BREAKING: Twentynine Palms City Manager Dr. Stone James Resigns
Mayor Daniel Mintz made the announcement after a half-hour closed session
Twentynine Palms City Manager Dr. Stone James has submitted his resignation, the city announced Thursday, April 9, 2026. During a special closed session meeting held at 11:30 am, the Twentynine Palms City Council voted unanimously to accept his departure, with Council Member Wright making the motion and Mayor Pro Tem Scott providing the second. The vote was 5-0. The Desert Trumpet covered the agenda, which was released Wednesday, here.
Dr. James, who has served as City Manager since March 2024, cited family considerations as the major reason for his decision. He will be transitioning to a private sector opportunity in the Coachella Valley. Under the terms of his resignation, Dr. James will remain in his role for 60 days to ensure a smooth and orderly transition of leadership.
In a press release distributed by the City, Mayor Daniel Mintz expressed gratitude for the outgoing City Manager’s service to the community.
On behalf of the City Council, I want to thank Dr. James for his leadership and dedication to the Twentynine Palms community. We wish him and his family all the best in this next chapter.
The City’s press release noted that during his roughly two years at the helm, Dr. James oversaw a number of significant milestones for the city. The press release goes on to highlight that among his accomplishments was the creation and implementation of Twentynine Palms’ first long-range strategic plan — a roadmap designed to shape the city’s growth and priorities for years to come. The City also said that he worked to strengthen the city’s fiscal health, improve organizational transparency and responsiveness, and raise customer service standards across City departments.
More recently, however, he was not successful in ensuring the Council’s approval of the E-Group PS solar project amid conflict between Planning Commission and City Council members.
Dr. James also focused on the City’s response to major storm events during his tenure, coordinating resources and municipal services during several flash floods that took place.
“This has been the most rewarding time of my career,” Dr. James said in a statement released Thursday. James had previously served as Economic Development Director of Cathedral City. Twentynine Palms was his first stint as a City Manager. “It has been an honor to serve the City Council, staff, and the Twentynine Palms community. I am proud of what we have accomplished together and confident in the City’s future.”
The City Council is expected to consider next steps for interim leadership and the recruitment of a permanent City Manager in the coming weeks. The Mayor also noted that a closed session is scheduled for the Tuesday, April 14 Council meeting to review pending litigation.
Dr. James’ departure marks a chapter in Twentynine Palms that has seen a push for large development projects that promise growth but which bring many challenges for the community. As Twentynine Palms looks ahead, the search for new leadership will be closely watched by residents, business owners, and community stakeholders.
The Desert Trumpet will continue to follow this story as the City Council moves forward with its search for the next City Manager.
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