Editor's Note: This is the third in a series focusing on the five candidates seeking three seats on the Temecula City Council. The election is Nov. 2.

Patrice Lynes has spent a good number of evenings this summer reading through the documents and public information Temecula posts on its website.

Her opinion so far?

"It's confusing; it's not transparent," said the 58-year-old retired registered nurse, one of five candidates running for three open seats on the Temecula City Council. The slate also includes Mayor Jeff Comerchero, Councilwoman Maryann Edwards, Councilman Ron Roberts and real estate executive Paul Runkle.

If elected, Lynes said, public information related to salaries of elected officials and the cost of public works projects such as the city's under-construction Civic Center would be posted in an easier-to-access format for residents. That information is available on the city's website right now, but Lynes said it's difficult to find and, in some cases, incomplete.

For instance, the list of city employees and their salaries that is posted online ---- located under the human resources tab in the city's eGovernment section of its site ---- lists a salary range instead of a precise figure.

Lynes, a Temecula resident since 1989, said other cities in the state have already posted more detailed information in the wake of the scandal in Bell, which was paying its council members about $100,000 a year and its city manager more than $750,000.

"We haven't yet," she said, adding that it would "real nice" to have that transparency in Temecula's government; "to have that posted immediately."

Temecula, incorporated in 1989, has a budget of $54.5 million, with about 48 percent of spending going toward the police and fire departments. Each council member is elected to a four-year term and they receive a $600 a month stipend plus a car allowance, health coverage and membership in the CalPERS retirement program.

During her conversations with voters, Lynes said she keeps hearing that the current council is not listening to their concerns and people are worried about what she called "out-of-control spending."

Providing examples, she said Temecula employs a city manager and three assistants, while larger cities make due with fewer administrators.

"Voters need to know where their tax dollars are going and how the city is using their money," she said.

Lynes, elected this year to serve on the Republican Party County Central Committee for the 66th Assembly District, said she won't linger on the dais if she wins in November.

"I'm in favor of term limits," she said, adding that she'd like the city to pass something that would limit council members to serving only two consecutive terms in office. "It would be similar to the Murrieta city initiative."

Explaining her support for term limits, Lynes said the nation's founders wanted a citizen government.

"They didn't want career politicians," she said.

And, with limits, she said, council members would not be beholden to special interests.

"They would work for the people and that would be their focus," she said.

Another platform for Lynes is traffic congestion. She said the city has been talking for years about infrastructure projects that are designed to alleviate congestion, but added that nothing seems to be changing.

"The streets need to be widened, as well as synchronizing the lights," she said, talking about the council's recent awarding of a bid to a company that is going to install street light synchronization software.

Call staff writer Aaron Claverie at 951-676-4315, ext. 2624.