ALACHUA – Mike DaRoza, who has served the City of Alachua in multiple roles over the past eight years, will step down as City Manager effective June 8, 2025. His resignation submitted via formal letter to the City Commission on May 26, and confirmed in a city-issued press release on May 29, comes at a time of increasing political disarray inside City Hall.
DaRoza’s letter conveyed appreciation for his time with the City and a pledge to ensure a smooth transition as the community grapples with uncertainty and a fractured Commission.
Leadership Vacuum and Political Noise
The most recent municipal election brought two new commissioners to the dais: Mayor Walter Welch and Commissioner Jacob Fletcher. Since their installation, meetings have become more contentious, and the Commission appears reluctant to take clear positions on key issues.
Rather than assert a coherent vision or provide reassurance to City staff, the Commission has remained largely silent. The vacuum has been filled instead by speculation, posturing, and, increasingly, interference from the small but vocal group of activists whose influence now appears to outweigh institutional knowledge.
Interference is also coming by way of the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners who objected to multiple developments within the City of Alachua. In fact, during the City of Alachua election in April, there were reports of County commissioners working to unseat City of Alachua incumbents as a means to stifle Alachua’s growth. The chaos that has sinc e ensued appears to have done just that.
Fletcher Email Raises Legal and Ethical Concerns
Amid the uncertainty, Alachua County Today has obtained an email sent by Fletcher to his fellow commissioners, objecting to Assistant City Manager Rodolfo Valladares potentially stepping into the interim city manager role. In the email, Fletcher criticized Valladares for informing commissioners about his willingness to serve in the interim role. Fletcher said Valadares undermined the Commission.
But in sending that email directly to the full board – and making his position on a likely Commission vote explicit – Fletcher may have undermined the law himself. Legal observers say the email likely constitutes a violation of Florida’s Government-in-the-Sunshine Law, which prohibits elected officials from discussing pending public matters among themselves outside of properly noticed meetings.
Former Florida Attorney General Robert A. Butterworth stated in Attorney General Opinion # AGO 01-21 that a commissioner sending out a “position statement” is not necessarily a violation of the Sunshine Law, it is a slippery slope.
“Thus, this practice is problematical and discussions of commissioners' individual positions on matters coming before the board for consideration might better be presented during the course of an open meeting.”
The opinion continued, “In sum, while this office would strongly discourage such activity, it is my opinion that it is not a direct violation of the Government in the Sunshine Law for council members … to prepare and circulate their own written position statements to other council members so long as the council members avoid any discussion or debate among themselves on these statements. I would caution that the city council's discussions and deliberations on matters coming before the council must occur at a duly noticed city council meeting and the circulation of these position statements must not be used to circumvent the requirements of the statute.”
In the case of Fletcher’s email, it appears that the commissioner was attempting to state his position with the intent of influencing the votes of his fellow commissioners.
“It’s ironic,” said one government ethics attorney. “Accusing staff of overstepping while possibly violating open meeting law is exactly the kind of contradiction that sows distrust.”
Alachua County Today is not aware of any formal complaint being filed, but the incident underscores the broader dysfunction now taking root at City Hall.
The Commission’s Indecision on What Comes Next
With DaRoza stepping aside, the question of who will lead the city remains unsettled. Valladares, the current Assistant City Manager and a professional engineer with more than 20 years’ experience, appears the most logical interim choice. He previously served as Public Services Director for over eight years and currently oversees most day-to-day operations.
But Fletcher’s opposition and the Commission’s failure to signal a clear direction leaves significant uncertainty. A vote on the interim appointment may come at the next scheduled meeting on June 9, but with commissioners divided and legal questions already swirling, confidence in the process appears to be eroding.
Community Watches as Stability Slips
DaRoza’s departure doesn’t signal renewal or transformation—it marks a period of uncertainty. As the Commission delays key decisions and risks further internal conflict, the City faces leadership questions at a time when staff retention, infrastructure planning, and public trust all require clear, steady hands.
Alachua, long regarded as a forward-thinking city and model of economic prosperity, is facing turmoil that may very well undermine investment in the community and lead to stagnation. Alachua faced similar circumstances in the early 2000s but was bolstered by a large contingent of community leaders and small business owners who championed a vision of prosperity and sustainability for the community. It is yet to be seen if similar voices will lead Alachua through the challenges of today.
For now, residents are left with more questions than answers: Will experience and institutional knowledge continue to be cast aside? Will a small number of activists run City Hall? Will community leaders step in to steady the ship? The answers may soon be known.
# # #
Email editor@
alachuatoday.com
