The race to become Coachella's next mayor just got a whole lot more interesting.
With former Mayor Stephen Hernandez removed from office after pleading guilty to a felony conflict-of-interest charge, voters will choose a new leader on November 3. Interim Mayor Dr. Frank Figueroa is finishing out the current term, while the field continues to take shape with Councilmember Denise Delgado, the son of Coachella school board member Jesus Gonzalez, and newcomer Frankie Molina all entering the race.
Molina wasted no time making headlines during the latest Coachella City Council meeting.
The local business owner introduced himself as a candidate focused on "clean government," saying updated anti-nepotism rules are only the beginning. He pledged greater oversight of city contracts, vendor relationships and financial dealings, arguing that accountability—not just new policies—is needed to prevent future scandals.
Molina also directly referenced the city's recent political turmoil, noting that Coachella has already experienced a mayor convicted of a felony conflict-of-interest offense. He told council members that transparency should include "real ongoing scrutiny" and "real consequences when conflicts are found."
But his comments didn't stop there.
Molina accused city leadership of allowing what he called corruption, nepotism, negligence and incompetence to continue unchecked. He specifically questioned council members' approval of the Stronghold data center project, arguing officials should have known about developer Robert Newell's history before approving agreements connected to the project.
Newell was ordered by the Securities and Exchange Commission earlier this year to pay more than $1.5 million after regulators found he misappropriated investor funds, made Ponzi-like payments and used money for personal expenses. Molina questioned why city officials did not recognize those concerns before voting on the Stronghold agreement.
Whether voters agree with Molina's criticism or not, one thing is already clear—the campaign isn't lacking drama.
After months of controversy surrounding Coachella City Hall, the upcoming mayoral race is shaping up to focus heavily on government transparency, accountability and restoring public confidence. With Election Day approaching, residents will soon decide which candidate they believe is best suited to lead the city into its next chapter.
By: NBC Palm Springs
July 24, 2026
