Council Candidate Wants To Think Outside Box

Dipping into Palm Desert's general fund for solutions in the wake of the elimination of redevelopment and the release of prisoners from overcrowded Riverside County jails will be the last stop for City Council hopeful Aurora Wilson.

Wilson said her tenure at the Coachella Valley Association of Governments and other positions, including small business, mean she is ready to hit the ground running.

"I believe the entire package of my experience makes me more than qualified to do the job here at city council," she said.

Mayor Bob Spiegel, Councilwoman Cindy Finerty and Mayor Pro Tem William Kroonen are all up for reelection. All three are running, as well as former Palm Desert Councilman Jim Ferguson and Planning Commissioner Van Tanner.

Wilson said her main concerns are addressing the elimination of Palm Desert's redevelopment agency.

"We need to figure out what the next steps are and we need to be innovative and look outside the box," she said. "Because of my government experience, I have such a network."

The candidate also said she wants to focus on public safety, especially with AB 109, which transferred state prisoners to country jails across the state. Riverside County has already released non-violent, non-serious, non-high risk prisoners to avoid overcrowding.

Mayor Bob Spiegel has proposed that the city provides funds for the Palm Desert Police Department to hire an additional officer to help deal with the influx of parolees in the Coachella Valley.

Wilson said the idea is a good one and that she would need to look at the proposal carefully.

"I want to be provide in regard to fiscal management," Wilson said. "It's really important to me. Why do we need to set aside money for a new officer? Why can't we look at what's already there and see what we can do?"

She said by running for the Palm Desert City Council she is following in the footsteps of her husband, Riverside County Supervisor Roy Wilson.

"I want to build on the legacy that was left by my late husband. Roy was city councilman for 16 years. I want to contribute to the city and I believe I can do a better job.

She said she plans to follow his example and run a clean campaign.