Ginny Foat runs for mayor of Palm Springs

Palm Springs Councilwoman Ginny Foat formally announced her bid to run for mayor of Palm Springs in the November election on Thursday morning.

Foat made the announcement around 10 a.m. at her campaign headquarters on N. Indian Canyon Drive among her supporters, including Palm Springs business and community leaders.

Foat has been on the Palm Springs City Council since 2013 and has been a top vote-getter in the 2005, 2009 and 2013 elections.

Foat worked with the Riverside County Transportation Commission and served as co-chair for the Coachella Valley Association of Governments Transportation Committee, according to the release. She has also worked with many different organizations to combat homelessness in the Coachella Valley.

On May 8, Mayor Steve Pougnet announced he would not seek reelection, stating ‘I’m pleased to say that all of the milestones I promised you during my tenure as your Mayor have been achieved. As such, this December will mark the end of my final term as your Mayor.

The announcement came after controversy began to surface regarding Pougnet’s business relationship with private developer Richard Meaney. The Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) started investigating the issue after a complaint was filed by a former candidate for Palm Springs City Council, Eloise Mohsin.

Mayor Pougnet directly addressed the conflict of interest allegations at a city council meeting on May, 20.

The city of Palm Springs also began working to iron out the details with an internal probe called for by Mayor Pro Tem Paul Lewin. It began looking into the city’s business incentive programs and recent land sales.

Lewin hasn’t said if he’ll seek the mayor’s office this November.

News Channel 3 and CBS Local 2 spoke to businessman and former Navy officer Robert Moon as he became the first person to formally announce his candidacy for mayor earlier this year.

“I have said from day one that I will be a full time mayor for a full time city, I will not accept any outside compensation any consulting positions or any second jobs, when I’m mayor it will be my one and only job. I will have a laser focus as my responsibilities as mayor,” said Moon.

Michael Birnberg and Robert Weinstein have also tossed their hats into the mayoral run.

The election takes place November, 3, 2015. According to the registrar’s website, candidates seeking to run have until August, 7 to file declaration papers.