La Quinta City Council

The La Quinta City Council serves as the legislative and policy-making body of the City. The Council is comprised of five members and meets the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month at 3:00 p.m. The City Council is responsible for appointment of the City Manager and the City Attorney. It serves as the Board of Directors for the Financing Authority. In addition, the Council serves as the legislative authority for the La Quinta Lighting and Landscaping District.

Maddy Act - Local Appointments List

Notice To The Public

In compliance with the requirements of the Maddy Act, Government Code 54970, the following appointment list was posted prior to December 31. It shows all current members of City Commissions and Committees and the dates of their terms of office. Commissioners must be 18 years of age.

Note: The names on this list are subject to change based on term expirations and resignations that occur during the year.  

Click here for the MADDY ACT APPOINTMENT LIST.

LINDA EVANS, MAYOR

Email: levans@laquintaca.gov
Phone: 760.777.7030

Mayor Linda Evans was elected Mayor in 2014, and is currently in her third term as La Quinta Mayor. Prior to Mayor, Linda served as a La Quinta City Council Member since June 2009. In March 2016, she was named “Woman of the Year” for the 42nd Assembly District by Assemblyman Chad Mayes for the State of California. This recognition was granted for the outstanding contributions and service Linda has provided to her community. 

Mayor Evans is a California native and has worked in the healthcare industry for thirty years, spending the last 23 years in hospital administration. She is the Chief Strategy Officer of Community Advocacy for the Desert Care Network, which comprises Desert Regional Medical Center (Palm Springs), JFK Memorial Hospital (Indio), and Hi-Desert Medical Center (Joshua Tree). She has worked for hospitals’ parent company, Tenet Healthcare Corporation, at four other hospitals in Southern California since 1995.

Mayor Evans received a Bachelor's Degree in Communications/Public Relations from California State University, Fullerton. She holds two Master's Degrees: one in Health Administration and the other in Gerontology, both obtained from the University of La Verne, California.

Mayor Evans is the Chair of the Joint Powers Authority Board of Directors for the Greater Palm Springs Convention and Visitors Bureau, Chair of the Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG) Energy and Environmental Committee and Vice Chair of CVAG’s  Conservation Commission. She also serves on the CVAG Executive Committee. She served on the Board of Food in Need of Distribution (F.I.N.D.) Food Bank for six years, and recognizes the importance of good nutrition, being healthy, and the impact on a prosperous community.

She was a panelist for the 2016 Clinton Health Matters Summit; highlighting the outstanding infrastructure La Quinta has developed to be a center of health innovation for its residents.

Mayor Evans is health-focused and community driven. She has ignited the engagement of La Quinta residents in her Mayoral position. She and Council are leaders in redefining the structure and service delivery of local government through reorganization and technological advances. She connects public safety and economic development with health and wellness, and promotes empowerment into her values and decision-making.  

She enjoys hearing from residents of and visitors to La Quinta who truly share the passion and love for La Quinta – like she does. Look for Mayor Evans on a hiking trail or at Civic Center Park with her husband, Tim and First Dog Rufus, enjoying the many restaurants in La Quinta, or attending events in La Quinta and throughout the valley.

JOHN PEÑA, MAYOR PRO TEM

Email: jpena@laquintaca.gov
Phone: 760.777.7030

John Peña began his public service in 1982, when he served on a school site task force with city and school district officials to locate school sites in the City of La Quinta. He was elected to the La Quinta City Council in 1984. He served on the Council and was elected Mayor in 1988 and served in that capacity until his retirement from public office in December 2002. John came out of his public service retirement and was again elected to the City Council in 2014. 

John serves as a member of the League of California Cities Public Safety Committee, Coachella Valley Association of Governments Public Safety and Homelessness Committees, as well as a Board Trustee for the Coachella Valley Mosquito & Vector Control District and the IID Electric Consumers Advisory Committee. In his previous terms of office, has served on various Boards and Commissions throughout the Coachella Valley including: Sunline Transit Agency, Coachella Valley Association of Governments, the Palm Springs/Desert Resorts Convention & Visitors Bureau, Riverside County Transportation Commission, Court-Appointed Special Advocates, La Quinta Chamber of Commerce, Local Agency Formation Commission, Riverside County Commission on Education, La Quinta High School Foundation, Children’s Discovery Museum, Dr. Carreon Foundation, Riverside County Workforce Development, and John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital Board.

A lifelong Coachella Valley resident, John graduated from Indio High School and attended College of the Desert, where he was inducted into the Alumni Hall of Fame. He earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from California State University, Fullerton, and continued his postgraduate work at Western State University College of Law, where he received his law degree. He also completed an Executive Education from the Sol Price School of Public Policy at the University of Southern California. 

John has received many honors, including selection by the Jewish Federation to travel to Israel for the International Conference of Mayors, Distinguished Citizen of the Year by the Boy Scouts of America, Distinguished Recipient Honoree of the Annual Hispanic Awards.

John is CEO of Desert Cities Consulting, Inc., a business and governmental relations consulting firm. He has two grown children and three grandchildren.

KATHLEEN FITZPATRICK, COUNCIL MEMBER

Email: kfitzpatrick@laquintaca.gov
Phone: 760.777.7030

Council Member Kathleen Fitzpatrick moved to La Quinta in 2006. She was elected to the City Council in 2016. 

A Massachusetts native, Kathleen moved to California as a teen and attended the University of California, Berkeley receiving a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture degree. In 2005 Kathleen retired, after a career spanning 33+ years with the City of Los Angeles, Department of Recreation and Parks. During her career, she became a Project Manager responsible for design and construction of major capital improvements, ultimately promoted to  Superintendent of Planning and Development responsible for the oversight of the Department’s multi-million dollar capital improvement program.

After moving to La Quinta with her husband Ron, a retired Architect, they continued their interest in public service and involvement in the community. Ron served on the City of La Quinta’s Architecture and Landscaping Review Board. Kathleen was appointed to the La Quinta Community Services Commission in 2008, joined the Board of the La Quinta Historical Society; and was elected to her Home Owner Association’s Board of Directors. In 2014, she was appointed to serve on the La Quinta Planning Commission. Additionally, Kathleen serves on the SilverRock Event Site Ad Hoc Committee, the Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy, the Riverside County Transportation Commission and the La Quinta Arts Foundation. Kathleen continues to volunteer with the Ophelia Project mentoring young women.

Kathleen is dedicated to building a stronger community in a fiscally responsible and transparent manner.

Kathleen, who has run numerous marathons, enjoys the healthy, active lifestyle of La Quinta, she continues to run several times a week, and hikes with many friends on Coachella Valley trails in her leisure time. 

Kathleen and Ron have 2 children, one wonderful granddaughter, and an adorable grandson.

DEBORAH McGARREY, COUNCIL MEMBER

Email: dmcgarrey@la-quinta.org
Phone: 760.777.7030

As a resident of the Coachella Valley for over 30 years, Deborah McGarrey has made the City of La Quinta her home for the last 20 years.  She has been an active leader of the Coachella Valley serving on various committees and boards to better the quality of life within the community. 

With over 20 years of external affairs experiences, she is a Public Affairs Manager for Southern California Gas Company, serving the Desert Region of eastern Riverside and Imperial Counties and Morongo Basin, proudly working with stakeholders, businesses and local governments to educate and support important information on SoCalGas’ customer programs, safety and supporting company operations. In this position, Deborah works with public safety professionals and resolving customer inquires. Prior to working with SoCalGas, she worked for Waste Management, Inc. 

In her role in external affairs, Deborah has worked closely with League of CA cities, serving on the 2019 CA Cities Housing Policy Committee  and has service on energy and waste subcommittees of Coachella Valley Association of Governments.

Deborah is a current board member and past chairperson of FIND Food Bank, Friends of the Desert Mountains, and Desert Valley Builders Association. She serves on the AB 617 South Coast Air Quality Steering Committee, Chair of the Coachella Valley Economic Partnership and past Chair of the Imperial Valley Economic Partnership, and Co-Chair of the Desert Cancer Foundation’s Paint El Paseo Pink. She has also held leadership positions on various chamber of commerce boards.

Deborah and her husband Michael love living in the City of La Quinta and she is proud and humbled to serve the community.

STEVE SANCHEZ, COUNCIL MEMBER

Email: ssanchez@laquintaca.gov
Phone: 760.777.7030

Steve Sanchez relocated to California from New Jersey, after enlisting in the United States Marine Corps, from 1996-2004.  Steve served as an infantryman during Operation Iraqi Freedom and earned distinguished medals and ribbons such as: Combat Action Ribbon, Presidential Unit Citation, and many more. Upon the end of his 8-year enlistment in 2004, Steve decided to make the Coachella Valley his home.

After receiving an honorable discharge from the Marine Corps Steve's civilian career started in telecommunication; district director for a state legislator; account executive for a group of radio stations, and billboard company; and currently as a commercial real estate agent representing buyers and seller on multi-family, retail, office, and hospitality investments as well as land sales.  Steve's goal is to try to sell every apartment in the Coachella Valley at least once; local investors, agents, and friends refer to Steve as "#TheApartmentGuy or #TheInvestmentGuy."  

Additionally, Steve was elected to the La Quinta City Council in 2016 where he’s served as Mayor Pro Tem,  La Quinta Housing Authority member; Riverside County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) Commissioner; Vice Chair Southern Region of California LAFCO; Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) District 66 representative; SCAG Transportation Committee (TC) member; former Executive Board member for the League of CA Cities Riverside County Division; League of CA Cities Public Safety Policy Committee member; Commissioner on the Coachella Valley Animal Campus (CVAC) Commission; and a member of other boards and committees.   In 2018 Steve was recognized as Veteran of the Year for the California 28th Senate District, and the 42nd Assembly District. “#DoYouEvenLaQuintaBro?”

Steve is also a former Big Brother and Board Member with the Big Brother and Big Sisters of the Desert; Former Board Member for Leadership Coachella Valley; Former Board Member of the La Quinta Chamber of Commerce, and past Chairman of the Indio Chamber of Commerce to name a few. 

When Steve isn’t working or volunteering his time, at 4am you’ll see him walking/running his rescued dogs (a German Shepard named Sparta, half-Malinois named Katana, and his recently adopted German Shepard named Romulus), running, meditating, Peloton, yoga, and Jiu Jitsu all by 9am.  Additional passions include studying history, the U.S. Constitution, learning new languages, or just enjoying a nice glass of wine with friends. Speaking of wine, Steve has his WSET 1 certification.

Additional Contact Information:

Jennifer Nelson
Executive Specialist, City Council & City Manager
(760) 777-7030
jnelson@laquintaca.gov