Four Desert Healthcare District Board seats are up for election in November

The Desert Healthcare District and Foundation, which is governed by a body of elected leaders, will have four open seats on the November 5 ballot.

The Board consists of seven Coachella Valley residents who each serve a four-year term. The terms are staggered, with four zones on one election-year calendar and three on a different calendar. The four zones up for election this fall are:

•  Zone 1: Les Zendle, MD, has served eight years and is a former Board president.
• Zone 3: Carmina Zavala, PsyD, MA, is in her fourth year of service and second year as Board vice-president.
• Zone 5: Arthur Shorr, MBA, was appointed to the Board in 2019, then elected in 2020. He serves as Board treasurer.
• Zone 7: Leticia DeLara, MPA, was appointed in 2019 following the expansion of District boundaries east of Cook Street. She is a former Board president.

Dr. Zendle announced in June that he will not seek re-election to the Board. Directors DeLara and Shorr both have indicated they will run again. Director Zavala is expected to announce her intention soon. If the incumbents who are seeking re-election are unchallenged, their names will not appear on the ballot.

Valley residents who are interested in joining the Board have until 5 p.m. Aug. 9 to file paperwork with the Riverside County Registrar's Office. Learn more about the election requirements.

To see which zone you're eligible to run in, check out the interactive District map (Please select the "Hummingbird Plan.").

About the Desert Healthcare District and Foundation