Corrections and clarifications: This story has been updated to correct an error identifying the city attorney.
The Palm Springs City Council will explore making the post of mayor directly elected citywide again. Since 2019, the mayoral post has rotated annually among the five council members, who are each elected by district.
In a decision reached after a lengthy discussion the evening of Wednesday, April 8, the council created an ad-hoc committee of two of its members to come up with ideas of altering the city’s main governing body.
It’s the first time the city has acted on the issue since a a ballot measure drive backed by current and former councilmembers was announced. If they’re successful at getting the question on the November ballot, voters will choose whether to add a sixth position to the city council that every city resident can elect.
Currently, the council is composed of five members who each are elected from a separate district. Residents of each district vote on only one councilmember.
The issue has caused controversy, specifically over the city’s history of potentially suppressing minority voting power through citywide council seats.
Around a dozen residents spoke out against the potential for a citywide mayor during Wednesday’s meeting. Many of them pointed to the fact that the city only changed from citywide council elections to district elections after the threat of a lawsuit over a potential violation to the California Voting Rights Act, a law passed in 2001 that allows minority voters to challenge at-large voting that may be diluting their collective voice.
Others worried a citywide mayor would allow a small group of residents to control the council.
“It would empower rich people in the city to deadlock the council over policy,” Palm Springs resident Tobias Wolff said during public comment. “This is not a technical issue, this is not a detail. This is at the heart of what the CVRA is about.”
Former US Sen. Barbara Boxer also spoke out against the potential move to a citywide mayor.
“I was so proud when Palm Springs became a leader in civil rights protection after a past history that harmed many minorities,” she said in a statement shared with The Desert Sun. “When I was in county government, the board presidency was rotated just as the mayors position is rotated today in Palm Springs. I believe that system works very well and avoids unwarranted expenditures while leading to collegial power sharing.”
Still, there are those that see benefits in a directly elected mayor.
A group calling itself the Citizens for an Elected Mayor is attempting to qualify a measure for the November ballot that would place the matter before voters. The group includes Councilmember Ron deHarte and former Councilmember Lisa Middleton.
The group says a citywide mayor could provide continuity for long-term projects as well as be accountable to the entire city, rather than just one district.
DeHarte has been a vocal advocate for a directly-elected mayor since he was mayor throughout 2025. During the meeting, he said he faced pressure to advocate for the change.
“My role has been standing up for what the public has been telling me for a year plus,” he said.
The costs to add a new position to the council could be significant. City Attorney Jeffrey Ballinger outlined steps the city would need to take to protect itself from lawsuits.
He recommended the city undertake a demographic study to show that minority votes would not be diluted through the mayoral position. Such a study could cost around $100,000. Additional costs could also include $82,232 for the mayor’s salary and $146,816 for office staff.
Councilmember Grace Garner spoke with the most caution about the potential for the new mayor role.
“I think that we have seen a correlation of improved engagement with minority communities and the city since we transitioned to this system,” she said during the meeting. “Moving back to a directly elected mayor could potentially have that voter dilution that we were working to prevent by moving to this other system.”
Both she and deHarte will sit on the new ad hoc committee. They are expected to return to the council soon with ideas on how to move forward.
Sam Morgen covers the city of Palm Springs for The Desert Sun. Reach him at smorgen@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Palm Springs could elect mayor citywide again, but some object
Reporting by Sam Morgen, Palm Springs Desert Sun / Palm Springs Desert Sun
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