’s degree in political science from California State Baptist University in May 2012, Strick previously spent four years in the U.S. Navy.

Strick moved to Murrieta five years ago after being stationed in San Diego, and met his wife, a local to the area, shortly thereafter. He took on the role of helping raise her two children, and the couple has since had two children of their own.

“The big group that is moving into Murrieta is young families and veterans, I have all that going for me,” Strick said.

Aside from a fresh perspective, Strick says his interest in economics makes him a good choice.

“I have a good grasp on that,” Strick said.

He said he is well aware of the issues faced by cities as a result of the state takeaway of redevelopment money.

“It sounds like we are trying to work something out so that the money being given to us by the state is continued,” Strick said. “They are giving us money at a certain interest rate and we are trying to refinance that. So therefore instead of ‘we are giving this to you,’ if we pay a little more back the state is more likely to give it to us.”

Strick also expressed concern for areas of Murrieta that lack infrastructure.

“Murrieta is already a great city that is moving up and I’d love to jump on board with that. At the same time though, there are a lot of people who are kind of marginalized. They live down dirt roads, they don’t have the basic infrastructure that everybody else has. I was talking to one guy who told me that when firefighters come down his street they can’t see his street signs.”

Strick said his in-laws live in one of these areas and do not have high-speed Internet access.

“They don’t have wifi, they don’t have Verizon. There are lots of pockets of people who have just been marginalized. I don’t think it is on purpose but at the same time I can bring that to the table. I see it because I have experienced it,” said Strick, who grew up in rural Northern California.

This is Strick’s first try at a public office. He serves as a deacon at Reliance Church in Temecula. Previously, he served as an umpire for Murrieta National Little League.

“It is a democracy, that is the beautiful thing about it; is always good to have fresh faces in government.”

Editor's Note: This is the fifth in a series of six candidate profiles. A final article about Paul Clay is forthcoming.

To read the articles already published, click on the candidate names: Joel Phillips, Randon Lane, Harry Ramos and David Mueting.

Click on Murrieta Patch Election Guide for more.