Joel Kinnamon Sworn-In as COD Board of Trustee for Area 4

PALM DESERT — Joel Kinnamon isn’t waiting on formalities to get a jump on his new role as the representative for Area 4 on the College of the Desert Board of Trustees.

With the Riverside County Registrar of Voters having completed its certification of the 2022 General Election results, Kinnamon was sworn-in by incoming Board Chair Bonnie Stefan as the newest member of the COD Board of Trustees representing Area 4.  According to Education Code 5017, Kinnamon serves as the official representative for Area 4 as of today, Friday, Dec. 9.

Kinnamon challenged former Area 4 Incumbent Aurora Wilson winning the election with 15,200 votes to her 12,831 with a lead difference of 2,369 votes or 8.5%.  Kinnamon ran on the platform of “Getting COD Back on Track” by expressing his commitment to the public of providing accountability, transparency and fiscal responsibility.

“I appreciate the support of the voters who understand the importance of this wonderful educational institution and its significance of educating and training our students for career paths that improve their lives as well as serving the needs of the entire Coachella Valley,” Kinnamon said in a prepared statement.  “I pledge to work with my fellow board members to get COD back on track.  In order to do so, we must first examine a multitude of factors, using an external forensics auditor, to determine what caused COD to pause or cancel commitments towards building promised educational facilities throughout the valley, caused a reduction in the number of onsite class offerings resulting in lower enrollments, caused faculty and staff morale to plummet, and caused the City of Palm Springs to file a lawsuit against COD for a lack of transparency to public records requests.”

A ceremonial swearing-in will take place at the first regularly scheduled board meeting on Friday, Dec. 16 starting at 9:30 am.  Kinnamon has invited three former COD trustees to swear him in on this special day including former Area 1 Board Trustee Becky Broughton, former Area 2 Board Trustee Mary Jane Sanchez, and former Area 3 Board Trustee Michael O’Neil.  These former trustees worked with Kinnamon when he previously served as COD’s superintendent/president from July 2012 to March 31, 2021.

Trustee Area 4 of Desert Community College District includes the eastern side of Cathedral City, the western side of La Quinta, and most of Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert and Indian Wells.

Image Sources

  • Joel Kinnamon being sworn in: Chris Parman