News

DHS voters have the ability to change the mayor’s position

Published October 22, 2018 9:23 PM

Voters will not only decide the next mayor of Desert Hot Springs but will also have the power to change the way the position runs.

Desert Hot Springs voters will see two candidates for mayor — incumbent mayor Scott Matas and grassroots challenger Stephen “RJ” Giboney. Also on the ballot, two open seats for city council and Measure U and Measure V.

Measure U

A yes vote for Measure U would be in favor of the mayor’s position to rotate among city council members for one year terms.

A no vote is a vote opposes this measure to establish that the mayor rotates among city council members with a term of one year.

The current system has the mayor directly elected for a two year term with no term limits.

Measure V

A yes vote on Measure V would be in favor of changing the mayor’s term length from two years to four years, but would cap mayor’s term limits to two terms in office, commencing in 2020.

A no vote is a vote against raising the mayor’s term to four years and enacting term limits for office. A no vote would leave the term of the mayor’s office at two years with no term limits.

The measure with the highest percentage of votes would supersede the other.

Candidates for city council are Jim Fitzgerald, Gary Gardner, incumbent Jan Pye, Adam Sanchez, Peter Tsachpinis.

For more information on the ballot measures and to find your polling location, visit the City of Desert Hot Springs election webpage.

Watch Sarah Trott’s full interviews with Scott Matas & RJ Giboney below.