Ashlee Dephillippo Appointed To Serve On Wildomar City Council

WILDOMAR, CA — In a 5-0 vote Wednesday night, the Wildomar City Council appointed Ashlee Dephillippo to represent District 5 on the dais in the wake of Council Member Marsha Swanson’s retirement.

“Ashlee is going to be a great addition to our Wildomar Council Team,” said Mayor Ben J.Benoit. “We look forward to her insight as we move forward with so many great opportunities coming to Wildomar.”

Dephillippo was one of two District 5 residents who applied for the vacancy. Gina Castanon, a longtime Wildomar resident, was the other.

The two women had been vetted by an ad hoc committee consisting of Mayor Pro Tem Joseph Morabito and Council Member Dustin Nigg. During Wednesday night's special City Council meeting, the candidates were then interviewed in public by all five council members, including Swanson.

After serving the city of Wildomar since its July 1, 2008, founding, Swanson announced in a Feb. 10 letter to City Manager Dan York that she was resigning her post.

"I am grateful for having the opportunity to serve on the City Council for the City of Wildomar for the past 14 years, and I offer my best wishes for the City's continued success," she wrote.

Swanson's term on City Council was set to expire at the end of the year. She gave no specific reason for her early departure. She has lived and worked in Wildomar for well over 40 years and is a longtime real estate agent.

Dephillippo was appointed to serve the remainder of Swanson's term. The new council member can choose to run for another term as part of this year's general election.