A Victory for Ernest Ceceña Would Make Nice Birthday Gift

PALM SPRINSGS — He didn’t exactly say so, but Ernest Ceceña dropped a broad hint at what his birthday wish might be when he         completed our candidate questionnaire.

UR: Age and occupation

Ernest Ceceña: I am currently 49, turning the big 5-0 on 11/01/24, right before Election Day. I currently serve as a Compliance Manager for AmeriHome Mortgage, mentoring/managing 4 auditors, as we test our servicer for compliance against federal, state, and investor servicing regulations.

UR: Who or what motivated you to run for the City Council?

Ernest Ceceña: It started with the community encouraging me to run. They witnessed what I was capable of and the benefits of my accomplishments. In my home, it started as an ongoing joke, “Ernest for Mayor, 2036”, the year I planned to retire. But after a long talk with my husband, we realized the city needed me now and we were capable of taking this responsibility on, as a team. Having that full support at home is crucial. I’ve never looked back.

UR: How long have you lived in Palm Springs full time?

Ernest Ceceña: We moved to Palm Springs in August 2020, during COVID, wearing masks, in 117 degree weather (we had no idea). We were both working remotely full-time, even before COVID, and decided to move our retirement plan up early and move while we were still young(ish). But I realized very quickly that Palm Springs had issues just like every other city.  The community I immediately fell in love with was hurting and I had to do something.

UR: What is your No. 1 priority for the city?

Ernest Ceceña: If I have to list one, I would say that it is Public Safety. The city is growing rapidly and I want to ensure that public safety is considered in every decision going forward. That means listening to Palm Springs PD, Firefighters, and Emergency Management. Monitoring our projects and the impacts to the community. It is a reputational risk for our great resort city to continue moving forward without a focus on public safety.

UR: What makes you a better candidate than your opponents?

Ernest Ceceña: What I bring differently than all other candidates is my 30 years of financial oversight. I have served as an analyst, accountant, and auditor, over my career. These skills are needed on city council, especially when considering recent events of corruption. My direct involvement with District 4 residence and issues affecting my community set me aside as well.

UR: Do you see yourself a team player or an individual who will fight for your opinion? Why?

Ernest Ceceña: Over my 30-year career, you learn that it takes a team to accomplish the big picture. I will lean on my experts in tourism, public safety, affordable housing, homelessness, in order to be presented with the data to support our efforts.  It will be myself and other city council members and staff to analyze the data, in order to formulate the probing, necessary questions and make an informed decision. Once that decision has been made, I can present the evidence on how a decision was made, for others to take into consideration.

UR: How do you deal with conflict? Give us an example.

Ernest Ceceña: I will always approach conflict as an analyst, with the possibility that maybe there is something that I may not see or understand. With that, I will reach out to those that do not agree with my opinion / decision, and make that effort to understand their point of view. Whether the issue is at a city level or a smaller community level issue, I am always open to listen.  People associate me with the President of Save PS Golf and taking on Oswit Land Trust and their efforts to purchase the only municipal golf course in Palm Springs. What people do not know is that Save PS Golf reached out to Oswit Land Trust, to try and come up with an acceptable compromise for both parties. Unfortunately, we were not able to accomplish this..But there was a moment when we sat across the table from one another and made that effort. Something that I am very proud of, from both parties.

UR: Does Palm Springs need to change way it’s been doing business? Change its image? If so, in what way?

Ernest Ceceña: I want to measure our success. I want to see metrics in place for many of the growth decisions the city is making, to monitor what is working, and what is not. For those areas falling below acceptable metrics, what can be done to improve them, and then celebrate those metrics that are on target.