By Heidi Simmons
The Consolidated General Election is quickly approaching. For two of the nine desert cities, that means the possibility of new leadership and fresh ideas. Desert Hot Springs and Palm Springs will be voting for Mayor and City Council members.
CV Weekly wanted to know more about the personal lives of the 26 running for office. Here are the candidates who responded in their own words:
LARRY BUCHCANAN – Candidate for Desert Hot Springs City Council
CVW: What is your favorite thing to do in the CV?
Drives through remote areas.
CVW: What’s your favorite CV restaurant?
Domo in DHS.
CVW: What kind of music do you most enjoy?
Classic rock.
CVW: What was the last book you read or what books are on your nightstand? “The Half Has Never Been Told” by Edward Baptist and “X” by Sue Grafton.
CVW: What’s your favorite TV show or favorite movie?
“Morning Joe.”
CVW: If you are elected, and can do whatever you want without any restrictions or cost concerns, what would it be?
Provide for our city’s many public safety concerns, especially through providing services for our youth and gang prevention and graffiti abatement. I’d provide better street lighting and proper crosswalks.
RON ODEN – Candidate for Palm Springs Mayor
CVW: What is your favorite thing to do in the CV?
I enjoy the mountains and the desert landscape. Whether that is walking, running or nighttime star gazing.
CVW: What’s your favorite CV restaurant?
If I’m in the mood for Spanish, then it’s Las Casuelas Terraza. If I don’t feel like cooking, it’s Billy Reeds. If I have guests in town then there are plenty of options. It depends on their palates.
CVW: What kind of music do you most enjoy?
My favorite is Gospel Music, followed by Jazz and R&B but if I’m in the mood to dance then it’s Pop and House Music.
CVW: What was the last book you read or what books are on your nightstand?
The two on the nightstand are “The Bible” and “The Measure of a Man” by Sidney Poitier.
CVW: What’s your favorite TV show or favorite movie?
I am enjoying “Empire” and “The Walking Dead.”
CVW: If you are elected, and can do whatever you want without any restrictions or cost concerns, what would it be?
I would fix the homeless issue in the City of Palm Springs
SCOTT MATAS – Candidate for Desert Hot Springs Mayor
CVW: What is your favorite thing to do in the CV?
My fiancé and I love to visit and use the local spas, and outside the city we love the Rockyard.
CVW: What’s your favorite CV restaurant?
In the city, we love Casa Blanca, Zapopan, Cottage Too and Sidewinder.
CVW: What kind of music do you most enjoy?
Rock, alternative, but truly love 80’s rock.
CVW: What was the last book you read or what books are on your nightstand?
Not a big reader, but recently read “On The Desert Since 1913” a book about Cabot Yerxa.
CVW: What’s your favorite TV show or favorite movie?
“The Big Bang Theory” and anything with Tom Hanks
CVW: If you are elected, and can do whatever you want without any restrictions or cost concerns, what would it be?
A big tourism plan and make Desert Hot Springs the destination it deserves to be. This would bring the necessary tax revenue that would put more cops on the streets, fix the quality of life issues, etc.
PAUL LEWIN – Candidate for Palm Springs City Council
CVW: What is your favorite thing to do in the CV?
Spend quality time with my beautiful girlfriend.
CVW: What’s your favorite CV restaurant?
Wayne King’s Kitchen.
CVW: What kind of music do you most enjoy?
It used to be called Rock – I’m not sure what people call it anymore. U2, Chili Peppers, Mazzy Star, Bowie and Sneaker Pimps are all on my regular play list.
CVW: What was the last book you read or what books are on your nightstand?
“The Golem and Jinni” – but my favorite book is probably “The Hour I First Believed” by Wally Lamb.
CVW: What’s your favorite TV show or favorite movie?
Movie: “Gloomy Sunday;” TV Show: “The Walking Dead.”
CVW: If you are elected, and can do whatever you want without any restrictions or cost concerns, what would it be?
Ha ha – so this is pure fantasy. In that case, I would wish for a magnificent UC Palm Springs campus connected by bullet train to the beach.
YVONNE PARKS – Candidate for Desert Hot Springs City Council
CVW: What is your favorite thing to do in the CV?
I enjoy many things. I enjoy going to the movie theater, window shopping in Palm Springs and Westfield Mall and taking my grandsons to their favorite restaurant Babes for Ribs.
CVW: What’s your favorite CV restaurant?
I have several. In DHS for Mexican food, I love Zapopan; for Chinese Kam Lun; for home cooking; Sidewinder. In Palm Springs my favorites are: Spencer’s, Lulu and Johannes. In Palm Desert I like Red Lobster, Panda Express and Babe’s.
CVW: What kind of music do you most enjoy?
I enjoy soft ballads, some country and overall music from the 50’s to the 80’s.
CVW: What was the last book you read or what books are on your nightstand?
Last book, “Catherine the Great” by Robert K. Massie. In line to read: “Where’d You Go Bernadette” By Maria Semple and “The Lady in Gold” by Anne-Marie O’Conner.
CVW: What’s your favorite TV show or favorite movie?
TV: “Bones,” “Castle,” “NCIS,” “CSI”. Movies: “Gone With The Wind,” “Godfather,” “It’s a Wonderful Life.”
CVW: If you are elected, and can do whatever you want without any restrictions or cost concerns, what would it be?
Restore the pay and benefits to the Police and City staff. Restore funding to the Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center. Have our community John Furbee Pool open full time. To name a few.
RUSSELL BETTS – Candidate for Desert Hot Springs City Council
CVW: What is your favorite thing to do in the CV?
I seem to have the most fun when I am working on a project of some sort. While it was a lot of work and, organizing and putting on the city’s fireworks concert on July 5 was really fun. Stuff like that is always the most fun to do.
CVW: What’s your favorite CV restaurant?
There are too many good restaurants in Desert Hot Springs to have a favorite. It depends what type of food the family is in the mood for.
CVW: What kind of music do you most enjoy?
Blues and Rock & Roll, but mostly blues.
CVW: What was the last book you read or what books are on your nightstand?
On my nightstand is John Grisham’s “The Litigators” and I just got through reading “The Gathering Storm” which I was prompted to read again in light of world events and Churchill’s timeless advise in times like these.
CVW: What’s your favorite TV show or favorite movie?
Favorite movie is “Anne of Green Gables,” the 1985 remake staring Megan Fallows, Colleen Dewhurst and Richard Farnsworth. As for a favorite TV show, I don’t watch much TV. Can’t say I have a favorite TV show.
CVW: If you are elected, and can do whatever you want without any restrictions or cost concerns, what would it be?
Beautify Palm Drive and the city’s other main traffic corridors, making the drives stunningly attractive. Not just a curb-to-curb make over but beautification that is building facade to building facade, including a classic style movie theater. Obviously that goes with a fully funded police department to make for a safe and clean city. That’s for starters.
DAVID BROWN – Candidate for Palm Springs City Council
CVW: What is your favorite thing to do in the CV?
In my free time, I enjoy going to the White Water Preserve for Hiking, and being with nature.
CVW: What’s your favorite CV restaurant?
My favorite restaurant in the CV is LuLu’s in Palm Springs.
CVW: What kind of music do you most enjoy?
I enjoy Jazz, and Bluegrass Music.
CVW: What was the last book you read or what books are on your nightstand?
My BIBLE, and my Daily Devotion.
CVW: What’s your favorite TV show or favorite movie?
My Favorite Documentary is “The Secret.”
CVW: If you are elected, and can do whatever you want without any restrictions or cost concerns, what would it be?
I would devote more funding to Public Safety, open another Fire Station and make sure the Police Department had everything they needed to PROTECT Palm Springs.
ANNA NEVENIC – Candidate for Palm Springs City Council
CVW: What is your favorite thing to do in the CV?
Play tennis, reading, going to different social, political and fundraising events.
CVW: What’s your favorite CV restaurant?
We have too many great restaurants and it is hard to choose. I go to different ones depending on what kind of food I want on a particular day and always keeping in mind what type of food my friends prefer.
CVW: What kind of music do you most enjoy?
I prefer classical music, but at times I enjoy rock, Latin beat and country music.
CVW: What was the last book you read or what books are on your nightstand?
The last book I read was ” Go Set A Watchman” by Harper Lee. On my night stand are:
“Revolution From Within” by Gloria Steinem, “A People’s History of the United
States” by Howard Zinn and “The Roosevelts” by Ken Burns.
CVW: What’s your favorite TV show or favorite movie?
I’m not much at home and if I watch TV I usually have PBS station on were I can find everything I need politics, music, theater and much more.
CVW: If you are elected, and can do whatever you want without any restrictions or cost concerns, what would it be?
I’d like to bring Metro Link to our region ASAP as this would be beneficial to tourist coming here and our people who are living here. Our air would be cleaner, there would be less accidents on the roads and many more people with deep pockets would be coming here all year long. Seniors, youth and families will be able to travel care free to cultural and sport events in Los Angeles area.
MICHAEL SCHAEFER – Candidate for Palm Springs Mayor
CVW: What is your favorite thing to do in the CV?
Melvyn’s piano bar on Saturday night and Billy Reeds for breakfast.
CVW: What’s your favorite CV restaurant?
Sherman’s on Tahquitz Canyon
CVW: What kind of music do you most enjoy?
Broadway Musicals
CVW: What was the last book you read or what books are on your nightstand?
Ginny Foat’s “Never Guilty, Never Free” about her two murder indictments.
CVW: What’s your favorite TV show or favorite movie?
“Catch Me If You Can” with Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks.
CVW: If you are elected, and can do whatever you want without any restrictions or cost concerns, what would it be?
Bring rail service from LA to the valley.
Hopefully, more candidates will respond in the next two weeks before Election Day, Tuesday, November 3rd. CVW thanks all those running for office. Public service requires dedication and sacrifice. Best wishes to all the candidates.
