La Quinta Council Member Steve Sanchez Challenges Incumbent V. Manuel Perez for Riverside County Supervisor Seat

The race for Riverside County’s Fourth District Supervisor seat is intensifying as La Quinta City Council Member Steve Sanchez mounts a direct challenge against longtime incumbent V. Manuel Perez. With the California 2026 primary election just weeks away, the campaign has centered heavily on issues of public safety, government accountability, and regional infrastructure development. While NBC Palm Springs extended interview invitations to both candidates, only Sanchez agreed to sit down for a one-on-one discussion regarding his vision for the expansive district, which stretches from the Coachella Valley east to Blythe.

Sanchez, a Republican who has served on the La Quinta City Council since 2016, stated that his campaign is heavily driven by a growing voter demand for transparency and an end to backroom political deals. He emphasized that public safety remains the top priority for residents across the county, noting that effective public safety extends far beyond simply increasing the number of law enforcement personnel on the street. According to Sanchez, the county must prioritize better training for first responders, improved roads and bridges, and robust animal welfare infrastructure, including a concerted effort to transition local animal shelters into no-kill facilities.

A central point of contention in the race involves restoring public trust in local government, with Sanchez pointing to a broader character issue within the current administration. He specifically raised concerns regarding former Coachella Mayor Stephen Hernandez, who served as Chief of Staff for Supervisor Perez before recently pleading guilty to federal corruption charges. Sanchez argued that the chief of staff position acts essentially as a second supervisor, asserting that if elected, he would implement a strict policy banning any sitting elected officials, city council members, or special district board members from serving on his staff to prevent conflicts of interest.

Incumbent Supervisor V. Manuel Perez, who has represented the Fourth District for nine years, did not provide a confirmation for an interview despite multiple requests over several weeks. Throughout his tenure, Perez has focused heavily on improving living conditions for East Valley residents, leading successful measures to relocate vulnerable farmworker families into safer, upgraded mobile home communities while securing funding to make local thoroughfares more pedestrian-friendly. However, Perez has also faced recent localized criticism regarding his shifting stances on technological infrastructure, specifically after a rescinded letter showing his initial support for a controversial proposed data center project in Coachella became public.

When questioned about his stance on the expanding footprint of data centers across Riverside County, Sanchez stated he supports such projects only if they are executed properly without draining vital regional resources. He noted that he would oppose any technological development that places an undue burden on local utilities, the environment, or the surrounding neighborhood. As the primary approaches, Sanchez maintained that his campaign is ultimately focused on delivering practical results rather than playing party politics, promising to provide a distinct alternative to the long-standing political establishment in the Coachella Valley.

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