Oscar Ortiz

Oscar Ortiz represents the city that raised him. He grew up in Indio, left in 2008 to study chemistry at Stanford University, then returned nine years later determined to serve the community that felt like family when most of his own relatives were still in Mexico.

Ortiz now splits his time between two roles. At Friends of the Desert Mountains, he works to protect the lands surrounding the Coachella Valley, preserving open space and connecting residents to the outdoors through education and events. On city council, he advocates for the families who call Indio home, counting his term as mayor from 2022 to 2023 among his proudest achievements.

“Growing up in a hardworking immigrant community showed me how much people are doing out here to get their families ahead,” he says. That perspective steers his approach to city council decisions, emphasizing respect and collaboration.

“Politics can be divisive,” Ortiz continues. “I think we’ve been doing a good job of being respectful and keeping our doors open to people of all backgrounds, of all views … to bring better solutions for our community.”