Three incumbents will not seek re-election to Healthcare District Board which has multiple seats on the ballot
The Desert Healthcare District & Foundation Board will welcome at least three new members following the Nov. 3 general election.
Of the five seats that will be on the ballot, three incumbents have decided to not seek re-election. They include Carole Rogers, the longest-serving member of the current Board, and Kimberly Barraza, who serves as Board president. Director Greg Rodriguez resigned from the Board earlier this year, and his former seat remains open.
However, the remaining incumbents whose terms are ending -- Evett PerezGil and Anyse Smith -- have filed to run again. The other two seats of the seven-member Board -- occupied by Dr. Daniel Logsdon and Leticia De Lara -- are not up for election this year.
'It has been a tremendous honor to serve my community on the Desert Healthcare District & Foundation Board and to help advance its mission across the entire Coachella Valley," Board President Kimberly Barraza said about her decision. "I am incredibly proud of what we have accomplished over the past four years and grateful to have played a role in strengthening the District and positioning it for a strong future.
"While I have decided not to seek another term, my work is not finished, and I look forward to continuing to serve as Board president through December," Barraza added. "I have great confidence in the District’s future and its ability to bring our communities and partners together, expand access to care, and ensure our resources have the greatest impact where the need is highest."
Board Directors voluntarily serve a four-year term, supporting and directing the District & Foundation staff in fulfilling their collective mission to improve health access and outcomes for all District residents through strategic funding and partnership-building to advance resilient communities.
“My service on the Desert Healthcare District & Foundation Board has been an absolute honor,” Director Carole Rogers said. “It’s allowed me to share the knowledge and experience I’ve gained during more than 50 years as a registered nurse, healthcare executive, patient advocate, and as a resident of Desert Hot Springs, a community I love. However, after 12 years on the Board and 20 years total in public service, I’ve decided to not seek re-election.
"It’s time to bring new ideas and energy to the future of our Healthcare District and its important role in our community’s well-being," Rogers said. "I will continue to support our nonprofit friends in their mission and plan to volunteer for District & Foundation programs in the future.”
Each Board Director is a citizen of one of the District & Foundation's seven geographical areas or zones, each of which consists of about 60,000 residents. Please see the zone descriptions to help determine which zone you live in:
· Zone 1 (now vacant) encompasses the communities of Palm Springs, parts of Cathedral City and Rancho Mirage
· Zone 2 (Carole Rogers, RN) includes the communities of Desert Hot Springs, Garnet, Desert Edge and Sky Valley
· Zone 3 (Dr. Daniel Logsdon) encompasses La Quinta, Indian Wells and parts of Indio south of Highway 111
· Zone 4 (Evett PerezGil) primarily encompasses Cathedral City
· Zone 5 (Anyse Smith, esquire) covers parts of Palm Desert, Bermuda Dunes and Indio
· Zone 6 (Kimberly Barraza) encompasses the communities of Coachella and Indio
· Zone 7 (Leticia De Lara, MPA) includes parts of Coachella as well as Thermal, Mecca and other unincorporated communities in eastern Coachella Valley
Still uncertain? Find your zone on our interactive District map (Please select the "Hummingbird Plan.").
To see all the candidates who have filed in the Desert Healthcare District & Foundation races and other Riverside County elections, please visit the county registrar's website.
About the Desert Healthcare District and Foundation
The Desert Healthcare District is a local government agency formed in 1948. Its mission is to improve health access and outcomes for all District residents through strategic funding and partnership-building to advance resilient communities. The District includes more than 400,000 residents and encompasses the entire Coachella Valley. The District and Desert Healthcare Foundation, together, are one of the largest funders in the valley. These funds are used to assist residents — especially the underserved — in accessing vitally needed resources, such as primary and behavioral healthcare. Learn more.