Disclaimer Before Reading This Article: The Palm Springs Tribune has interviewed both candidates, Christy Holstege and Greg Wallis.

Palm Springs, CA

In 2020, Palm Springs City Councilmember Christy Holstege (D) narrowly lost by 85 votes against current incumbent Greg Wallis (R) with 50% 84,667 to Wallis’s 50% 84,752 votes. Now, the two are up for a rematch with no real polls to gauge the potential outcome.

During her tenure on Palm Springs City Council, Holstege has struck a more liberal tone voting in support of the Homeless Navigation Center and is a founder of a legal aid clinic for domestic violence survivors and their children, but has been accused by critics for not living in the district she is currently serving, District 4, during her recent tenure on City Council.

Recently, we got to conduct a full in depth interview with Christy Holstege on her tenure in office in Palm Springs and her plans if elected to AD 47. Here is our interview:

Eric Gray: You lost by a very slim margin to your opponent for State Assembly in 2020. Why should voters choose you instead of your opponent?

Christy Holstege: My background as a civil rights attorney and Mayor of Palm Springs sets me apart from my opponent. I interned at Planned Parenthood and went on to dedicate my legal career to defending reproductive rights. I founded Stanford Law Students for Reproductive Justice and served on the boards of Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest and Planned Parenthood Action Fund of the Pacific Southwest. As an attorney, I’ve represented hundreds of local residents on issues that deeply affect their lives from housing to healthcare, representing seniors, domestic violence victims, and LGBTQ clients. As Mayor, I led the city through the COVID-19 crisis, passed pro-housing policies, invested in green energy, and created jobs with living wages.

The choice between me as a Democrat and my opponent as a Republican couldn’t be clearer. My opponent does not represent our values and has consistently failed to show up for our region. In fact, to date, he has missed 478 votes in only two years. He has failed to vote on $25M in direct funding to our
region, failing to support projects like the Plaza Theater and organizations like Desert AIDS Project. He has refused to support common-sense gun legislation, received an A from the NRA and received a 0% score from the Sierra Club. He publicly opposed enshrining reproductive rights into the California Constitution and he voted with anti-LGBTQ extremists on book bans and forced outing policies. He is funded by millions of dollars in special interest funding from NRA money to tobacco money, while my campaign is funded by real people in our community, teachers, nurses, police officers, firefighters, and real people in our community who have seen first hand the results we’ve accomplished.

In contrast, I have a proven track record of delivering results for our community. We have opened a $40M navigation center to address homelessness, delivered $50M for infrastructure projects, millions to address the fentanyl and opioid crisis, and have built 200 new affordable homes for seniors and families. From
addressing homelessness, expanding affordable housing, to increasing police and public safety services, I have worked to make our community safer and more affordable.

Eric Gray: The 47th Assembly District covers a large area in both Riverside County and San Bernardino County. In the Coachella Valley alone, your district covers Palm Springs, Cathedral City, Palm Desert, Desert Hot Springs Thousand Palms, and parts of La Quinta. How do you balance the needs of residents who have a diverse set of political views?

Christy Holstege: I have been working in this community for over a decade, as an attorney and as a councilmember. I founded a domestic violence legal aid clinic, based in Palm Desert and Cathedral City, representing clients from all over the region. I’ve also served as an elected official for the Coachella Valley Association of Governments, representing all nine cities, the county of riverside, and the tribes. I have a proven track record of balancing the needs of this region and representing everyone.

Assembly District 47 deserves someone who will fight for our fair share of resources. We all want to feel safe, to have housing which is affordable for everyone, to have a lower cost of living, and to have good paying jobs that allow people to build a future in our communities. Each area has their own specific
needs, and I intend to work with the constituents of each part of the district to ensure their voices are heard and their priorities are represented in the work I do in Sacramento. I’m proud to have so many local elected officials and community members endorse my campaign and be involved with our efforts on the ground.

Eric Gray: What are three (3) most pressing areas in the Coachella Valley for residents in your district?

Christy Holstege: Three key policies I will prioritize during my term are working to make housing more
affordable, driving regional economic development, and addressing the climate crisis.

In the Assembly, I will spearhead policies that make housing affordable and attainable for everyone and get real results to significantly reduce homelessness. Housing affordability is one of the most urgent issues facing our district. As Mayor of Palm Springs, I worked to approve hundreds of units of affordable housing, invested millions of dollars in new developments, and secured $10 million in state funding for
innovative housing and homelessness services, including championing the first and only homeless navigation center in the region, provide wraparound services and crisis assistance for those experiencing homelessness with over 80 transitional housing units.

Our district was hit particularly hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, and our recovery has been slower than in other parts of the state. This is why I am committed to driving regional economic development that benefits everyone. In the Assembly, I will work to create stable, well-paying jobs by investing in key industries that are essential to our region, including renewable energy, healthcare, and tourism. Economic development is not just about job creation but also about ensuring that residents have access to the services and resources they need to thrive. That’s why I will prioritize increasing access to healthcare, social services, and education, ensuring that everyone in our district has the tools to succeed. By strengthening our regional economy and investing in our communities, we can build a future where
everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

Our district is already seeing the devastating effects of the climate crisis, from extreme weather events to increased air pollution. It’s clear that addressing the climate crisis must be a top priority if we are to protect the health and well-being of our residents. In the Assembly, I will work to accelerate our transition to renewable energy by pushing for investments in solar, wind, and other clean energy sources that will create jobs.

In addition to promoting renewable energy, I will advocate for stronger environmental protections to reduce air pollution, particularly in areas of our district that are experiencing higher rates of asthma and other health issues. By addressing the climate crisis head-on, we can create healthier, more sustainable communities while ensuring that our district remains resilient in the face of future challenges.

Together, these three policies—affordable housing, regional economic development, and environmental protections—will have a transformative impact on our district, improving the quality of life for all residents and building a brighter, more sustainable future.

Eric Gray: Can you highlight some key legislation you’ve sponsored or supported during your term in office as Palm Springs City Councilmember and Mayor that has had a positive impact on the city?

Christy Holstege: During my time on City Council, I was proud to champion tackling the City’s homelessness and housing crisis response by securing millions of dollars in state funding to build the first and only homeless navigation center in the region, provide wraparound services and crisis assistance for those experiencing homelessness, permanently house over 200 formerly homeless people, and build the first affordable housing developments in the city in over a decade.

We also took decisive steps toward enhancing public safety. Together we increased the budget for the Palm Springs Police by 25%, including new funds for more police officers and firefighters, traffic calming projects, and more. I spearheaded initiatives to integrate mental health experts, social workers, and
addiction specialists into community responses, particularly for 911 calls related to homelessness and mental health crises. Most recently, I secured $3 Million from the opioid crisis settlement to help find these initiatives and more ensure our public safety officials have what they need to fight the fentanyl epidemic. These actions are part of my broader commitment to building safer communities through
thoughtful, effective policy, and strong working relationships with local law enforcement.

Eric Gray: You are running as a Democrat but would represent a very large conservative swath if elected. Could you tell us how you would govern for all constituents?

Christy Holstege: The 47th Assembly District has been lacking a representative who can secure resources to bring back to our district, specifically around economic prosperity. Our current representative faces inherent limitations in building legislative power. As a Republican, he won’t have the opportunity to become a committee chair or have any significant role in Assembly leadership – which significantly limits his ability to secure vital resources for our community.

As a Democrat, I bring a distinct advantage to the table. My alignment with the majority party opens doors to influential positions and committee chairmanships. I am committed to harnessing this influence to secure vital resources for our district.

The issues I will tackle in Sacramento– lowering the cost of living, creating economic opportunity, solving the homelessness crisis– are not partisan issues; they are quality of life issues. All of us want a safer community, better schools, and more opportunity for our children, and it shouldn’t matter whether you have a D or an R in front of your name for you to work with your constituents to deliver that. I want to work with every part of our district to create a better AD47.

Eric Gray: What do you say to voters who question whether you have lived in District 4 in
Palm Springs during the past few years?

Christy Holstege: District 4 is my home. It’s where I brought my son home from the hospital, where we’ve celebrated holidays, and where we’ve built a life. These allegations are simply a tired political stunt being used in multiple races across the region to distract voters from what really matters– the records of service of myself and my opponent– and voters I’ve spoken to aren’t falling for it. I’m proud to have served
on Palm Springs City Council from District 4 for seven years and it’s been one of the greatest honors of my life.

Eric Gray: What strategies do you believe are most effective for fostering economic growth in the 47th Assembly District, especially post-pandemic?

Christy Holstege: Our district is critical to the economic backbone of this state, and our population is suffering the effects of mismanaged funds and unsustainable infrastructure issues across California. Our seniors and families are getting priced out of neighborhoods they’ve lived in for generations as residents of metropolitan cities like Los Angeles and San Diego move into our neighborhoods for more affordable housing. Our transportation infrastructure is strained from commuters that are working for and supporting the economies of these bigger cities. Our residents are developing asthma at higher rates than other regions across the state as a result of the unchecked proliferation of mega-warehouses and the pollution they bring with them.

In the Assembly, I’ll fight to ensure our district does not continue to get left behind, and that we receive just as much per capita in funding as regions in Northern California and large metropolitan regions like Los Angeles and San Diego, so that our families and neighbors can thrive and succeed.

This starts by ensuring we fund affordable housing, cut red tape on development of new housing projects, stand with consumers and fight price gouging– including at the pump– and champion a four year university for the Coachella Valley.

Eric Gray: What measures do you support to enhance public safety in the 47th Assembly District, and how do you balance that with community trust and civil liberties?

Christy Holstege: During my time on the Palm Springs City Council, I supported a 25% increase in funding for law enforcement, as well as the hiring of more officers, the purchasing of equipment/vehicles and the modernization of Police Stations. This was accomplished while maintaining oversight of the Palm Springs Police Department and not sacrificing community trust, which our department has worked so hard to earn. As an Assemblymember, keeping our district safe will be one of my top priorities, and my record of support for smart law enforcement balanced with oversight will allow us to continue the positive trends we made in Palm Springs district wide.

Eric Gray: What are your top priorities when it comes to environmental sustainability and climate change, and how do you plan to implement them locally?

Christy Holstege: As I stated in my priorities, our district is already seeing the devastating effects of the climate crisis, from extreme weather events to increased air pollution. Our approach to the climate crisis must be two-pronged: first, we need to eliminate dirty energy and the legal, social, and economic infrastructure that continue to boost oil and gas companies. Second, we must facilitate a just transition to green energy so that both our environment and our most vulnerable communities are protected from the worst consequences of climate change. The sooner we can show the efficacy and scalability of green energy, the sooner we can usher in the end of fossil fuels.

I am proud to be a long-time ally of the environmental justice movement. When the City of Palm Springs adopted our Community Choice Aggregation plan and enrolled our residents and businesses in 100% carbon free power, we ensured rate certainty and subsidies for low-income households. In addition, I have
spearheaded city efforts to increase the amount of shade structures available across the city, led city efforts to reduce single-use plastics, and increased the availability of electric vehicle charging stations. From the increased funding needed for fighting year round wildfires (a clear result of our changing climate), to reducing our dependence on fossil fuels and expanding our renewable energy portfolio, to creating more public greenspace and tree canopy which helps provide shade and lower temperatures as well as filter pollutants from the air, I have always made it a point to consider such changes through an environmental justice lens.

In contrast, my opponent has not supported legislative efforts to address climate change and environmental justice. Notably, Greg Wallis voted against SB 253, the Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act, as well as SBx1 2, which updated both PIIRA and the California Oil Refinery Cost Disclosure Act of 2022, mandating reporting for entities within the state’s oil and gasoline supply chains,
establishing a price-gouging penalty, and creating an advisory committee to provide input on environmental justice and community issues. He has also authored proposed legislation that would eliminate environmental review for developers, and has received substantial campaign contributions from the fossil fuel industry this cycle.

Eric Gray: Can you provide examples of how you’ve worked across the aisle with colleagues from different political parties to achieve common goals?

Christy Holstege: I was the chair of the Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG), where I worked with all nine city mayors, county and tribes in a bipartisan effort where we delivered CVAG projects on transportation, homelessness, environment and infrastructure issues. I was also the chair of the CVAG homeless committee for years and was able to work in a bipartisan manner and delivered the Navigation center with all of our member cities’ support. I worked with other cities and their councils to build up homeless funding regionally and was able to get all the cities and the county to participate and contribute in funding the project.

My work on the Palm Springs City Council over the last seven years has earned me the endorsement of republican business leaders and have worked with leaders in different industries on economic development, tourism and hospitality to bring more jobs to our regions.

Eric Gray: As you look ahead, what are your key priorities if elected for a first term, and what legacy do you hope to leave for the 47th Assembly District?

Christy Holstege: I have a track record of delivering real results to our communities. With my key priorities — affordable housing, regional economic development, and environmental protections — I want to make sure that my time in the Assembly will have a transformative impact on our district, leaving our district safer, on the path to sustainable clean energy, improved public transit infrastructure and working towards improving the quality of life for all residents in Assembly District 47.

Christy Holstege with Supporters

Also Read