Coachella City Council Selects New Mayor Pro Tem After Months of Delay

A new mayor pro tem was officially selected during tonight’s Coachella City Council meeting, marking a significant moment for the city’s leadership. Councilmember Dr. Frank Figueroa was unanimously chosen to serve in the role, becoming the first openly gay official to hold the position in Coachella.

Dr. Figueroa previously ran against current Mayor Stephen Hernandez in the November 2024 mayoral election. Mayor Hernandez was present at tonight’s meeting, a requirement for the council to move forward with selecting a new mayor pro tem and completing several other delayed appointments.

Council officials said the selection process had been stalled for months due to the mayor’s absence from prior meetings, which prevented the council from taking formal action. As a result, the city was unable to move forward with key leadership decisions until tonight.

It had been unclear whether Mayor Hernandez would attend the meeting. His last public appearance before tonight was in November, shortly after he was indicted on charges that include perjury and conflicts of interest. Despite the uncertainty surrounding his attendance, the mayor’s presence allowed the council to proceed with the vote.

The unanimous selection of Dr. Figueroa brings resolution to a long-pending issue at City Hall and allows the council to move forward with its full leadership structure in place.