Four candidates are running for two seats on the Palm Desert city council in the Nov. 3 election.
Districts 4 and 5 will be gaining their first representatives as the city transitions fully to a five-district council system. The District 4 candidates are Jonathon Polly and Evan Trubee, and the District 5 candidates are John Greenwood and Ralph Perry.
Here’s what to know about them.
Who is Jonathon Polly?
Polly, 55, has lived in Palm Desert since 2021. He is a technical manager and a sustainability auditor. He holds a bachelor’s degree in public administration and a master’s degree in applied geoscience.
It is his first time running for council. He would represent District 4 if elected.
Polly told The Desert Sun he started paying attention to city politics after Mayor Pro
Tem Joe Pradetto proposed in December 2025 that Palm Desert stop hanging a banner for local LGBTQ Pride celebrations. Polly said he then also noticed concerns with Palm Desert’s budget, which made him decide to step up to the role of addressing them.
He said a few of his goals for the city include the following:
- Evaluate the city’s budget to prevent the need for another sales tax increase.
- Open 24-hour cooling centers. He said he thinks these could be solar and battery powered.
- Work to secure a Coachella Valley Rail station in Palm Desert, which he said could help with traffic congestion and proper development in the north side of the city.
- Ensure conflicts like what occurred in December 2025 about Pride banners do not happen.
- Reduce euthanasia at animal shelters.
- Make Palm Desert more climate conscious. He said he wants Palm Desert to aim at being the most climate resilient desert city in the United States.
Who is Evan Trubee?
Trubee, 55, has lived in Palm Desert for 33 years. He owns Big Wheel Tours, which does bicycle and vehicle tours of the desert. Trubee is currently serving as Palm Desert’s mayor, which is a position that rotates among councilmembers.
If reelected, he would represent District 4 and it would be his second term on council. He ran for council in 2020 but lost. Trubee said he’s running again because the city is thriving and has several projects he wants to see through.
He said a few of his goals for the city include the following:
- Ensure the city has a budget surplus (or, at minimum, has a balanced budget).
- Continue to reduce crime in the city.
- Continue the Zero Blight program, which aims to remove blight and beautify Palm Desert.
- Complete infrastructure improvements like flood control and storm drainage in the area near Palm Desert Country Club.
Who is John Greenwood?
Greenwood, 45, has lived in Palm Desert for 41 years. He is an architect and has been on the city’s Planning Commission for 14 years.
This is Greenwood's first time running for council, and he would represent District 5 if elected. He said he wants to join the council because Palm Desert is his home and he wants it to prosper.
A few of his goals for the city include the following:
- Use his background in architecture and planning to make decisions about capital improvements that are in the city’s best interest. Some examples he cited are the city’s parks, fire stations and library projects.
- Develop a specific plan that benefits the city for Palm Desert’s mall, which he described as the city’s core and as 72 acres of opportunity for the community.
- Ensure city development “is strong, unique and speaks to the character and quality that we expect in the city of Palm Desert.”
Who is Ralph Perry?
Perry, 66, has lived in Palm Desert for 11 years. He is retired but formerly worked as a health care administrator and a country club manager. He is currently on Palm Desert’s parks and recreation committee, in addition to being an alternate for Palm Desert’s library advisory committee.
This is Perry's first time running for council, and he would represent District 5 if elected. He said he’s bidding for a council seat because he enjoys serving in the city, wants to inspire his 18-year-old nephew and was alarmed by the council’s December 2025 proposal to stop hanging a banner for local LGBTQ Pride celebrations.
He said a few of his goals for the city include the following:
- Push for responsible and well-thought out development in District 5.
- Disseminate important information about the city to residents.
- Help bring the city’s library project to fruition. As a member of the city’s library advisory committee, he said he’s been involved with the project since 2021 and would like to continue that work on the council.
- Support a freeway interchange on I-10 at Portola Avenue.
- Boost economic development so the city can expand and pay for its expenses.
- Promote a peaceful and comfortable life for residents. He said the council’s job is to take care of and please residents.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Meet the four candidates running for Palm Desert City Council
