I’m Dr. Gregg Akkerman and having grown up in the Palm Desert area I know its wonderful history, but I want to better prepare for the future with improved public safety, support for our schools and educators, enhanced public transportation, well-funded First Responders, vigilance against gerrymandered districts, and choosing water conservation over wasteful surf parks.

Much of my career has been spent as a tenured university professor, self-employed business owner, musician, and author, where I honed communication and negotiation skills to navigate both professional and civic landscapes.

More recently, as a member of two city committees (Chair of Parks and Recreation, Vice-chair of Civic Engagement), I have contributed to the development of projects such as the new regional park, the neighborhood north park, and Lupine Plaza. I also advocated strongly to convince the Palm Desert City Council to transition from at-large voting districts to the more democratic 5-district system now being used.

Additionally, my wife (a public-school teacher) and I have guided our two children through the completion of both public high school and college programs here in Palm Desert.

I also have the honor to be the primary care-giver to my 92-year-old mother, a retired teacher for the Desert Sands Unified School District.

Other commitments to Palm Desert include my memberships with the Living Desert Zoo, the Water Counts Academy, the Historical Society, and the Joslyn Center.

As your representative on the council, I look forward to applying my experience and vision to act progressively towards improving our beautiful city; but always with an eye for balanced budgets and common-sense tradition.