Until now, Kimberlin Brown Pelzer, a Republican candidate who is seeking the 36th Congressional District has been absent on the district’s public stage.
But she is making her presence known now.
On Saturday, she spent the day with California Women for Agriculture — Coachella Valley traveling to farms in the Valley talking to farmers about the problems affecting them.
She also appeared at the candlelight vigil on Nov. 1 that was designed to pay tribute to the late George Zander, a popular gay activist, who was savagely beaten. She posed for a selfie with candidates for Palm Springs City Council to document her presence.
The vigil was part of Greater Palm Springs Pride.
George and Chris Zander had been attacked on Nov. 1 near Calle Encilia and Tahquitz Canyon Way in Palm Springs after leaving Hunters Nightclub, which is located in the heart of gay nightlife. The heinous attack left George Zander, 71 at the time, with a double-fracture to his hip and subsequent surgery. Chris Zander was struck in the back of the head with a tire iron, suffered a concussion and needed staples in his head.
A coroner later ruled that Zander died of natural causes unrelated to the assault.
Earlier this year, two men pleaded guilty to felony charges for attacking the Zanders. One pleaded guilty to assault and admitted a hate crime allegation; the other pleaded guilty to assault.
On Nov. 3, she attended a for-members-only Lincoln Club of the Coachella Valley dinner with featured speaker Ambassador John Bolton. She posted a selfie with the Ambassador to her Facebook page and her her website.
They mark the first time Brown Pelzer has made public appearances in the desert since announcing her candidacy. She reportedly bought a house in Palm Springs in October and has been busy moving in.
But she now appears to be making up for lost time.
The Republican soap opera actress, 56, who currently appears on the “Bold and Beautiful,” has been on talk radio in San Diego ostensibly raising money for her campaign. She is a Trump surrogate and spoke at the Republican National Convention.
She has also done interviews with Roll Call that she is promoting on her website and Facebook page. She urges supporters and followers to read the story Roll Call “wrote on me.”
In one article, Roll Call wrote about “new recruits” and listed Brown Pelzer as one of them.
Nearly a fourth of the Republican women in the House aren’t coming back next term, according to Roll Call. Another handful could lose competitive re-elections next fall. Twenty-two GOP women serve as representatives. Five have already announced their departures.
The task for Republicans this year may be less about increasing the number of female lawmakers and more about minimizing the party’s losses, according to Roll Call, which puts added pressure on all Republicans.
California’s 36th Congressional District is located in the southeastern portion of the state and includes most of Riverside County, including the area from Hemet to Blythe. It also includes the desert communities of Palm Springs, Palm Desert, Indio, Coachella, Rancho Mirage, Desert Hot Springs, Indian Wells and Cathedral City.
Brown Pelzer and Dan Ball, 42, are competing for the Republican nomination for the 36th Congressional District. Ball has been working the district since day one.
