Palm Springs Mayor Sold To Highest Bidder?


Palm Springs, California.  California-Colorado commuting Palm Springs Mayor Steve Pougnet may be on the brink of genuine financial independence. After years without private sector employment he has a new job that should free him from dependence on others for continuing financial support. And he gets to keep his current mayoral position with its $40,000 annual salary. Mayor Pougnet has managed to sell himself, though the salary  from his new job remains secret, and only he knows if his services are going to the highest bidder.

Palm Springs Mayor Sold To Highest Bidder?

It appears the Palm Springs City Council has a new unofficial member, one without an actual vote, but with substantial behind-the-scenes influence. Local political power player Harold Matzner has hired California-Colorado commuting Palm Springs Mayor Steve Pougnet for full time work as his assistant at the Palm Springs International Film Festival where Matzner serves as chairman. In these types of relationships it's not the employee who calls the shots and those in need of influence with the City Council could surely do worse than line up Mr. Matzner in their corner.

Matzner shared leadership of last Fall's controversial Yes on Measure J campaign and at $75,156.75 was that campaign's second largest contributor. He and his Spencer's Restaurant also hosted Mayor Steve Pougnet's reelection campaign kickoff and victory party events. And his influence undoubtedly facilitated inclusion of a new theatre complex as a requirement for the Desert Fashion Plaza renovation plan. He has previously been identified as a local philanthropist who is often in the news as the contributor of $100,000 checks to various charitable activities. It's surprising to see him step out of the philanthropy mode and extensively dabble so prominently in local politics.

Much speculation surrounds the shocking purchase of the Mayor's services by Matzner, but few believe it is for personal financial gain. He reportedly is a man with extensive New Jersey-based financial resources and his real interests may lie in producing a lasting legacy as a significant local personage. While the names Frank Bogart, Sonny Bono, Jackie Lee Houston and even John Wessman are the stuff of local legend, the name Harold Matzner has not achieved that level of recognition. He surely doesn't wish a John Wessman reputation but any favorable comparison to recently departed Palm Springs Angel Jackie Lee Houston would be the legacy desired. Why Matzner would derail his legacy goals by walking down the political trail and picking up the California-Colorado commuting mayor as his assistant is a question that doesn't seem to have an obvious answer. One would assume a carefully nurtured legacy would not be well served by the friends and foes involvements often found in the political arena. Perhaps there is an irresistible degree of personal satisfaction in knowing that one is in a position to manipulate the local levers of power.

As for Mayor Steve Pougnet the question that's been raised is whether he sold himself to the highest bidder? Or did Matzner merely acquire something off the shelf?

Bond Shands
Palm Springs


The Desert Observer Website

 Note: In order to control out-of-area  SPAM the comment-awaiting-approval feature is in effect here.

Comments left by actual viewers are not suppressed.

Posted by Desert Observer at 2/21/2012 4:40 PM
Categories: Measure J Oversight Commission, Desert Fashion Plaza
Tags: Palm Springs Mayor Steve Pougnet Harold Matzner Palm Springs International Film Festival
Previous Post
Next Post

 

What did you think of this article?




Trackbacks
Trackback specific URL for this post
  • Trackbacks are closed for this post.
Comments
  • No comments exist for this post.
Leave a comment

Submitted comments are subject to moderation before being displayed.

 Name (required)

 Email (will not be published) (required)

Your comment is 0 characters limited to 3000 characters.