DHS Mayor Scott Matas to Seek Fourth Term

Mayor Scott Matas Announces Reelection Bid for Mayor

DESERT HOT SPRINGS — After careful consideration, Mayor Scott Matas has announced he will seek reelection to a fourth, four-year term in November. It will be the last time he can run as mayor due to term limits, he told Uken Report.

“It was a tough decision,” he said. “It takes a toll.”

The COVID-19 pandemic re-energized him, he said.

Matas first made the announcement on his Facebook page.

“I know it might seem a bit early, but time flies, and I want to start the conversation now about the accomplishments we’ve achieved together over the last four years and the exciting plans for the next four years after reelection,” he said in his announcement.

His official kickoff is set for 5:30 p.m. Jan. 31st. Matas has served on the City Council since 2007 and was elected Mayor in 2015.

The mayor is elected at large.

Council members serve four-year terms; the Mayor serves a four-year term with a limit of two terms. In 2022, the city transitioned to a by-district election process commencing with the Nov. 8, 2022 General Municipal Election.

The City Council seats of Russell Betts and Roger Nuñez expire in November. Since moving to district elections, both councilors are now in District 2. If they want to remain on the City Council, they will need to compete against each other, run for the at-large mayor’s seat or not run at all.

Betts told Uken Report on Monday that he is not ready to make any announcement; Nuñez could not immediately be reached for comment.

You may learn more about Matas here: https://scottmatas.com