Karl Rove, who was the senior advisor to former President George W. Bush, will headline Desert Christian Academy’s 23^rd annual fundraiser on March 2 at the Renaissance Esmeralda Resort in Indian Wells. 

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani led last year’s auction gala and former First Lady Laura Bush spoke in 2011. The latter event netted more than $375,000 and drew 600 people. 

The auction will support the Bermuda Dunes school’s Tuition Assistance Program, which allows students from different economic backgrounds to attend. The school serves about 500 students in preschool through 12^th grade.

“We always strive to bring in a person of strong faith, who can clearly annunciate core values and how their faith in Christ has helped them in life,” said Dave Fulton, Desert Christian Academy (DCA) Founder and Head of School, in a news release.  “Whether you agree with his politics or not, (Rove) will provide an extraordinary message, and is a great example of a person putting his principles first in life.”

For more information or to make reservations, call (760) 345-2848.

Rep. Raul Ruiz announced Tuesday he will serve on four House subcommittees in his first two-year term that began this month.

The Palm Desert Democrat previously announced his two House Committees: Natural Resources and Veterans’ Affairs.

Under the Natural Resources umbrella, he’ll sit on the subcommittees for Indian and Alaska Native Affairs; and Water and Power. The former would focus on issues for tribes such as those in the Coachella Valley. The latter would include federal water issues such as the all-important Colorado River.

For the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, he’ll be on the subcommittees for Health; and Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. The health subcommittee would appear to be in the emergency room physician’s bailiwick. He last worked at Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage and has said he plans to continue practicing to some extent while serving in Congress.

“My subcommittee assignments will allow me to be an effective advocate for the people and communities I represent,” Ruiz said in a statement Tuesday.

“I look forward to working with my Democratic and Republican colleagues on these subcommittees to make a direct and meaningful impact in the 36^th District and across the nation.”

V. Manuel Perez, one of the Coachella Valley’s two Assembly members, endorsed Dr. Raul Ruiz in the 36th Congressional District race on Monday night.

Ruiz, D-Palm Desert, is challenging Rep. Mary Bono Mack, R-Palm Springs, for the seat on Nov. 6.

Perez, a Coachella Democrat, issued a statement at 9:30 p.m. Monday.

“We in public office are elected to serve all. For this reason it is with great concern that I hear about Mary Bono Mack’s comments regarding outreach to the Latino community,” Perez wrote.

“This is troubling for many reasons; chief among them is that as duly elected representatives of our nation, state, regional counties or local governments our oath of office is to respectfully protect, uphold and represent our communities’ concerns before the “Well of the United States House of Representatives,” into the “Wells of our State Capitol” into the “Halls of County Chambers” and into the peoples’ chambers of “City Hall.”

Bono Mack is a seven-term Congresswoman. Ruiz is an emergency room doctor at Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage.

The House Majority PAC, a national Democrat-backed Super PAC, announced this week it’s pumping $2.5 million into television commercials in six markets, including Palm Springs.

The group, which has been around since April 2011, will send $285,000 to the Coachella Valley for commercials in the fall designed to help Dr. Raul Ruiz, a Palm Desert Democrat, beat seven-term Republican Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack.

Among the six markets, San Diego, San Antonio and Buffalo will receive the most, followed by Palm Springs. Buffalo will get $120,000, though the group had previously announced it would also commit $205,000 to its effort.

The national Democratic groups in recent years have considered Bono Mack “vulnerable,” but she’s won all of her recent reelection campaigns by about 20 points, most recently beating Palm Springs Mayor Steve Pougnet.

Between the new investment and Bono Mack’s campaign war chest, you can  expect a few extra political ads during your favorite TV shows this fall.