Rick Vaccaro didn’t set his alarm Wednesday expecting to become the mayor of Fairfield. By evening, the city council had voted to make it official — and he hadn’t even been in the room when it happened.
The surprise appointment of Vaccaro, a former Fairfield City Council member and onetime vice mayor, came during a tense Tuesday council meeting (the article references it as this week, with publication dated June 18, 2026) following the abrupt resignation of former Mayor Catherine Moy. Moy stepped down amid an investigation into whether she actually lived within city limits, and her departure landed during an especially fraught moment for the community. The city had been roiled by arrests of Fairfield High School students and a deadly shooting at a San Benito graduation — events that left residents angry, divided, and hungry for answers their leaders seemed unprepared to provide.
Vaccaro’s path to the mayor’s office was unconventional, to say the least. He wasn’t present when his name was proposed, yet the council voted 5-1 to appoint him. Only Vice Mayor Pam Bertani dissented, casting the sole no vote. Bertani’s objection wasn’t personal — she’d been serving as acting mayor and believed the seat should stay empty until voters elected someone in November. She also expressed uncertainty about whether Vaccaro would even accept the role, given his absence from the meeting. He did accept, and was sworn in shortly after.
What makes Vaccaro’s appointment especially notable is his explicit refusal to run for the office in November. He’s taking the job as a temporary steward, not a springboard for higher ambitions. In his conversations with KCRA 3, Vaccaro acknowledged what Fairfield is facing: a fractured community that needs healing. His philosophy on leadership — listening first, speaking second, and refusing to tune out residents even when they’re angry — suggests he understands the moment. You can’t legislate unity, but you can model respect and genuine attention. For a city in crisis, that might be exactly what’s needed right now.
Vaccaro maintained respect for his former colleague Moy despite their years of professional disagreements, and he’s kept things civil with Bertani even after her vote against him. Those relationships matter in a small city with big problems. Between now and November, Fairfield’s acting mayor has work to do — and a community watching closely to see if his listening approach can turn heated council chambers into something resembling progress.
About the Author
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.
