CHRIS BUBSER RESIGNS
Mammoth Lakes Town Councilmember Chris Bubser resigned from Town Council on July 28, leaving the council with a vacancy it must fill before the end of September.
“I am writing to inform you of my resignation from Council, effective immediately,” Bubser wrote in her resignation letter. “Serving on the Council has been the honor of my lifetime. I am grateful to you, the staff, the other council members, commissioners, and the entire community for allowing me to serve our community.”
Bubser’s resignation came shortly after the Town of Mammoth Lakes selected her husband, David Baron, as its first Arts and Cultural Manager. In that capacity, he will oversee operations of the Mammoth Arts and Cultural Center (MACC), a $20 million project currently under construction on College Parkway.
Town Attorney Andy Morris said Baron’s appointment to this role created a financial conflict-of-interest, forcing her resignation. Bubser, however, has not publicly stated a reason for her departure and did not respond to The Sheet’s request for comment.
Why Baron needs to fill the position now when the MACC is far from finished has also not been addressed.
Bubser was elected to the Mammoth Lakes Town Council in 2022 and served as mayor in 2025.
The Town Council discussed options for filling the vacancy during its Wednesday meeting, as Morris told the council that state law requires the vacancy to be filled within 60 days.
“The only qualifications for someone serving on the council by appointment is that they have to be registered to vote in Mammoth and be 18,” Morris said.
The council cannot call a special election because the required timeline does not align with the upcoming November election.
Because the November election is less than 114 days away, the council must appoint someone to serve the remainder of Bubser’s term.
The council directed staff to publicize the vacancy and accept applications from interested residents.
The appointed councilmember will serve until candidates elected in the Nov. 3, 2026 election are sworn into office.
The deadline for candidates to file for the November election is next Wednesday.
Three seats are up. No incumbents are running. As of press time, candidates include Cory Rice (husband of current Councilmember Amanda Rice), Tarek Nuttall and Stacey Slichta.
