Ron Oden announces he will run for Palm Springs Mayor again

The race for Palm Springs Mayor just got a little more crowded. KESQ/CBS Local 2 has confirmed that former Palm Springs Mayor Ron Oden is throwing his hat into the ring.

Oden phoned late Thursday to inform us that he has pulled his paperwork from the city. Oden was elected the first African-American and gay mayor of Palm Springs in 2003, after serving eight years on the city council. Oden served as mayor until 2007.

According to the latest release from Palm Springs City Hall, on Tuesday there are currently eight other candidates that have announced they are running for mayor, four have qualified for the ballot, including current Councilwoman Ginny Foat who turned in her paperwork to the city clerk Thursday morning.

Robert Moon, Ricky Wright, and Michael Schaefer have also qualified.

All candidates have until August 12 to turn in their paperwork to qualify for the ballot. The filing deadline was originally August 7, but it’s automatically extended when the incumbent fails to file, according to the Candidate Handbook.

The election is slated for November 3rd.