Coachella Valley Residents Bring Diverse Experiences to Desert Healthcare District & Foundation Board Elections

PALM SPRINGS — Eight Coachella Valley residents are vying to fill four seats on the Desert Healthcare District and Foundation Board of Directors.

Of the four seats that will be up for election on November 5, two incumbents are seeking re-election and two are stepping down from Board service.

Directors Arthur Shorr, MBA, (Zone 5), who currently serves as Board treasurer, and Leticia De Lara, MPA, (Zone 7) will seek another four-year term.

However, voters will not have the option of re-electing Directors Les Zendle, MD, (Zone 1) and Carmina Zavala, PsyD, (Zone 3). Dr. Zendle, who has served as Board president, was elected in 2016. Dr. Zavala, who was elected in 2020, ends her term as Board vice-president.

All candidates by zone (as listed by the Riverside County Registrar of Voters):

 

Zone 1

  • Greg Rodriguez, deputy director
  • Robert Piecuch, academic physician
  • Rick Lykins, construction manager

 

Zone 3

  • Daniel Logsdon, physician
  • Claudia Galvez, health policy director

 

Zone 5

  • Carlos E. Garcia, healthcare marketing researcher
  • Arthur Shorr (incumbent), healthcare consultant

 

Zone 7

  • Leticia De Lara (incumbent), chief executive officer

Since Director De Lara is unopposed, unless a petition is filed with the Riverside County Registrar of Voters to include the unopposed race on the ballot, the registrar will request the Riverside County Board of Supervisors to appoint Director De Lara to serve another 4-year term.

The Desert Healthcare District and Foundation Board is comprised of seven elected members. The three seats that are not up for election this year are occupied by Board President Evett PerezGil (Zone 4), Secretary Kimberly Barraza (Zone 6), and Carole Rogers (Zone 2). Board terms last four years.

See an interactive map of the District zones (Please select the “Hummingbird Plan”).

Valley voters also will have an opportunity to vote on Ballot Measure AA, which will determine whether or not the Healthcare District will lease and ultimately sell Desert Regional Medical Center to Tenet Healthcare. Read the Board-approved resolution that is the basis for the measure.

About the Desert Healthcare District and Foundation

The Desert Healthcare District is a local government agency formed in 1948. Its mission is to achieve optimal health at all stages of life for all District residents. The District includes more than 400,000 residents and encompasses the entire Coachella Valley. The District and Desert Healthcare Foundation, together, are one of the largest funders in the valley. These funds are used to assist residents — especially the underserved — in accessing vitally needed resources, such as primary and behavioral healthcare. Learn more.

 

 

Image Sources

  • Desert Healthcare District: Desert Healthcare District