Palm Desert City Council Race Draws Attention of RSA
PALM DESERT — The Riverside Sheriff’s Association, which wields tremendous clout and has deep pockets, has endorsed Chris Scott, a 31-year-old self-employed Realtor, who is challenging Karina Quintanilla for the District 1 seat on the City Council,
It is a rare move for the RSA which usually reserves its endorsements — and financial contributions — for state and county candidates. The RSA at this point in time is not saying how much money and-or manpower it will donate to Scott’s campaign.
Chris Scott and family
“My family and I are honored to have earned the endorsement of the Riverside Sheriffs Association,” Scott told Uken Report. “I am committed to ensuring the men and women who put themselves on the line for our community every day have the tools and technology they need so that Palm Desert remains a public safety leader in the region for years to come.”
The RSA’s endorsement is likely the result of Quintanilla stirring up a hornet’s nest when she publicly condemned a feature story, the writer and online publication of an article about the Patriot Store appearing in the El Paseo catalogue. She did it using her Mayor’s social media account.
The post, which has since been taken down, included this language, “I LOVE the City of Palm Desert but I HATE that this in the El Paseo Catalogue. “The Patriot Store’s goal to share American politics with guests fuels the fire.”
Quintanilla said she made a mistake in posting from her mayoral account. She has not apologized for writing it.
Quintanilla, who is seeking re-election in the Nov. 5 election, was called “careless,” “stupid,” “self-serving,” “disrespectful,” and “pathetic” during public comments at a recent City Council meeting. That was before she was told to resign or be recalled.
Since the uproar, East Valley Republican Women Patriots has endorsed Scott. So has a majority of the City Council, including Mayor Pro Tem Jan Harnik, Evan Trubee and Gina Nestande. Former Mayor Sabby Jonathan has also endorsed Scott.
District 1 includes Civic Center Park and some surrounding areas along Fred Waring Drive and north of Highway 111. Click here to access the District Locator Interactive Map
