Fairfield Mayor's Seat in Limbo: Council Picks Vaccaro, Public Wants Empty Chair

The drama unfolding in Fairfield’s city hall isn’t just about who sits in the mayor’s chair—it’s about whether anyone should sit there at all, and that’s where things get interesting.

Last week, former Mayor Catherine Moy stepped down abruptly, citing what she described as persecution tied to a political investigation into her residency status. The situation, she said, had taken a toll on her health. That left the Fairfield City Council facing a Tuesday night decision: fill the vacancy quickly, go through a formal application process, or simply wait until voters get their say in November.

The council’s choice was swift—they voted 5-1 to appoint former Fairfield Vice Mayor Rick Vaccaro as acting mayor, assuming he accepts the role and meets the necessary qualifications. But here’s the twist: Pam Bartani, the current acting mayor, was the sole dissenting vote. Her argument? The seat should stay empty until November, letting voters make the call directly. And she wasn’t alone in that thinking. The majority of people who spoke during the meeting actually sided with Bartani’s position to keep the chair vacant.

This split reveals something worth paying attention to. On one side, you’ve got the council majority pushing for continuity and swift leadership. On the other, you’ve got both a council member and the public preference leaning toward letting democracy play out its full timeline. It’s a telling moment about whether filling a vacancy is always the right move—or whether sometimes the statement made by an empty seat speaks louder than any interim appointment could.

What happens next depends on whether Rick Vaccaro accepts the appointment. But regardless, Fairfield residents will get their vote in November. The question is whether that vote will validate the council’s move or vindicate Bartani’s call for patience.