Marcos Granados Would Bring ‘Fresh Voice’ to Coachella City Council

COACHELLA — Uken Report distributed a questionnaire to all candidates. Participation was voluntary. Following are the responses of Marcos Granados.

UR: Age and occupation:

Marcos Granados: I’m 33 years old. I direct farming operations for Hadley Date Gardens. I’ve dedicated a total of 15 years to agriculture, specifically dates. In that time, I learned every corner of the date industry. Agriculture always has its challenges and getting around them is where the work really is. I learned the life experience and earned the passion for agriculture that comes from the job. I have the honor of being Vice Chair of the Parks and Recreations Commission. It’s been a great experience getting to know the community and working with the Public Works Department. Through the commission, we got to work with the community and hear the concerns of the sports leagues.

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

Marcos Granados: Being a fresh voice is what motivates me for City Council. I’m excited to be running as a regular member from the community. Someone who doesn’t have all the connections and is learning as this campaign moves along. Bringing relatable life experiences to the council means new ideas. New ideas to keep Coachella growing in the right direction.

UR: How long have you lived in Coachella full time?

Marcos Granados: In 1998, my family settled in a small community a short walk away from Cesar Chaves Elementary. Ever since then, Coachella has been home. Coachella is the place that turned me into who I am today, the place I’m rooted in.

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

Marcos Granados: I would say my number one priority for the city is ensuring the city has enough green spaces. Being with the Park and Recs Commission the community always had the same concern, not enough fields for the demand of use. Expanding current parks
and placing small green spaces can alleviate the stress behind the current parks.

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

Marcos Granados:  I’m up against some tough opponents and we all have our strengths. I believe I’m set apart because I’m coming from agriculture and can still relate to the community. I haven’t been far removed from the reality of the real world and still know what the struggle is like. That’s what I plan to bring to the city council, a fresh perspective from someone other than a politician.

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

Marcos Granados: I like to consider myself a team player. I’ve always been able to work well with others and work towards solutions everyone can agree on. That doesn’t mean I don’t know how to express my concerns when there’s something I cannot support. I believe we all need to work towards what’s best for the city and keep the community’s concerns in mind. Taking steps towards reaching a common ground should always be the first move.

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

Marcos Granados: Dealing with conflicts is never easy. Starting off by hearing both sides and conversing over the causes is a good place to start. You get understand why things got out of hand in the first place and why a dead lock exists. You take this chance and guide the conversations towards an outcome that could benefit all parties involved. In the end, it’s about getting all sides to understand where we’re coming from. Conflict doesn’t mean an outcome is unattainable.

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

Marcos Granados: I believe Coachella has been on a growing path that keeps pushing the city to new limits. Coachella could benefit from growing its local businesses and expanding its residential areas. Coachella needs to be labeled as a great town for starting to
families. Small town vibes with big city advantages.

UR: Coachella has seen an explosion of growth. What should be next on the horizon for the community?

Marcos Granados: Coachella has boomed, and we need to make sure the community can keep up with all the progress. I see more social programs being brought into the city and want to keep that going. Coachella could benefit from offering more health services for the elderly and low-income families. Bigger parks and more green spaces to keep the community active and healthy.