Chelan mayor pushes back on claims surrounding council appointment

CHELAN — Mayor Erin McCardle used the close of the May 26 Chelan City Council meeting to publicly refute allegations circulating online following the appointment of Cesar Rivera-Vargas to a vacant council seat, saying misinformation surrounding the process risked undermining public confidence in the council's future decisions.

McCardle said she typically does not respond to social media commentary but chose to address what she described as an “outrageous conspiracy theory” that emerged after the council appointed Rivera-Vargas to Position 5 earlier this month.

“I think the point of it is to undermine the credibility of this Council,” McCardle said.

According to McCardle, the allegations attempted to connect Rivera-Vargas, a bridge project in Wenatchee, contractor KRCI and her husband in a way that implied an improper relationship behind the appointment.

McCardle said those claims were factually incorrect, but rather than simply rejecting them, provided evidence against them.

“The Wenatchee Public Works Director has confirmed that KRCI has not been a sub on that project,” she said, referring to the Confluence Parkway that's been under construction since mid-April 2025, and the only project involving a bridge in Wenatchee while her husband worked with the construction company. “Cesar has not worked for KRCI, nor has my husband worked for KRCI since December of 2025.”

KRCI was a contractor on one bridge project in Wenatchee earlier this year near the location of the Confluence Parkway. It was for emergency repairs over the Wenatchee River and took place in January 2026, after McCardle's husband had departed from the company.

McCardle said the allegations began appearing in emails and on social media following the May 12 council meeting in which Rivera-Vargas was selected from a field of applicants to fill the seat vacated by former Council Member Mark Ericks.

Records obtained by Ward Media show the mayor received numerous emails after the appointment raising concerns about the selection process and alleging connections between Rivera-Vargas, KRCI and members of the council. The emails also questioned whether the appointment outcome had been predetermined.

McCardle did not address specific individuals during her remarks, instead focusing on what she said was the broader effect such claims can have on public trust.

“Despite a few people knowing those facts, that conspiracy theory continued to swirl around social media,” McCardle said. “All that does is undermine the credibility of everyone sitting on this Council on [their] future votes.”

The online commentary, posted alongside an editorial from a widely-read local blog maintained by a writer who attends all council meetings, was sent to at least two Chelan-specific groups with members numbering in the thousands.

The mayor's comments came at the conclusion of a meeting that included lengthy discussions on short-term rental policy, transportation planning and other city business.

Rivera-Vargas was sworn in immediately following his appointment on May 12 and participated in his first full council meeting May 26.

The council took no action related to McCardle's remarks, which were made during mayor and council comments just prior to adjournment.

Andrew Simpson: 509-433-7626 or andrew@ward.media