A significant leadership transition has unfolded in the City of Uhland, following the recent resignation of former mayor Lacee Duke, who stepped down just over a week ago.
On May 11, the City Council appointed Guadalupe Garza as the new mayor, succeeding Duke, who faced arrest in December due to allegations of misappropriating funds linked to the Uhland Fall Fest. Despite the pending legal matters, Duke remained in her mayoral role until her resignation on May 4.
In her resignation letter, Duke expressed her deep regret: “It is with the heaviest of hearts that I submit my resignation as Mayor of Uhland today, effectively immediately. The majority of Uhland’s voters in this recent election have made their preference known, and I cannot, in good conscience, stand shoulder-to-shoulder with people who subvert law, order and justice. My allegiance will always be to truth and honor above status and politics. City of Uhland—while I may no longer be your Mayor, I steadfastly remain your good neighbor and earnest ally.”
Duke’s departure came after local elections on May 2, where three candidates, who branded themselves as the “Good Guys,” secured seats on the Uhland City Council. Guadalupe Garza, Seraiah Pineda, and Mark Garonzik were among the newly elected officials, with Garonzik promptly criticizing the former leadership for their abrupt resignations. “To me, this speaks volumes. It shows the character of the leadership that’s leaving this city in a complicated transition instead of putting Uhland first,” he stated in a Facebook post.
Along with Duke, the city attorney and mayor pro tem also resigned earlier this month. In a letter dated May 1, the former legal representation, Sheets, Childs & Sandre, PLLC, noted their struggles to address conflicts and tension within the City Council: “While we have been able to fulfill this role successfully in many other communities, we have found it more challenging to achieve those same objectives here. Despite our best efforts, we have not been able to assist the Council in resolving differences, reducing tensions and personal attacks during meetings, or establishing a more predictable framework for addressing City matters.”
Mayor Pro Tem Chris Warndahl, who also resigned on May 4, cited his inability to provide further assistance to the city as his reason for stepping down.
A special meeting was held on Monday to fill the vacancies in accordance with state law. Newly elected council members Mark Garonzik and Seraiah Pineda were sworn in, while Matthew Esposito was appointed to Place 5 and Guadalupe Garza took over the vacant mayoral position.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Garza reflected on the city’s precarious financial situation: “Our city teetered on the brink of becoming insolvent. At times, it felt like the Titanic, and even my faith in humanity wavered. However, when we seek wisdom greater than ourselves, look beyond obstacles and personal attacks, and remain focused on the goal, there is nothing impossible.”
