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Pierce mayor resigns, trustees accept resignations and appoint interim mayor
Summary
Mayor Cathy Ortiz resigned Oct. 13, saying she did not want the town to bear the cost of another recall election; the board accepted her resignation and that of Trustee Teresa Martinez and named Trustee Larry VanWhy interim mayor until the November 2026 election.
Mayor Cathy Ortiz announced her resignation at the Town of Pierce Board of Trustees meeting on Oct. 13, saying she stepped down to avoid the expense and division of another recall election. "I have decided to resign as Mayor. Not because I want to, but because I do not want to cost the Town another recall election," Ortiz told trustees before they accepted her letter of resignation.
Trustees voted unanimously to accept Ortiz’s resignation and a separate resignation letter from Trustee Teresa Martinez. Trustee Geoffery Broughton moved to accept both resignations; Trustee Mike Lester seconded and the motion carried on an all-"AYES" vote. The board named Trustee Larry VanWhy to serve as mayor until the November 2026 election.
The board will accept letters of interest to fill the two open trustee seats through Dec. 5, 2025. The trustees plan to appoint replacements at the December board meeting. Broughton, who urged residents to temper personal attacks on neighbors, said in a closing statement: "Look around, the people you are fighting with are your neighbors. Cathy is your neighbor. Julie is your neighbor. Tina and Heather are your neighbors." He added that recent behavior reflected a vocal minority, not the whole town.
The resignations remove sitting leadership ahead of the town’s regular election cycle and set a timetable for interim governance and appointments. The board made the appointments and schedule during the same Oct. 13 session; no special election was scheduled at the meeting.
