Consensus on leadership overshadowed by Sunshine Law concerns and emotional debate
ALACHUA ‒ In a charged meeting that laid bare rising tensions on the Alachua City Commission, the board voted Monday, June 9, to appoint Assistant City Manager Rodolfo Valladares as interim city manager, following the resignation of Mike DaRoza. The decision, while passing 4–1, was less a debate over Valladares’s qualifications and more a public rebuke of Commissioner Jacob Fletcher for an email he sent to fellow commissioners, which many viewed as improper and possibly unlawful.
Commissioner Dayna Williams introduced the motion to appoint Valladares and immediately launched into a detailed condemnation of Fletcher’s conduct. “Since I've been on boards with this city, I have never seen a sitting Commissioner blind-copy email the other Commissioners with their intention of how they're going to vote on a future agenda item,” Williams said. “That is not transparency in any way, shape or form.”
Williams accused Fletcher of undermining the commission, impugning the integrity of the city attorney, and slandering fellow commissioners. She also rejected Fletcher's suggestion that the appointment process had involved secretive polling or backroom dealing.
“Appointing an interim city manager is basic Commission 101,” she said. “Mr. Valladares is a man of faith, a man of conviction, and an extremely dedicated employee.”
Fletcher defended his actions, saying the email was intended to protect the commission from a possible Sunshine Law violation. Fletcher reiterated that his objection was based on Valladares's oversight of departments linked to the ongoing solar farm and Tara development controversies, which he argued raised a conflict of interest. “I think we need somebody who is not a part of this investigation,” Fletcher said.
Williams, unswayed, fired back. “You're blatantly having him be guilty before proven innocent,” she said, reminding the commission and the public that Valladares had not been accused of any wrongdoing. She urged unity and warned against allowing political division to paralyze the city's governance. “This is the first time since 2018 that I’ve seen this commission so torn up,” she said. “If we want to continue with the investigation, fine. But in the meantime, we need continuity.”
Commissioner Jennifer Ringerson voiced emotional support for Valladares, calling him the most consistent and professional person she had encountered in her time on the commission. “He truly listens, reflects back, and answers the questions. He has never spoken ill, never been unprofessional,” she said. Ringerson said she was hurt by the accusations against him and described feeling compelled to confide in others just to process the emotional weight of the situation.
Vice-Mayor Shirley Green Brown, who has served on the commission since 2012, also denounced the tone and substance of Fletcher’s letter. “I was appalled, disappointed, and disturbed,” she said. “This is ludicrous.” Brown defended her own commitment to the city and described Valladares as “one of the most professional, kind, compassionate” individuals on staff. “It would be the best transition for Mr. Valladares to take the reins as interim,” she said.
Mayor Walter Welch, weighing in after a lengthy exchange among commissioners, spoke to the need for healing and collaboration. “I ran this campaign in my hat. I live up to it. This hat say ‘We are Better Together,’ and that’s my goal—bringing unity and respect,” Welch said. “We cannot give the citizens a bad look at us like we all against one another. Comments like that plant bad seeds, and bad news can never be good news. We need to come together.”
Welch praised Valladares’s work ethic and composure, describing him as focused and dedicated. “He helped me a lot,” Welch said. “He’s a workaholic… focused on his job… and this is what the city needs. We need someone to step in, because we need to keep moving forward.”
During public comment, local businessman and volunteer chamber president Elliot Welker offered an emphatic endorsement of Valladares. “I’ve worked across from Mr. Valladares for four years now, and he’s always been a fair and honest broker,” Welker said. “He compounds us and what we bring to that table. He’s deeply committed to collaborating. He is the right person at the right time.” Welker’s remarks were met with applause from the audience.
With Monday’s vote, Valladares becomes acting city manager effective immediately. His interim contract is expected to be finalized at the commission's next meeting. Under the terms outlined by Williams, the agreement will run for up to 12 months or until a permanent city manager is selected, include a 10 percent salary increase, and allow Valladares to return to his former position when the interim term ends.
The fallout from Fletcher’s email remains unresolved. While no formal legal complaint has yet been filed, the incident has drawn sharp scrutiny. Florida’s Government-in-the-Sunshine Law prohibits public officials from discussing matters likely to come before them outside of public meetings. Fletcher’s email, by expressing a position and addressing other commissioners directly, may prompt a closer look by legal counsel or watchdog groups.
For now, the city has leadership continuity, but the episode has exposed deeper divides within the commission. Williams summed up the challenge ahead: “How can we move forward if all we’re doing is fighting each other?”
Her hope, echoed by several colleagues, is that the commission can return to its shared goal of serving the residents of Alachua. But the healing may take more than a unanimous vote. It may require trust and time.
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