# Twentynine Palms (local, San Bernardino County)

URL: https://www.californiapeople.org/local/twentynine-palms

- title: Twentynine Palms
- type: city
- jurisdiction: City of Twentynine Palms
- region: Morongo Basin

## Key findings
- **Measure G** is a permanent **1-cent sales tax**, about **$2M a year**. Unlike most general taxes on this ballot, the measure itself **limits spending** to listed services: 911 and emergency response, police patrols, streets and sidewalks, flood response, park safety and **animal shelter upgrades**. The annual audit must confirm compliance. [^1][^2]
- Property tax brings in only about **23% of city revenue**. Before placing the tax, the city spent on a pollster ($22,500) and an outreach firm ($74,750). [^3]
- **No argument against was filed.** [^2]
- **Council pay rises from $465 to $700 a month** after this election. Mayor Daniel Mintz is unopposed; Districts 4 and 5 are contested. [^2]

## Measure G: One-cent sales tax for listed local services
**What it does:** 1% sales tax starting about April 1, 2027, with no end date. Groceries and prescriptions are exempt. It's labeled a general tax (simple majority), but the measure restricts spending to its stated purposes. [^1]

**Money and conflicts:** Placed on the ballot July 14, 2026. One argument in favor, none against. Nearby Yucca Valley voters extended their own sales taxes in 2024 with more than 82%. [^4][^5]

**Does it solve a lasting problem?** It funds a named list of services, and the audit has to check that spending matches. That makes it one of the more accountable sales taxes on the county ballot.

## Council District 4
### Octavious Scott (incumbent, mayor pro tem)
- Navy veteran (8 years); in the city since 2019; on the council since 2022. Degrees in management and public administration; nonprofit workforce work. Priorities: affordability, mixed-income housing, business growth, a youth council. [^2]

### Carlos Blandon
- Raised in the Coachella Valley; Sacramento State graduate; AmeriCorps. Focus: regional planning, water use, and revitalizing Adobe Road and Twentynine Palms Highway. [^2]

## Council District 5
### McArthur Wright (incumbent)
- Retired Marine and ordained minister; on the council 11+ years, including two terms as mayor; works at the Marine Corps base. Priorities: youth, military families, public safety, infrastructure. [^2]

### Shanese Risper
- Retired Marine; USC business master's; past president of Soroptimist International of Twentynine Palms. Priorities: youth, economic growth, disaster preparedness. [^2]
- A qualified write-in candidate, Marcelino J. Ryan, is also running in District 5. [^6]

## Council District 3
### Daniel Mintz (incumbent, mayor)
- Unopposed. [^2]

## Sources
[^1]: City Attorney, Measure G impartial analysis. https://uploads.rov.sbcounty.gov/ROV/Elections/2026/1103/Measures/CityofTwentyninePalms/IA_TP.pdf
[^2]: Desert Trumpet, council candidates (2026). https://www.deserttrumpet.org/p/city-council-and-town-council-candidates
[^3]: Z107.7 FM, council considers sales tax (Oct 2025). https://z1077fm.com/twentynine-palms-city-council-to-consider-2026-sales-tax-measure-tonight
[^4]: Desert Trumpet, Morongo Basin candidate and measure list (2026). https://www.deserttrumpet.org/p/local-elections-the-morongo-basin
[^5]: CaliforniaCityFinance, Nov 2024 local measure results. https://www.californiacityfinance.com/Votes2411final.pdf
[^6]: SB County ROV, qualified write-in candidates. https://uploads.rov.sbcounty.gov/rov/Elections/2026/1103/List_QualifiedWriteIns.pdf