Photo Courtesy of Dan Ball
Dan Ball, a former Coachella Valley television news anchor officially announced his candidacy for the 36th Congressional District, and has already been identified as the type of face the local Republican Party needs.
Ball, 42, a Republican, is the second Republican to announce seek the seat.
He and Kimberlin Brown Pelzer, best known for roles she’s played on soap operas, are challenging Raul Ruiz, a Democrat, who was elected in 2012 to represent the district. Brown Pelzer took center stage to speak at the 2016 Republican Party Convention.
Ruiz, a Harvard-educated doctor, targeted by the National Republican Congressional Committee in 2018. The committee is reportedly targeting 36 Democrat-held districts in blue-collar areas.
In a telephone interview with Uken Report, Ball said, “It’s time to put people first. I think too many politicians are putting their party and special interest groups before the needs of the people they represent.”
Ball said he has met and listened to business owners, spiritual leaders, charities, community residents, groups and organizations to get a gauge of the issues and to measure support for his congressional bid.
As of June 30, the latest finance report available, Ruiz’s campaign committee had just shy of $1.6 million on hand.
Former Palm Desert Mayor Jim Ferguson, a committed, unwavering Republican, told Uken Report in a telephone interview that Ball is a “good example of a fresh, new face” and what the local Republican Party needs.
“He’s somebody that is not molded by a lot of the archaic messages of the Republican Party,” Ferguson said. “He’s somebody who’s vibrant, open … and has the enthusiasm to make a change.”
Ball is a prime example of the “younger blood” so desperately needed to infuse the GOP.
“I’m tired of continually having people referring to us as the party of old, white men,” Ferguson said. “Not that I have anything against age or race, but it’s not a fair characterization on the one hand. On the other hand it’s high time we get younger people involved in the parties.”
California’s 36th Congressional is located in the southeastern portion of the state and includes most of Riverside County, including the area from Hemet to Blythe. It also includes the desert communities of Palm Springs, Palm Desert, Indio, Coachella, Rancho Mirage, Desert Hot Springs, Indian Wells and Cathedral City.
Ball has been a licensed California Realtor since 2003 and is currently listed as an agent on the Capitis Real Estate website.
Dan Ball first moved to the district in 1996, where he worked as a photographer at ABC affiliate KESQ, and now resides in Palm Desert. In addition to being a real estate broker in the Coachella Valley, Dan is a veteran of the United States Air Force, a former news anchor, and has a daughter Avery.
