Tea Party Ex-Marine Not Running for Murrieta City Council

A former Marine sergeant who prompted controversy has announced he will not seek election to Murrieta City Council.

Patch However, Stein said Sunday he chose not to proceed.

"My wife and I talked it over and decided it is probably not the best time for our family," Stein told Patch. "But I am going to be at every city council meeting because there are a lot of ridiculous things being done to the citizens of Murrieta."

For example, Stein said he does not agree with the paramedic service fee the city council adopted recently and that may go into effect following Tuesday's meeting. Residents would be charged $350 per response by paramedics from the Murrieta Fire Department. To avoid the fee, residents could choose to pay an optional $48 annual subscription for unlimited responses.

"Why are we charging people $350 for a 911 call? If the city council can't do a budget like, just like every family has to."

He also disagrees with the city's red-light cameras.

"It is funny considering how Los Angeles, the most liberal city, is not going to enforce them but the city of Murrieta wants to hold on to them. I am not endorsing running red lights, but why is Murrieta going to let a computer ticket its residents?"

Stein said "he would love to run" for the office, but with just being discharged from the Marines four months ago, he needs to put all his energy toward building his real estate business.

He said he plans to stay a resident of Murrieta, as both him and his wife's families live in the area.

Another reason he decided to pass on a run for city council was because he plans to seek state office in two years.

"I love the state of California," said Stein, who is from Bullhead City, Ariz.

He said he would like to run for State Assembly.