Ron deHarte announces re-election bid for Palm Springs City Council District 3
The former mayor is seeking another term representing the central corridor between Vista Chino and Ramon Road.
Ron deHarte, who served as the 27th Mayor of Palm Springs from late 2024 until late 2025 and currently represents District 3 on the City Council, officially announced his campaign for re-election to that seat Tuesday morning.
DeHarte, who was first elected to the council in 2022 with 64.7% of the vote, told The Post that his platform centers on fiscal accountability, economic development, and what he describes as “radical transparency” in city spending.
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“I’ve always believed that a thriving tourism economy isn’t just a business goal; it is the engine that allows us to fund social progress, protect our neighborhoods, and address challenges like homelessness with actual results,” deHarte said. “I’m committed to investing in tourism and the Palm Springs brand while seeking to diversify the local economy and streamlining city processes to help businesses thrive. We have to do it all.”
DeHarte said he wants to shift the city away from open-ended expenditures and toward a model that requires verifiable outcomes for public spending, including in the areas of public safety and homelessness programs.
He also reiterated his support for restoring the community’s ability to directly elect its mayor, though he said his primary focus remains on his district constituents.
“District 3 is where my work begins and ends,” deHarte said. “I want to be clear that I am not running for mayor. My focus remains on providing our residents with an experienced voice dedicated to the essentials: public safety, street maintenance, and local representation.
District 3 covers the central portion of western Palm Springs between Vista Chino and Ramon Road.
Prior to his mayoral term, which ran from 2024 to 2025, deHarte served on the Coachella Valley Association of Governments Executive Committee and on its homelessness and energy and environmental resources committees, among other regional bodies. He is also a small business owner and previously served two terms on the city’s Human Rights Commission.
For 2026, deHarte holds appointments to the Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce, the Alternative Transportation Committee, and the Ad Hoc Committee for Downtown Parking, according to his campaign announcement.
More information is available at rondeharte.com.
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