Rita Lamb

Rita Lamb was elected by the voters to the City Council on August 27, 2019 during a Special Election called after the passing of Mayor Gregory S. Pettis and re-elected to a four-year term on November 3, 2020. Councilmember Lamb is the first district representative for District 1, which includes the neighborhoods of the Cathedral City Cove, portions of Cathedral Canyon Country Club, business districts west of Cathedral Canyon, western section of the Whitewater neighborhood that includes the Boys and Girls Club located on Whispering Trail, Cimarron Cove, the Cathedral Palms Senior Living on Landau, and the western portion of the Downtown Arts and Entertainment District.

Rita previously served as an elementary school principal for much of her career and received high honors, such as “Principal of the Year” by the Desert Sands Unified School District. Prior to retiring in 2014, she served as principal in the Coachella Valley Unified School District. Rita has given back to her community throughout her adult life having served on the Cathedral City Public Arts Commission, board member for the Cathedral City Senior Center, and as a board member for OSHER Lifelong Learning Institute located on the California State San Bernardino, Palm Desert Campus.

As a long-time desert resident, Rita believes strongly in maintaining and enhancing our desert community through safe neighborhoods, encouraging a healthy business climate and providing opportunities for our youth to become informed and committed stewards of our city.

On the City Council, Rita represents the city on the Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG) Conservation Commission, Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy Board and the Palm Springs Unified School District’s 2 x 2 Committee.

Rita has had a varied professional background and brings with her an extensive perspective. From owning and operating a real estate company and interior design business, to her most recent work as a community host of “Coachella Thriving,” – a radio program broadcasted from the KCOD studios at College of the Desert; Rita has demonstrated her passion for and dedication to the community.

Raised in the San Fernando Valley, Rita graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from California State University, Northridge and earned her teaching credentials at California State University, Dominguez Hills. She also earned a Master of Arts degree in Educational Administration/Organizational Leadership from Azusa Pacific University as well as an Administrative Services Credential from California State University, San Bernardino.