Gary Gardner Seeks Re-election in DHS

Gary Gardner Calls Asks Voters to Return Him to District 1 Seat

DESERT HOT SPRINGS — City Councilmember Gary Gardner announced his intention to run for re-election this year in District 1.

“Desert Hot Springs is an amazing city, and I want to continue working – not for just the residents of District 1, but the entire city,” Gardner said: in a prepared statement. “I want to make Desert Hot Springs the best place to live in Southern California. I’m honored to have the support and endorsement of Mayor Scott Matas and all three of my council colleagues. We’ve made great progress in the last four years on things that really matter to our residents like achieving the lowest crime rate of all the valley cities according to FBI statistics; having a fully staffed Police Department with 36 sworn officers; opening a new fire station on the city’s east side; changing our approach to homeless outreach which has an amazing 76% success rate in getting people housed; bringing Amazon’s new facility to the city with 1500 new jobs; and seeing our tourism sector grow with new and revitalized hot mineral water spas opening up.”

Gardner was first elected in 2018 and was re-elected in 2022 to represent District 1 after the city moved to four council districts and a city-wide elected Mayor. (District 1 covers all the city South of Pierson Boulevard to I-10, and West of Palm Drive to Indian Canyon Drive.)

Gardner also serves as the Chairman of the Coachella Valley Conservation Commission, which oversees the Coachella Valley Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan and the conserved lands across the valley. “I’m very proud of my work with CVCC purchasing and managing conservation land, and tackling the problems of illegal encampments and trash dumping in our desert” Gardner said.

“Using a grant from Cal Recycle, we removed more than 45 abandoned vehicles, 260,000 pounds of garbage, cleaned 1,284 acres of conservation land, removed 9 illegal encampments and offered outreach services to those living there, and all with no law enforcement actions taken,” Gardner said, “My main goal is simple – keep the momentum going! – keep our city safe, business friendly, and fiscally responsible.”

His campaign kick-off party is Wednesday April 29, at 6 p.m. at Delicias, 66121 Pierson Boulevard. You can learn more about Council Member Gardner’s
priorities and his accomplishments from the campaign web page: http://www.gardnerfordhs.com..

For more information contact Gary Gardner, 206-669-0548 or [email protected]

Jan Pye’s term also expires in December. No word on whether she will seek re-election.