• It's An Election Year: Morabito Declares Candidacy For Re-Election

It's an election year, and that includes three seats on the Wildomar City Council: districts 1, 3, and 5. 

NOT IN THIS JUNE'S PRIMARY ELECTION, IN NOVEMBER

Joseph Morabito (the writer of Wildomar Rap) is making it official that he's running for a third term from District 3.

Here are what I'd include in my list of accomplishments in order of magnitude:

DISCLAIMER: Even if a particular council member is a primary mover of an item, it takes three votes to make anything happen; a team effort.

Not in the old David Letterman reverse top 10, but starting with number 1:

1) City Hall Purchase With No City Funds in 2023


The city's lease on the building was going to expire in less than two years, and staff were busy looking to see what the other options might be. 

We were seriously discussing several unpalatable options at a city council meeting when I asked the city manager if he could inquire one more time if the landlords of our building would be willing to sell.

The purchase was made with federal money, so we owe nobody anything.

Such an honor to have been the mayor when this happened.

We stopped being renters (something I had always bemoaned) and, in the process, started saving about half a million dollars a year by not paying rent. 

2) Livestream City Council Meetings 2018

For those who don't remember, through this blog, I was providing the only videos of the city council meetings and planning commission meetings. 

I still can recall when a resident asked that the meetings be livestreamed during a public comment, and the response from one of the council members of that era was, "Joseph uploads the videos."

That was fun, but not what a 21st-century city should have been satisfied with.

The powerbrokers of those years made it a point to have some form of livestream up before my first meeting. 

3) Regular Town Hall Meetings 2019
This was a campaign goal of mine, and I can say that it was satisfied very early on with the Chamber's coffee with the city events. 

Though not as I'd originally envisioned, I had suggested quarterly town halls, being that this is a monthly event, it satisfies the aim. 

4) Cannabis Ordinance 2021

This was easily the most controversial item the city has dealt with in its history. It's a shame that it happened during the covid era, when the meetings were conducted on Zoom. 

As of May of 2025, the city has brought in $5,939,310 through cannabis retailers 

That's a lot of money for a small budget city like Wildomar, and I'm proud to say I didn't let my personal opinions get in the way. 

Despite never having tried it myself (and still advising others against it), I wasn't about to stand in the way of a legal product or the tax revenue it brings in.

Here is a link from 2019 that goes over my views at the time, which still hold true in 2026, on this issue.

5) 20 Acre Parkland Purchase 2023

I remember being on a Zoom call with the former city manager when this was first a topic. 

From the word go, I pushed for Wildomar to find a way to purchase this land from the lovely ladies who've long operated Anne Sullivan Preschool. 

They offered it to the city for about $2m. Their next option was to sell it to a developer and essentially add to the Windsong Valley area by another 80-ish houses. 

This still unnamed park is located directly off Palomar, just south of Anne Sullivan Preschool.

Though I wish it had already been opened to the public a year ago, the fact that this bit of land is going to stay in its natural state, and open to the public, will always be counted as one of my biggest accomplishments as a member of the Wildomar City Council.

6) Backer Of The CR&R Contract

This caused some angst among the community when it came through, and I was included in that group initially, primarily over the length of the contract (twenty years), which, as we found out, is the norm these days. 

In the end, after our legal team had finished negotiating the deal, the city had a much better deal than before. 

Link to blog covering the special meeting

7) Sign Ordinance 2019

I'm known as the anti-sign guy among my colleagues and members of WBV. 

One of the first things I pushed for was to create a robust ordinance regarding illegal/bootleg signs either erected in the public right of way or attached to roadside poles. 

For some, they may not appreciate the difference from then to now (out of sight, out of mind), but all you have to do is drive into our sister city to the north and see what unchecked signs actually do to the feel of an area. 

The light at Inland Valley Drive and Clinton Keith used to showcase an endless array of signs. Yes, every election cycle the problem crops back up, protected by the First Amendment, but there is a narrow window in which they're allowed to remain up. Look for WBV to remove those after we hit the "10 day after the election" mark.

Over the years, I've personally removed thousands of signs, delivering them to "sign jail." To this day, I don't believe anyone has come to bail out their signs or banners.

8) Beefed Up Code Enforcement (remember those junk haulers on Palomar?)

When I first ran for office in 2018, expanding code enforcement was a key part of my campaign. I'm pleased to report that we've grown from a single officer to a team of four full-time Code Enforcement Officers, plus a part-time officer as well.

9) Monthly Newsletter From The City

Though I envisioned something more closely resembling what former County Supervisor Kevin Jeffries would put out monthly, I'm happy to know that the city has had a monthly newsletter for many years now. 

This was one of my initial campaign pledges.

10) Helped Establish WBV (Wildomar Beautification Volunteers)

I'm so fortunate to be associated with Bridgette Moore. 

Over the years, we've been friends, frenemies, colleagues, but always stalwarts for the community of Wildomar. Though I can readily admit that she is the dynamo that others draw energy from. 

Back during the Summer of 2020, she asked if I'd go pick up trash with her on McVicar. I'd already been going out periodically, picking up trash or otherwise, beautifying the area.

Here's me (pre WBV) removing graffiti on the dumpster behind the old tamale shop across from Wildomar Elementary School.

In fact, the very first time I met her, I was out picking up litter with Kevin Jon Sax out where the Brown House used to stand (basically where the parking lot of Kaiser is today). 

The official first WBV pic. 
(Weren't we cute in our masks... outdoors no less?)

Fast forward nearly six years, and WBV has accomplished many great things, with hundreds of volunteers over the years.

Though I'm grateful each time Bridgette points to me, saying "We created WBV," the facts are that without her doggedness and inner strength, WBV would have never been a fraction of what it is today. 

In 2022, WBV was recognized as the volunteer group of the year by the county. 

Say Cheese!

Posing on the steps of the county building.

11) Haven't Missed A Single Meeting

I was looking back, and the only city council meeting I've missed was a couple of years before being elected to the city council, the day my wife got news that her mother had died. 

I've never missed a meeting since being elected in 2018

That streak had stayed intact, for ALL the meetings I represent Wildomar at... until just last month when I was in Sacramento (representing Wildomar) at a League of California Cities event. That was at the same time as a T-Now meeting, something I'd never missed since my first meeting back in 2015. 

12) Blocked Smoke Shop, Which Opened The Door For Montague Brothers Coffee 2019

This was on its way before I alerted the community with a blog in May of 2019.

In short, as an old business was leaving, before Montague Bros, a smoke shop leased the building, and were already putting in fixtures and displays (that would have been one horrendous blot on the character of the neighborhood). 

I blogged about it, got the residents involved, and the rest was history.

Here's a link to the blog if you want to go down memory lane: https://wildomarrap.blogspot.com/2019/05/goodbye-day-spa-hello-smoke-shop.html

In addition to those items... I've proudly represented Wildomar on various countywide boards and commissions. 

 
RCA 2019 to present (on the executive committee for the past two years).

RCHCA since 2019 (been the chair at least twice).

RCTC from 2023 to present (member of the subcommittee WRCP&P for three years, chair in 2025)

SCAG 2023 to present.

WRCOG 2023 through 2025 (was on the Admin and Finance committee for two years)

Bridgette Moore's understudy on RTA, and she's allowed me to be the regular attendee of T-NOW since my first day on council.

The above doesn't include the dozens of emails from residents I receive each month, seeking help with various issues in town. 

I've happily met with hundreds of residents over the last eight years. Simple meetings from locations such as a local establishment to their homes, or a more formal meeting with staff at city hall. 

What I have further to accomplish 

The voters first elected me in 2018 with 57% of the vote, then in 2022, I was stunned to see it went up to 71% in a reelection bid. 

I work for you, and though I'm not the most well-spoken, I'm willing to get in there and mix it up on your behalf just the same. 

You've allowed me to learn over these eight years; I still have the energy and the passion to seek another term, and you're going to want a proven champion in your corner during critical times.

Wildomar's rep at RCTC (Riverside County Transportation Commission) as we toured the 91-71 flyover before it was opened to the public.

With the inclusion of cannabis tax dollars in the city coffers ($6M through 2025) and the anticipated increases in revenue from Walmart, Sprouts, the hotel, and a handful of smaller businesses about to come online, I'll be your proven fiscally conservative voice on the council.

Speaking of 'wants', you're going to want me to be on your city council as these new monies come rolling in, pushing to have it applied to the community (public safety/roads/parks) and not directed towards city hall. 

This was the first campaign image I created for my 2018 city council run.

If you have questions about my campaign, please use my non-city email:

josephmorabito2018@gmail.com

If you have questions, concerns, thoughts, comments, or ideas about Wildomar, use my city email:
jmorabito@wildomar.gov

If you want to run against me, here is a link to the city's website that gives you all the information.

November 3, 2026 General Municipal Election | Wildomar, CA