Palm Springs Council Could Cancel November Election For District 2 Seat

PALM SPRINGS, CA—The Palm Springs City Council will discuss whether to swear in the sole candidate for the District 2 seat or proceed with deciding the seat in November's election during a special meeting Thursday at City Hall.

If the council decides to appoint current District 2 Councilman Jeffrey Bernstein, the general election for that role will be canceled. Bernstein will be presented with a "Certification That There Are Not More Candidates Than Offices To Be Elected" and will officially begin the role after the Nov. 3 election for a term of four years.

However, write-in candidates will continue to be accepted during the period of Sept. 7 through Oct. 20 if the election is not canceled, according to a staff report.

Bernstein has served on the City Council since November 2022 and served as the city's mayor for a one-year term during that time. He is the founder and managing partner of Destination PSP, a retail business in the downtown area.

Prior to being elected to the council, he served as an elected member of the board of directors of the Palm Springs Hospitality Association, was a member of the board of directors of Main Street Palm Springs and a member of the Bureau of the Tourism Strategic Advisory Committee, according to the city's website.

According to the staff report, this is the second time the council has faced the same predicament, with the first taking place in 2020 for the District 5 seat.

If the election for District 2 proceeds, it will cost an estimated $22,000.

Thursday's meeting will be held at 9 a.m. at 3200 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way.