Town staff have received word from Commissioner Wesolek that reveals the board majority’s plan: they intend to install former mayor Ron Pappas in place of the current Interim Town Manager Richard Hicks. Staff, feeling duty-bound, informed our Mayor.
This move, decided behind closed doors, is a blatant attempt to subvert the will of the voters and force through an unqualified political ally. We in the minority will not be a party to this attack on the people of Waxhaw.
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The Issue at Hand
Ron “me the people” Pappas was decisively rejected by the people of Waxhaw in the November 2023 election. The town made its choice clear: it wanted new leadership. Yet, despite this overwhelming mandate, the majority on the Board of Commissioners (BOC) is attempting to override the voters and install their mentor through political maneuvering.
All town employees report to the Town Manager, and the Town Manager reports to the BOC. A rejected mayor should not be appointed to a potentially more powerful position in our town.
This appointment is not about qualifications or the town’s best interests. It is about political favoritism. Worse, it is entirely unnecessary. The BOC has already extended an offer to a new permanent town manager who can potentially start in April.
Why We Are Pausing Quorum
Under normal circumstances, we in the minority (Mayor Murray, Commissioner Wedra, Commissioner Daunt) would not consider an action as serious as pausing quorum. However, the majority has left us no alternative. By pausing our attendance at meetings where this decision is set to take place, we are preventing the appointment from being forced through.
There is no need to rush a disruptive interim appointment for a few weeks when we already have a highly experienced interim and a permanent town manager has been extended an offer. Our interim needs to be allowed to continue his work unmolested and provide the usual mentoring during the transition period to the permanent manager.
Our Commitment to the People of Waxhaw
We did not take this decision lightly. We believe in responsible governance, not obstruction. However, we refuse to be complicit in a scheme that undermines the integrity of our town government. Until the majority publicly abandons their plan to install Ron Pappas, we will not participate in a process that can enable corruption.
In our desire to be constructive and move the town forward, we will pursue 3rd-party mediation to assist with resolving this matter.
We encourage the people of Waxhaw to hold their elected officials accountable. Demand transparency. Demand ethical leadership. Demand that your voices be respected.
This is not just about one appointment. It is about preserving the integrity of our local government and ensuring that power remains with the people—not with backroom deals and political favors.