Ron Oden

Ron Oden (born March 21, 1950) is an American politician. In November 2003, he was elected the first African-American mayor of Palm Springs, California, after serving eight years on the city council.

Oden was born in Detroit, Michigan, and raised in Los Angeles, California. He is an ordained Seventh-day Adventist minister and has two Master's degrees, but resigned shortly before entering politics.

In 2007, he was honored with a Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars.

He is openly bisexual and is the father of two daughters, Brooke and Brittany. He is also the grandfather of two granddaughters and two grandsons. In June 2006, he lost in the Democratic primary for a seat in the California State Assembly by less than 100 votes.