As always, it has been a tumultuous year in local politics. With little fanfare, here we go with our 2015 Year In Review
Winner: Dr. Raul Ruiz. Barring unforeseen circumstances, he is a shoo-in to be re-elected. Popular in the district, the local GOP can't even field a candidate at this stage of the campaign.
Loser: Mayor Steve Pougnet. Despite his assertions to the contrary, he was planning on running for a 3rd term. The financial links to local developers ended any chance of that and the FBI raid on Palm Springs permanently tarnished his reputation. A maudlin and over the top farewell ceremony didn't help much.
Winner: Geoff Kors. The new Palm Springs City Council member ran a terrific campaign and owes no one. He is being mentioned for higher office already.
Loser: Ginny Foat. Blown out in the mayoral election in Palm Springs garnering only 25% of the vote. Did not run a good campaign coming across at times as a self-centered martyr.
Winner: Rob Moon. Moon had the guts to go up against entrenched power interests in Palm Springs. Aided by the scandal in the City Hall, he won.
Loser: Palm Springs Police Officer Association. Union had a bad year. Dropped it's lawsuit on naming officers in police involved shootings. Only one candidate it backed, Geoff Kors won so there was 35 grand down the tubes. Also the city paid 2.5 million dollars in a wrongful death lawsuit involving a police shooting in 2012.
Winner: Greg Burton. the editor of the Desert Sun courageously led his staff in reporting the events in Palm Springs. A hit piece mailer was sent out on him. That did not stop him or the paper from doing an outstanding job on local coverage.
Loser: DHS Voters. They gave Mayor Adam Sanchez the boot in favor of Scott Matas but also re-elected Russell Betts and put Yvonne Parks back on the council. Look for more craziness in 2016. By the way, Sanchez is now working as a clerk in a medical pot store.
Winner: Dana Hobart. The feisty Rancho Mirage City Council member has put CVAG on the defensive and is causing a much needed look at CV Link. Buoyed by an arrogant roll out, Hobart vows to continue the fight in 2016.
Loser: Palm Springs Power Elite. From Harold Matnzer's obscene campaign donation amounts given to council candidates to Aftab Dada allowing a motor cycle gang to rent out his hotel, there were several look behind the curtains moments in Palm Springs. And now John Wessman is also being targeted by residents over his downtown hotels. But don't count them out yet.
Winner: J.R. Roberts The Planning Commission Member eked out a win for a council seat in Palm Springs.
Loser: Paul Lewin. Lost his seat over the ongoing scandals in Palm Springs. He may still have a future in local politics but that remains to be seen.
Winner: Social Media. While there were the expected gaffes and craziness, there were new pages devoted to politics and they were widely consumed.
Loser: Chris Mills. The Palm Springs Council member seemed out of touch many times. In a May council meeting he dismissed calls for a criminal investigation into land deals by Palm Springs as "ridiculous." The Feds didn't see it that way.
Mixed Bag: Palm Springs Modernist movement. They had some successes in 2015. They help elect JR Roberts to City Hall and stopped Nexus for a redevelopment project in Palm Springs. However they seem to have started a fight with the Agua Caliente Tribe. A fight they can not and should not win.
Steve Kelly can be reached at skelly@rrbroadcasting.com followed on Twitter at @skellynj
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