Coachella Has a New Mayor After Weeks of Uncertainty

Coachella has a new mayor. The city council appointed Mayor Pro Tem Dr. Frank Figueroa to the role Wednesday night, ending weeks of uncertainty over how to fill the seat left vacant by former Mayor Steven Hernandez.

Figueroa will serve the remainder of Hernandez's term, which runs through December.

The appointment had stalled at the council's April 8 meeting, where a 2-2 split left the decision unresolved. Figueroa and Councilmember Stephanie Virgen had pushed to appoint him directly, while Councilmembers Denise Delgado and Yadira Perez pushed for an open application process, where candidates would interview publicly before the full council. Last night's City Council vote broke that tie, with all councilmembers in approval.

Hernandez resigned in late March after pleading guilty to a felony conflict of interest charge, a conviction that bars him from holding public office in California.