Oakdale mayor resigning mid-term. What he has planned next
Oakdale’s mayor J.R. McCarty announced Friday he will be moving out of the city and therefore resigning from his position midway through his term.
“It has been a tremendous privilege to serve the wonderful community of Oakdale as its mayor and, previously, as a council member,” McCarty said in a press release. “Recently, my wife and I purchased a home outside the city limits that we are currently remodeling. We plan to reside there some time after the first of the year.”
He is resigning effective Dec. 31. McCarty said his new home is still in Oakdale but on a road that hasn’t been annexed.
McCarty served as a city council member from 2014 to 2018, when he succeeded long-time Mayor Pat Paul after she decided not to run again.
The City Council has 60 days from the date of McCarty’s resignation to either call a special election or appoint someone to fill the remainder of his term, which expires November 2022.
“I believe the council will do what is best for Oakdale when it comes to filling my seat,” McCarty said by email Monday. “Each one of the current council members are more than capable to fill the Mayor’s position.”
Two of the city council seats were just decided during the Nov. 3 election. Newcomer Fred Smith was elected along with Ericka Chiara, who was appointed to the council in 2018, after her predecessor moved out of the city. Four other candidates were in the running.
McCarty said he is proud to be leaving his position with city’s general fund reserves at 42%, a fully staffed police department, a partnership with Modesto for fire services, the recent completion of many road projects and many more in the works, and an affordable housing apartment complex that will open soon.
A press release from the city said McCarty, has “advocated for fiscal conservative practices that have helped ... increase the city’s general fund reserves to better prepare for economic challenges.”
This story was originally published November 23, 2020 at 2:59 PM.
