Rita Lamb, Nancy Ross to Seek Reelection in 2024

Incumbents Rita Lamb and Nancy Ross to Seek Reelection to City Council

CATHEDRAL CITY — Councilmember Rita Lamb, who represents District 1, and Mayor Pro Tem Nancy Ross, who represents District 2, have each confirmed to Uken Report that she will run another term in the November election.

Lamb served a one-year rotation as mayor in 2023; if reelected, Ross will serve a one-year rotation as mayor in 2025.

Lamb was elected by the voters to the City Council on Aug. 27, 2019, during a Special Election called after the death Mayor Gregory S. Pettis and re-elected to a four-year term on Nov. 3, 2020.

She is the first district representative for District 1, which includes the neighborhoods of the Cathedral City Cove, portions of Cathedral Canyon Country Club, business districts west of Cathedral Canyon, western section of the Whitewater neighborhood that includes the Boys and Girls Club located on Whispering Trail, Cimarron Cove, the Cathedral Palms Senior Living on Landau, and the western portion of the Downtown Arts and Entertainment District.

“I have had a blast,” Lamb told Uken Report. “I pinch myself because I can’t believe I get to do this at this point in my life. It’s spectacular.”

Lamb previously served as an elementary school principal for much of her career and received high honors, such as “Principal of the Year” by the Desert Sands Unified School District.  Prior to retiring in 2014, she served as principal in the Coachella Valley Unified School District.

On November 3, 2020, Councilmember Nancy Ross was elected to be the first representative for Cathedral City’s District 2. Prior to her election, she served on the Cathedral City Public Arts Commission and on the Cannabis and Homeless task forces. She has also served on Supervisor V. Manuel Perez’ Green Ribbon Commission on Behavioral Health and with Lift to Rise with their affordable housing efforts.

“Over these last few years, we, as a community, have made significant strides in addressing key issues facing our city, from the infrastructure of our roads — thoroughfares to small side streets — to addressing the needs of Horizon and other neighborhoods during the emergency situation caused by Tropical Storm Hilary,” Ross told Uken Report. “We will continue to foster economic development with new businesses like the 13.5-acre Cathedral Cove Center across from the Casino to four new neighborhood communities recently built.”

Ross said she wants the opportunity to continue uplifting the community as a whole with fun activities like the Dinosaurs exhibit on Highway 111 that brought more than 10,000 families as well as bringing more activities like Fun O’rama at Ocotillo Park.

“This was also the neighborhood that I worked with to become the first area of our city that has an official neighborhood name, Ocotillo Square, with one of a kind artwork on sign toppers. Of course, safety is and has been paramount to Cathedral City and along with the Red Cross, community groups and Cathedral City first responders I have worked side by side with many of our communities to install smoke detectors, bring emergency preparedness to their homes and by doing hands on general neighborhood cleanup to continue to make Cathedral City shine. If re-elected I will work together towards a future where every individual has the opportunity to thrive and succeed, lifting each other up as we work tirelessly for progress and prosperity.

“I firmly believe that with continued dedication and collaborative efforts, we can create opportunities that benefit every member of our diverse community, including our ever-growing LGBTQ+ residents to build upon our successes, and propel our city toward an even brighter future,” Ross said.

If you have questions about the November election, please contact the City Clerk’s Office at 760 770-0322 or email thermosillo@cathedralcity.gov.