Palm Springs swears in new, historic council; Mayor Moon and J.R. Roberts step aside

The guard is changing in Palm Springs.

Two new councilmembers were sworn in to office at Wednesday night's council meeting, and Councilmember Geoff Kors took the oath as the city's new mayor.

The new council is historic for a couple reasons: it holds the city's first district-based representatives in decades, and it's the first majority-women council in the city's history – with Palm Springs' first Latina woman councilmember.

They're taking the reins as outgoing Mayor Robert Moon and Councilmember J.R. Roberts step aside.

"Being a full-time mayor and restoring integrity have been the two things I've worked the hardest on for the past four years," Moon said in his final interview as mayor.

For him, it's a difficult departure. He says if the city hadn't switched to district-based elections, it was always his plan to run for re-election.

"The way I've enjoyed it and the way things have gone, I think I would have run again for another four-year term," Moon said. "City-wide, I think I would have been fairly safe."

"I humbly thank all of you for trusting me and believing me to sit and serve for you," Roberts said in his final remarks.

Both he and Moon were honored and thanked personally by State Assemblyman Chad Mayes, who attended Wednesday's meeting.

Moon wished the newcomers to city council his best.

"People in your districts have selected you to this job for a reason: because they have confidence in you, and I have confidence in them and I think they’re going to do a great job," he said.

Sitting in his now-empty office in city hall, he said with tears in his eyes his biggest challenge of the night would be not to get emotional. During his final remarks, Moon choked up thanking the audience, exiting with a kiss goodbye – and one more thing...

"As they say, I love you, Palm Springs," he said.

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