Brian Nestande Ineligible to Seek COD Trustee Seat

Brian Nestande said he will take a few days to talk with his supporters before deciding whether to endorse another candidate

Brian Nestande, who just last week reported raising $65,000 in his bid to represent Trustee Area 4 on the Desert Community College District Board, has learned that he is not eligible to run in Trustee Area 4, Uken Report has confirmed.

Due to new districts being drawn in Palm Desert after the 2020 Census, Nestande now lives in Trustee Area 5, not Trustee Area 4 where he had planned to run against incumbent Trustee Aurora Wilson and Joel Kinnamon, President Emeritus of College of the Desert.

Nestande said he went to pick up his papers on Wednesday and that’s when he learned he no longer lives in Trustee Area 4.

“It was a bit of a shock,” Nestande told Uken Report. “It is what it is. You move on. It’s my mistake.”

Nestande, a former state Assemblymember, said he will continue his work as a government affairs consultant in Palm Desert. He was previously deputy CEO of Riverside County until May 2021. He served in the California Assembly from 2008 to 2014 as a Republican representing the Coachella Valley.

During his time in the Assembly, Nestande was vice chair of the education committee and worked on issues related to funding career technical education in community colleges.

Nestande said he will take a few days to talk with his supporters before deciding whether to endorse another candidate.

He had already amassed some significant endorsements, including:

• Indian Wells Mayor Dana Reed and Councilmember Greg Sanders
• Rancho Mirage Mayor Charles Townsend, Mayor Pro Tem Richard Kite, Councilmember Ted Weill, Councilmember Iris Smotrich
• La Quinta councilmembers John Pena and Steve Sanchez
• Palm Desert Mayor Pro Tem Sabby Jonathan and Councilmember Gina Nestande (who is Nestande’s wife)

Trustee Area 4 includes Rancho Mirage, most of Palm Desert, Indian Wells and part of La Quinta.