Wayne Avrashow Eyes Rancho Mirage Council Seat

Wayne Avrashow Among New Faces Seeking Seat on City Council

RANCHO MIRAGE —Wayne Avrashow is among five men running for one of two seats on the five-member City Council. Each seat is a four-year term.

The others in the race are incumbent Michaeal O’Keefe who was appointed to the council last year; incumbent Ted Weill; and political newcomers Nate Lewis, who operates his own solar company, Goat Solar; and Gregory Goodman, who owns My Little Flower Shop in Palm Springs, relocated to Rancho Mirage a few years ago.

Uken Report (UR) sent each of the candidates identical questionnaires. Participation was voluntary. Neither Lewis nor Goodman participated. Following are the unedited responses from Weill.

UR: Age and occupation

Wayne Avrashow: I am 73 years old. I am an attorney specializing in business, real estate, and land use. I’m proud to say I am also an Amazon Bestselling novelist.

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

Wayne Avrashow: Our City Council is dysfunctional. Three out of four members were initially appointed by the other Council members who hand-pick their “cronies” when vacancies occur–that’s not democracy. The fifth member abruptly resigned, describing the other members as “vindictive.” Public office is a public trust, and the Rancho Mirage City Council desperately needs new ideas, a fresh perspective, and a steady hand. I am passionate about public service and will donate my first-year Rancho Mirage City Council salary to local charities.

UR: How long   have you lived in Rancho Mirage?

I am a full-time resident of Rancho Mirage. I have visited the Coachella Valley frequently for fifty years. My family had homes in the Coachella Valley for forty-plus years. My in-laws purchased their home in 1995. Rancho Mirage was the first and only choice for my wife Ann and me when we made offers on homes last year. The test for leadership should not be how long you have lived here but what experience, passion, and talents you offer. I’m confident Rancho Mirage voters will select the most talented person, not who has lived here the longest.

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

Wayne Avrashow: I’ll bring sunlight to city hall for a more transparent and responsive City Council. We should alternate Council meetings between 1 and 5 p.m. to boost participation. Council members should be subject to term limits of two four-year terms. The public is shut out from major decisions. The Council approved Cotino/Disney, which will bring more than three thousand new residents, a large commercial center, and a four hundred-room hotel—a 15-18% increase in our population. The city did not have a meeting in the community that was accessible to all; only one afternoon meeting at city hall.

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

Wayne Avrashow: My experience. I will bring stability to the City Council. My career began in government as a top aide/chief of staff to two Los Angeles city council members, including Zev Yaroslavsky. I was a close advisor to Zev throughout his legendary career and served on two crucial government commissions. I have been an attorney for thirty-plus years, representing individuals, small businesses, and large corporations, and an officer of two corporations. I’m running a grassroots campaign fueled by supporters from Rancho Mirage and throughout the Coachella Valley. My candidacy has been endorsed by the group Rancho Mirage Forward and the working men and women essential to our community–the Western States Carpenters and the Teamsters.

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

Wayne Avrashow: I’ll be a team player on the Council but not be afraid to battle for my community. I would push for an additional Sheriff’s patrol, accelerate the construction of a third fire station, and stop these constant appointments to the City Council. In my younger days, after the City of Los Angeles accepted hosting the 1984 Olympic Games, some city leaders stubbornly ignored the potential negative financial impact. I helped draft a city charter amendment that protected taxpayers from potential economic catastrophe.

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

Wayne Avrashow: Our city faces many issues that would benefit from someone with “real world” knowledge of law and government. I know how to manage growth to ensure the unique character of Rancho Mirage is not compromised. As a court-appointed mediator, I know how to solve problems and reach solutions. Our city spends approximately $1 million per year on legal fees. As the only attorney on the Council, I’ll hold the line on legal expenses.

UR: Does Rancho Mirage need to change way it’s been doing business? Change its image? If so, in what way? It lost Babe’s to Indio and The River is a shell of itself, etc.

Wayne Avrashow: Yes. Yes. Yes. The process is always critical. I would institute monthly “Meet the Councilman” meetings throughout the city to hear the ideas of our residents. We have a vibrant and sophisticated community, and the city should actively encourage ideas from our residents and businesses. One-half of our city revenue is derived from the sales and hotel/bed taxes, and we must be proactive to ensure that revenue continues.

UR: Rancho Mirage is the only valley city that does not have a method for residents to watch live council meetings remotely. Recordings of its council meetings are available online within a few days. Do you agree with this policy? Why or why not?

Wayne Avrashow: (Avrashow changed the misleading question to: SHOULD RESIDENTS BE ABLE TO REMOTELY COMMENT ON CITY COUNCIL)

It is shameful that we cannot comment from the comfort of our homes. Rancho Mirage allowed this during the pandemic, and with the summer heat, it is nonsensical that the City Council bans virtual comments. Residents should be able to have a say in their local government in person or virtually. Other Coachella Valley cities allow this, and we have the technology to permit it. The Council should encourage and promote resident participation whenever possible.