To provide additional perspective on local election contests for conservation-minded voters of the Morongo Basin, MBCA contacted 21 candidates for town/city council and water district board positions (contested positions).

Candidates were offered the opportunity to reply to a single question that was both relevant to the office they seek and that touched on our interest in Morongo Basin’s rural character, economic well-being, and available resources.

Candidates who replied are listed in bold. You can click on their name to read their response. We thank them for sharing their views on the issues that are important to Morongo Basin’s conservation-minded voters.

For the Town and City Council candidates, we asked:

What is your vision of the role of rural character in your community as it relates to progress and economic well-being, and how might you attain that vision as a Council member?

Twentynine Palms City Council, District 4

John E. Cole*

Karmolette O'Gilvie

Twentynine Palms City Council, District 5

Cora Heiser

McArthur Wright*

Yucca Valley Town Council, District 1

Jim Schooler

Edmund Shadman

Yucca Valley Town Council, District 3

Merl Abel*

Jo Ann Bollen

For the Water District Board candidates, we asked:

What issues of water use and District responsibility in Morongo Basin’s desert environment do you believe your Water District needs to focus on in the short- and long-term?

Bighorn-Desert View Water Agency

John Burkhart

David Chapman

Judy Corl-Lorono*

JoMarie McKenzie

John Skerbelis

Hi-Desert Water District

Roger Mayes*

Dan Munsey*

Sheldon Hough*

Joshua Basin Water District

Paul Coate

Tom Floen*

Al Marquez

Mike Reynolds

Rebecca Unger*

 *Incumbent