Uvalde Mayor Resigns Amid Tragedy, Criticism and Uncertainty: What’s Next for the City of Uvalde?

Uvalde, Texas, is facing a new challenge with the sudden resignation of Mayor Cody Smith. Smith was elected in November following the tragic 2022 massacre at Robb Elementary School where 19 students and two teachers were killed by a teenage gunman. During his campaign, he promised to help the city recover from the tragedy.

In a statement obtained by Scripps News, Smith thanked the Uvalde community for their support during his recovery from unexpected medical issues. He expressed his decision to step down from his role as Mayor in order to focus on his health, effective immediately. Mayor Pro-Tem Everardo Zamora will assume his responsibilities until a new mayor is elected on November 5th.

Smith’s resignation comes before a City Council meeting scheduled for Tuesday which may be related to a report on the Robb Elementary shooting. This announcement follows the recent resignation of Uvalde Police Chief Daniel Rodriguez, set to take effect on April 6. The city officials have faced criticism for their handling of the school massacre, with calls for accountability and justice from the community.

Brett Cross, a father who lost his son in the shooting, expressed disappointment over the mayor’s decision to resign. Cross had hoped that Smith would collaborate with the community to improve Uvalde and achieve justice for the victims. As