WesternU Government Relations Director Elected Mayor of Desert Hot Springs

Matt Weyuker, director of government relations at Western University of

Health Sciences (WesternU), has been elected mayor of Desert Hot Springs.

Weyuker begins his two-year mayoral term on December 7.

“”Matt has served the osteopathic medicine profession and WesternU

exceptionally well in Sacramento over the years and I expect him to be no

less successful as mayor of Desert Hot Springs,”” said Philip Pumerantz,

PhD, president of WesternU.

“”Many people felt City Hall could use some new blood,”” Weyuker said. “”A

number of friends remembered my background in government relations and

asked me if I’d consider running.””

Weyuker’s goals as mayor are to “”initiate leadership and accountability,

unify the City Council and restore fiscal confidence,”” he said.

Weyuker has a long history of government affairs work, almost two decades

each as executive director of the Osteopathic Physicians & Surgeons of

California (OPSC) association and as a lobbyist for the osteopathic

profession from the late 1970s until his retirement in 1997. Weyuker also

has served WesternU as government relations director since 1979.

In addition, Weyuker ran his own political campaign firm for 10 years and

was a consultant to the California State Legislature from 1966-76.

He has served on two different school boards: the Huntington Beach Union

High School Board of Trustees (1967-71) and the Westminster Elementary

School Board (1964-71).

The new mayor will lead a city council also comprised of four council

members. Weyuker received 40.8 percent of the votes; the runner up

received 30.6 percent.

He and his wife, Marlene, have kept a residence in Desert Hot Springs-a

community of 14,824 located in the Coachella Valley just north of Palm

Springs-for six years. The couple has five grown children-four sons and a

daughter.