City Councils, Water Districts, School Boards, and More: Morongo Basin Elected Offices, 2026
Serve your community by running for one of these local offices!
There are a lot of good reasons to run for local office.
Maybe you want to fix problems you see around town, like a lack of youth services or ungraded roads that turn into streams during monsoon season. You might want to start a career in politics, building experience before running for higher office. You may feel that there isn’t enough representation for the way you identify, so you step up to speak for your people, your church, or the wildlife around you.
Other reasons include promoting a cause or industry, feeling a sense of duty when no one else runs, gaining status and connections, or pushing for reform. Local office offers an accessible entry point into public service and, for many, into a lasting political career.
You’d think citizens would be eager to run for office. You would be wrong. In 2024, 70% of local offices throughout the United States were uncontested. That means one person, often the incumbent, ran for the office with no one to oppose them.1
The state of California had fewer uncontested races in 2024 at 33%, but candidates for special-district seats (think water or health district) and judgeships often had no opponents.
Closer to home, Twentynine Palms saw contested elections in 2022 and 2024 for City Council. Candidates for Yucca Valley Town Council, however, were all incumbents in 2022 and 2024 and all ran unopposed. This shouldn’t be happening in a community with so many vital issues at stake.
CITY AND TOWN COUNCILS
We have already covered how to run for City Council in Twentynine Palms and Town Council in Yucca Valley, but we include an overview here so all the information is in one place.
City of Twentynine Palms, City Council, Districts 3, 4, and 5
Three seats on the Twentynine Palms City Council are on the ballot this year:
District 3: currently held by Mayor Daniel Mintz
District 4: held by Mayor Pro Tem Octavious Scott
District 5: held by Councilmember McArthur Wright
All three announced at July 14th’s City Council meeting that they had pulled papers to run in the 2026 election. Twentynine Palms council members are currently paid $465 a month, with pay set to rise to $700 a month after the election, along with benefits and expense reimbursements. Term lengths are four years.
Contact Twentynine Palms City Clerk Cindy Villescas at (760) 367-6799 or cvillescas@29palms.org to make an appointment to file and get more information on completing nomination papers, collecting signatures, and filing your nomination.
Yucca Valley Town Council, Districts 1, 3, and 5
Three of the five seats on the Yucca Valley Town Council are up this year:
District 1: Mayor Pro Tem Jim Schooler
District 3: Mayor Merl Abel
District 5: Councilmember Rick Denison
It has not yet been reported that any of these men plan to run in 2026. Candidates must file nomination papers with Yucca Valley Town Clerk Lesley Copeland at the town hall Monday through Thursday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., or reach her at (760) 369-7209 or townclerk@yucca-valley.org.
SCHOOL BOARDS AND DISTRICTS
How to File for the College or School Board
After determining what district you are in using the San Bernardino County Look-Up Tool, all the San Bernardino County Registrar of Voters at (909) 387-8300 to arrange an appointment to file papers.
Copper Mountain Community College, Governing Board, Areas 4 and 5
Two seats on the Governing Board are on the ballot this year, both two-year terms, for districts 4 and 5. The incumbents are Graydon S. “Chuck” Uyeda (4) and Anna Stump (5).
Members represent specific areas, so be sure to check the map before you file or use the County District Look-Up tool. The compensation is $2,880 annually plus benefits, though we have not been able to verify whether that figure still holds for the current term.
We’re kicking off our summer subscription drive! Help the Desert Trumpet reach 1600 subscribers by spreading the word!
Morongo Unified School District, Governing Board, Areas 1, 4, and 5
MORONGO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, MEMBER, GOVERNING BOARD, AREAS 1, 4, AND 5
Three seats on the five-member board are up this year. The Area 1 seat is a two-year term; Areas 4 and 5 are four-year terms. The incumbents are Missy Bond (1), Christopher Clare (4), and Roberta Meyers (5).
The compensation was previously reported at $2,000 to $3,000 annually plus benefits, though we have not been able to verify the current figure. Use the County District Look-Up tool to determine your area.
A note on the County school board seat: The San Bernardino County Board of Education seat that covers the Morongo Basin (District E, currently held by board member Andrea De Leon) is not up for election in 2026. That seat’s term runs through the next cycle.
WATER AGENCIES AND DISTRICTS
How to File for Water Agencies or Districts
Call the San Bernardino County Registrar of Voters at (909) 387-8300 to arrange an appointment to file papers.
Bighorn-Desert View Water Agency Board of Directors
Four positions are on the ballot this year: three four-year terms and one two-year term. Positions are “at large,” meaning there are no sub-districts, but candidates must be registered voters in the area the agency serves, which are parts of Landers, Johnson Valley, and Flamingo Heights.
Hi-Desert Water District Board of Directors, Divisions 1, 3, and 5
Three seats are up this cycle, each a four-year term. This water agency is a special district formed to meet the needs of Yucca Valley and neighboring unincorporated areas. Compensation was previously reported at $4,000 to $10,000 annually plus benefits, though we have not been able to verify the current figure. Directors are elected by division, so check the map or use the County District Look-Up tool to determine your division.
Joshua Basin Water District Board of Directors, Divisions 1 and 2
Two seats on the five-member board are up this year, both four-year terms. This water board elects directors by division throughout the Joshua Tree area, so check the map or use the County District Look-Up tool to determine your division. Compensation was previously reported at $9,000 annually.
Twentynine Palms Water District Board of Directors
Three at-large positions on the five-person board are up this year, each a four-year term. Candidates must live within the district’s 87-square-mile boundary in Twentynine Palms and Desert Heights. Directors previously earned a $150 stipend per meeting.
OTHER SPECIAL DISTRICTS
How to File for Special Districts
After determining what district you are in using the San Bernardino County Look-Up tool, call the San Bernardino County Registrar of Voters at (909) 387-8300 to arrange an appointment to file papers.
Hi-Desert Memorial Health Care District Board of Directors, Divisions 4 and 5
Two seats are up this cycle, each a four-year term. This special district was formed to meet the healthcare needs of our rural community and covers the Morongo Basin including Twentynine Palms, Yucca Valley, and the adjacent unincorporated areas. This is a volunteer board.
Yucca Valley Airport District Board of Directors
Four positions are open this year on this five-member board, which manages airport facilities and events: three four-year terms and one short two-year term. This is a volunteer board.
Morongo Valley Community Services District Board of Directors
Three seats on the board are up this year, each a four-year term. This special district is a local form of government for a geographically limited area and was created to provide important community services, including the Morongo Valley Fire Department, community events, and management of Covington Park. This is a volunteer board.
BASICS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU RUN
To run for city or town council or a special district, you must be:
A U.S. citizen
18 years or older
A registered voter in the city, town, or district you wish to represent
A resident of the specific district in which you plan to run
Requirements for special district and school board seats are similar, though some, such as the water agency “at-large” seats, do not require you to live in a specific sub-district, only within the district’s overall service area.
Required Candidacy Materials (City and Town Council)
Declaration of Candidacy: This document states which office you’re running for, how your name appears on the ballot, and whether you want a short, three-word description printed after your name.
Nomination Papers: Candidates need signatures from about 20 to 30 registered voters who live in their district. Because some signatures are often deemed invalid, it’s best to collect more than the minimum. The first date to “pull papers” was Monday, July 13; papers with signatures are due Thursday, August 6 in Twentynine Palms and Friday, August 7 in Yucca Valley.
Candidate Intention Statement (California Fair Political Practices [FPPC] Form 501): Must be filed before soliciting any contributions or spending any funds on your candidacy.
Statement of Economic Interest (FPPC Form 700): Discloses investments, real property interests, and business positions to help guard against conflicts of interest.
Candidate Statement Form and Candidate Statement: An optional written statement, 200 words or fewer, which will be printed in the Voter Information Guide. Candidates cover printing and translation costs, usually around $150, and may not mention other candidates by name.
Overall, city and town council candidates can expect to pay approximately $200 to $400 in filing fees and associated costs, not including whatever you spend promoting your candidacy.
Required Candidacy Materials (Special Districts)
The required paperwork for water, school boards and other special districts is similar to City and Town Council, however we were unable to confirm if nomination papers are required. (The registrar was busy with candidate appointments!) We will update our information as soon as the requirement is confirmed.
Each election year, the County produces a website and candidate guide with detailed information, and the 2026 edition is attached below.
If you do decide to run, contact editor@deserttrumpet.org so we can interview you and include you in our upcoming candidate forum.
Contacts
Twentynine Palms City Clerk: Cindy Villescas, (760) 367-6799, cvillescas@29palms.org
Yucca Valley Town Clerk: Lesley Copeland, (760) 369-7209, townclerk@yucca-valley.org
San Bernardino County Registrar of Voters: (909) 387-8300
Hi, new subscribers! The Desert Trumpet understands you might not be interested in all of our coverage. That’s why it’s divided into separate newsletters allowing you to opt out of reporting that’s not important to you. For instance, you may want our County news but not City Hall 29.
Here’s how to opt out: go to your Substack settings, scroll down to “subscriptions,” and select “Edit” for the Desert Trumpet. Simply uncheck the box next to the newsletters you don’t want to receive in your email inbox. You’ll still be able to access all coverage online or readd them later if you change your mind.
Become a paid subscriber!
Subscribing to the Desert Trumpet will always be free. That said, did you know that paid subscribers receive discounts on our DT Social events and invites to DT Front Porch, intimate discussions featuring local officials and notable residents?
Upgrade to a $50+ paid subscription for a 10% discount.
Upgrade to $100+ for a 25% discount.
Sustaining subscribers at the $250+ level and above receive complimentary tickets
Share your thoughts in the comments below. Please note that we do not allow anonymous comments. Please be sure your first and last name is on your profile prior to commenting. Anonymous comments will be deleted.
Share this post—it’s free!
It’s true that many of these offices, such as judge or county or city clerks, require specialized knowledge and training, but still.