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About Karlyn 

Karlyn Neel has called Indian Wells home for over seven years. By profession, she's a design and marketing professional with a degree in Political Science, and she currently serves on the Design Review Board for the City of Richmond, California, where she evaluates major development projects, from large multi-use developments like Point Molate to residential, commercial, industrial, and park projects. That work demands careful analysis, sound design judgment, and clear direction to developers, architects, and members of the public.

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More than the technical skills, that experience taught Karlyn an important lesson: the value of truly listening to residents and the community, and making sure everyone is treated with dignity and respect, with a real say in the decisions that shape local government.

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She's running for Indian Wells City Council because she believes this small, but mighty, city deserves leaders who bring fresh perspective and real energy to public service and she's ready to bring her extensive civic and corporate experience to help keep Indian Wells iconic, for current residents and generations to come.

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Areas of Focus

  • Preserve and enhance the exceptional quality of life in Indian Wells

  • Champion a “Residents First” approach to city leadership

  • Preserve and celebrate Indian Wells’ cultural, architectural, and historical heritage

  • Strengthen strategic planning and ensure alignment with the General Plan and the city’s long-term vision and goals

  • Keep the City of Indian Wells fiscally strong

  • Promote tourism and economic development to strengthen city revenues

  • Prioritize public safety and timely access to health care and essential services

  • Improve transparency by clearly communicating the purpose and rationale behind key decisions

  • Ensure Indian Wells has a strong voice on regional issues, including air quality, water availability, and transportation

Karlyn in Indian Wells

Fairway Park

Collaborated with the city and the community to ensure a successful design for Fairway Park at El Dorado and Fairway Drive

Safer Streets

Engaged with the city in the development of its Safer Streets program to slow vehicle speeds and help make streets safer for pedestrians, bicyclists, golf carts, and drivers

Cultural Designation
& The Mills Act

Partnered with the city to receive the first Indian Wells Cultural Designation (architecturally) and was the first to go into contract with the city for the Mills Act

National Register of Historic Places

Partnered with the State of California and the National Park Service, Department of the Interior to apply and receive the first designation in Indian Wells to be approved for the US National Register of Historic Places on April 6, 2026

Indian Wells  Oral History Project Interviewee

I was honored to be one of the first ten people selected for Indian Wells' permanent oral history archive, a lasting record of the leaders who shaped this city, created by the Indian Wells Preservation Foundation, the City of Indian Wells, and Cal State Fullerton's Lawrence de Graaf Center for Oral and Public History.

Indian Wells 
Preservation Foundation

Lifetime member and former advisory committee member of the Indian Wells Preservation Foundation

My Promise

I promise if elected to lead completely with integrity and to make impact for the residents and to keep Indian Wells iconic and a place we all love to reside in for years to come

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