David Ready Seeks Palm Springs City Council Seat

David Ready prepares to return to Palm Springs City Hall

PALM SPRINGS — David Ready, who in December 2020, retired as city manager after nearly 21 years, confirmed Tuesday he will seek the District 5 City Council seat in the 2024 city election. The seat is now held by Lisa Middleton.

“It’s exciting to perhaps have another opportunity to serve Palm Springs,” Ready told Uken Report. “And as you know, the elected/legislative side has always interested me as well.

Ready said he submitted his initial campaign organization forms with the City Clerk and Secretary of State last week.  He has not made any formal announcement, he said. He is planning to do that in January.

As city manager, Ready was responsible for oversight of the city’s $291 million budget. He managed continued growth through sometimes challenging economic conditions to elevate the Palm Springs brand as an iconic world-class tourist destination – with the ultimate goal of improving the quality of life for local residents.

Throughout two decades in the top post, Ready worked with residents, businesses, tourism, hospitality and neighborhood stakeholders to increase economic development and housing while improving city services, infrastructure and community engagement. All of this has allowed Palm Springs to transform into an even more vibrant, inclusive community that continues to experience tremendous growth, despite a global pandemic.

“Serving the residents of Palm Springs has been an honor and a privilege,” Ready said at the time. “I am proud of the work our team has accomplished in partnership with our City Council, residents, businesses, tourism and hospitality stakeholders.”

Then-Mayor Geoff Kors said, “Palm Springs has experienced an unprecedented renaissance under David Ready’s leadership.  My City Council colleagues, and I are incredibly grateful for his extraordinary knowledge and expertise when it comes to governing a complex municipality like Palm Springs and implementing important policy and community programs that make our city uniquely like no place else.”

Ready previously served as City Administrator of Flint, Mich., for eight years before arriving in Palm Springs in 2000.