Political scandals alter the vibe of South Lake Tahoe

Mayor resigns after theft at church. Mayor pro tem faces charges in brewery incident.

- BY HANNAH FRY

City of Lake Tahoe TAMARA WALLACE was South Lake Tahoe's mayor. She said she was filled with intense guilt.

With its scenic vistas and clear alpine waters, South Lake Tahoe long has been a destination for outdoor enthusiasts, vacationers and wealthy Californians looking for a reprieve from city life.

It's a place where people seem more eager to strike up a conversation about hiking, boating or skiing - depending on the season than about the often-dull arena of local politics.

That changed after South Lake Tahoe Mayor Tamara Wallace sent the local newspaper a letter this month confessing she'd stolen money from the Presbyterian church where she'd worked as an office manager and bookkeeper for seven years.

Then she resigned.

Adding to the local drama, news broke a day after Wallace’s revelation that the town’s mayor pro tem, Cody Bass, had been arrested following a recent early morning incident at a brewery. Bass was charged with misdemeanor trespassing and harassment, according to the Douglas County Sheriff's Office and the Douglas County district attorney’s office.

In a statement posted on Facebook, Bass denied any wrongdoing and said that he has “acted with integrity.”

“I will absolutely not be stepping down from my position on the City Council,” he wrote. “I am committed to going through the due process to prove my innocence.”

The one-two punch of political scandal has left residents questioning just who they'd put in charge of running their city of 21,000, which is grappling with issues such as housing affordability and how to stay safe amid the threat of wildfire.

In recent years, South Lake Tahoe has seen an inInflux of residents — many who came from the Bay Area looking for space during the pandemic. The growing pains have put pressure on natural resources — notably Lake Tahoe water quality — and on real estate values.

The scandals are adding to the stress.