Felipe Ortiz Seeks to Fill Vacancy on City Council

Felipe Ortiz has Designs on District 4 Seat

INDIO — Felipe Ortiz is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, community leader, and public servant running for Indio City Council District 4. He currently serves as Vice Chair of the Indio Planning Commission and as a Trustee for the Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District.

He is looking to fill the vacancy created after Oscar Ortiz (no relation) decided not to seek re-election.

He has one opponent, Jonathan Becerra. The two men each received a series of identical questions from Uken Report. Ortiz’s responses follow:

Uken Report (UR): Why are you a better candidate than your opponent?

Felipe Ortiz: I respect anyone who is willing to put themselves forward to serve the community. What distinguishes my candidacy is the range of experiences I bring. I served four years in the United States Marine Corps, worked in the federal government, currently work in the California State Assembly, and today serve as Vice Chair of the Indio Planning Commission and as a Trustee for the Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District

Those experiences have given me an understanding of government at the federal, state, regional, and local levels. If elected, I would be able to use that experience to hit the ground running and begin serving District 4 immediately at the City Council level. I already understand many of the issues, processes, and regional partnerships involved in local government, and I would bring that experience with me from day one.

UR: Would you ever approve a data center in Indio? Why or why not?

Felipe Ortiz: I do not support approving data centers in Indio. As Vice Chair of the Indio Planning Commission, I made the motion recommending that the City Council move forward with a permanent ban on data centers. My concern is whether Indio has the electrical infrastructure and capacity to support that type of intensive use while also meeting the needs of our residents and continued growth.

The City of Indio and the Imperial Irrigation District are already making major investments in electrical infrastructure, including new and expanded substations, to increase capacity and improve reliability as our city grows.

Data centers can require substantial and continuous amounts of electricity. Before Indio considers adding that type of additional electrical demand, I believe our priority should be making sure our infrastructure can support residents, new housing, local businesses, and other economic development opportunities.

I would rather see our available energy capacity used to support those needs.

UR: What is your vision for the city?

Felipe Ortiz: My vision is for Indio to continue growing while making sure that growth improves the quality of life for the people who already call our city home.

That means creating more opportunities for homeownership, keeping our neighborhoods safe and clean, maintaining a strong and responsible city budget, supporting local businesses, and making sure our roads, utilities, public safety services, and other infrastructure keep pace with development.

Indio is growing quickly, and I want us to plan for that growth responsibly so that we remain a city where working families can afford to live, own a home, raise their families, and build their future. These priorities are also reflected in my publicly stated campaign platform.

UR: How much do you plan to spend on your campaign?

Felipe Ortiz: I plan to raise and spend approximately $50,000 on the campaign.

Those funds will primarily be used for campaign signs, mailers, voter outreach, text messaging, phone calls, consulting fees, and other costs associated with communicating with residents throughout District 4.

I understand that campaign contributions and expenditures are public record, and I believe in being transparent about how the campaign raises and spends its funds.

UR: Who or what prompted you to run?

Felipe Ortiz: For me, it comes down to a sense of duty and responsibility to serve my community.

That desire to serve is why I joined the United States Marine Corps, and it is why I have continued to stay involved locally through the Indio Sunrise Rotary Club, the Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District, the Indio Planning Commission, and other community and volunteer efforts.

I enjoy being involved in my community and contributing to decisions that affect the people who live here. Running for City Council felt like another opportunity to continue that service and help make sure the decisions we make about Indio’s future consider the well-being of our residents.

UR: Is there a project unique to your district? What will you do about it?

Felipe Ortiz: One project with a particularly direct impact on many District 4 residents is the reconstruction of the Monroe Street interchange at Interstate 10. As development continues, traffic and infrastructure are increasingly important issues, and I want to make sure transportation improvements keep pace with growth.

If elected, I would continue pushing for coordination among the City, Caltrans, CVAG, Riverside County, U.S Department of Transportation, and other regional partners, while making sure residents are kept informed about timelines, construction impacts, and progress.

I also want to focus on neighborhood infrastructure and quality-of-life improvements, including our parks. Parks are an important part of our neighborhoods, and I want to make sure they are clean, safe, well maintained, and have the amenities residents and families need.

UR: What is the best quality about your opponent?

Felipe Ortiz:  I respect that he also wants to serve the community. Running for public office requires a significant commitment of time and energy, and I respect anyone who is willing to put their name forward, participate in the democratic process, and serve their community

UR: Is it appropriate for members of the City Council to campaign against a fellow councilmember without really saying why? Why or why not?

Felipe Ortiz: Every resident and voter, including members of the City Council, has the right to support the candidate of their choice. That is part of the beauty of our democratic process.

Whether they choose to publicly explain the reasons behind that support is ultimately up to them. Voters can listen to endorsements, look at each candidate’s experience and record, and decide for themselves how much weight they want to give those endorsements.

For me, my responsibility is to focus on my own campaign, my record, and what I would bring to the City Council.