Keeping Up With Eloise
 | Desert Observer's Page Palm Springs, CA. Keeping Up With Eloise. Those who follow Palm Springs politics are probably aware there are two city council seats up for election in November. Among the two incumbents and eight challengers, is Eloise Garcia-Mohsin, age 57, the last place finisher from the 2007 council race. Ms. Mohsin (she added the Garcia bit for voter appeal) didn't really campaign that year. Instead she engaged in a variety of stunts destined to attract newspaper coverage. She proved rather adept at manipulating the press and received considerably more coverage than other candidates. |
This year Eloise waited until the filing date approached before announcing she was a candidate once more. Her stated reason for running was: "I had such a good time the last time I say why not." Some may smirk at the reason, but it is refreshingly honest. While she has few qualifications when it comes to education, experience, community support, money, etc., it's nice to know that one candidate is in it strictly for the publicity and need for attention. It's probably safe to assume Eloise will continue her style of engaging in weird but newsworthy stunts to garner attention and voters will benefit from the entertainment value she provides.
In the current campaign season Eloise was first out the starting gate with an attention-getting stunt on August 12th. This time around her initial publicity-seeking effort was a hunger strike "to raise awareness". Her targets were City Manager David Ready and downtown administrator Tammy Perezchica, for Eloise claims they're being paid "obscene" salaries.
KPSI radio host and MyDesert.com blogger Steve Kelly was so impressed by the hunger strike stunt that he added Eloise's name to his list of city council candidates noted for their "bizarre and wacky stunts by candidates who seek office (in Palm Springs)". Presumably Steve's original list of six favorites, since 1991, with the addition of Eloise's name, has now grown to seven.
Eloise went into semi-quiet mode until yesterday, August 22nd, when news was received she'd apparently survived that painful hunger strike ordeal but was putting her campaign "On Hold Until After Labor Day". Her many fans surely were saddened by the turn of events and those desperately seeking the comic relief she provides, expressed hopes the campaign interlude would be as brief as promised.
Today, August 23rd, thoughts of Labor Day have surfaced. Labor Day? Well, our calendars must be off, for Eloise, instead of being in "On Hold Until After Labor Day" mode, is back today with a new campaign blog. Or, it may be her post today, in which she attacks the Mayor and current City Council, doesn't represent her idea of campaigning. It's all so confusing. Has her campaign hiatus ended and she's back with a new act, or will she again suspend her campaign? Answers to such questions are so difficult to discern. Someone needs to help us out - a "Guide to the Circuitous Eloise" is desperately needed.
The links below may help those who missed earlier chapters in the Eloise saga. One is a link to a blog I posted in March 2008 and the other is a link to a national news source about Eloise's presumably paid role as a National Inquirer confidential source following employment at the Phoenix Ritz-Carlton hotel in Arizona from 1999 to 2002, when she left amid a scandal. The third link is to Steve Kelly's blog about "bizarre and wacky stunts by candidates".
- Suggested bedtime reading: The Saga of Eloise: A Public Tragedy
- More recommended reading: Eloise Mohsin - National Inquirer confidential source
- A Steve Kelly blog - good reading: Starving For Attention
Bond Shands
Palm Springs
Posted by Desert Observer at 8/23/2009 11:32 AM 
Categories: Opinion, Politics
Tags: Palm Springs City Council Steve Kelly Eloise Garcia Mohsin
Categories: Opinion, Politics
Tags: Palm Springs City Council Steve Kelly Eloise Garcia Mohsin
Oh, this story is ever so true!
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