Thanks to Jesse Marx of the Desert Sun, more has come to light regarding the personal finances of former Palm Springs Mayor Steve Pougnet. As the feds continue to investigate the ties between Pougnet and developer Rich Meaney, we now find out that Pougnet was still working as a "consultant" to the PS Film Festival and also for a group looking to bring a PBS Station back to the Valley. Because of the nebulous nature of the reporting, the total amount of money he received from these gigs could be anywhere between 20 and 200k for the last calendar year.
The job of Mayor of Palm Springs pays about 40 grand plus gold-plated health care benefits per year. What has become painfully obvious is that Steve Pougnet used his office to secure outside work in order to supplement his income. It is a question for others to decide whether or not he went about it legally. For me, as one who has known Steve Pougnet for over a decade, this whole sordid chapter is sad.
I was very impressed by Mr. Pougnet when he first ran for council. I found him to be a breathe of fresh air. I was delighted that as Mayor, he implemented my suggestion that high school students be invited to Film Festival Gala. And to be quite specific, I liked him personally. But then came his 2010 loss to Mary Bono Mack. And something changed.
The fun loving guy became a little more withdrawn. He started moving away from that affable guy to one who started to hang out in the corridors of power and money. He became bitter when Raul Ruiz accomplished what he couldn't. A more arrogant, one could say almost entitled Steve Pougnet emerged.
The whole Yes On Measure J campaign reeked of elitism. The fact that revenue from the sales tax went to the general fund and not specific capital spending has quickly seen the promises of fixing infrastructure only give way to things like a party bus. I think Mr. Pougnet hit his nadir in those rants in the spring from the city council dais about his business relationships. He was preparing for a 3rd term and the party ended abruptly.
The former Mayor has his die hard supporters and they will continue to speak in his defense at all costs. For me, whatever the outcome, this is now becoming a sad vignette in Palm Springs history.
Steve Kelly can be reached at skelly@rrbroadcasting.com or followed on Twitter @skellynj
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