Palm Springs City Council to decide fate of District 2 election
PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) — The future of Palm Springs’ District 2 City Council seat will be up for discussion Thursday, as the City Council considers whether to appoint the district’s sole candidate or allow voters to decide the race in November.
If the council appoints Bernstein, he would receive a certification stating there are no more candidates than available offices. The November general election for District 2 would be canceled and Bernstein would officially begin the new four-year term after the Nov. 3 election.
According to the city, because no one has submitted papers to run against Bernstein, California Elections Code Section 10229 requires the council to take one of three actions at a regular or special meeting before the general municipal election: appoint the person who was nominated, appoint another eligible elector if no one was nominated, or hold the election if either no one — or only one person — was nominated.
If the council instead decides to hold the election, write-in candidates could still enter the race between Sept. 7 and Oct. 20.
The city estimates holding the District 2 election would cost about $22,000.
The decision could determine whether District 2 residents have a November choice for their council representative — or whether Bernstein effectively secures the seat without a contested election.
According to a city staff report, this is not the first time Palm Springs has faced the issue. The council encountered a similar situation in 2020 involving the District 5 seat.
Thursday’s special meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. at Palm Springs City Hall, 3200 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way.
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