UPDATE:
The Fortuna City Council voted unanimously Feb. 3 to solicit applications for the seat recently vacated by Councilmember Kris Mobley, who resigned last week, and appoint her replacement.
Mobley informed the city she would be resigning her post, effective immediately, in an email last week and the city promptly issued a press release announcing her resignation, saying it came amid an FBI investigation into conduct unrelated to city business. Police Chief Casey Day later told the Journal he understands the investigation to be focused on allegations of embezzlement or theft. An FBI spokesperson confirmed the existence of an investigation but declined to offer further details, and Mobley has not been charged in the case.
On Feb. 3, the council voted to follow staff’s recommendation to accept applications for the vacant council seat until March 4, after which it will interview candidates March 10 and then appoint someone to the seat. The council also could have decided to hold a special election for the seat, though it was estimated that would cost the city $45,000, or to appoint someone without a public application process.
PREVIOUSLY:
Kris Mobley has resigned her seat on the Fortuna City Council amid an FBI investigation, the Fortuna Police Department announced in a press release late this afternoon.
The press release does not specify the nature of the allegations against Mobley, but KymKemp.com’s Lisa Music quotes Fortuna Police Chief Casey Day as saying he understands the investigation is into “allegations of theft, embezzlement.” The press release does specify that the conduct under investigation “pertains solely to Council Member Mobley’s private conduct and does not involve city business.”
Reached by the Journal, Day confirmed that he understands the investigation to be related to allegations of theft and embezzlement. Further, he said the case did not originate with his department and he’s been aware of “certain aspects of the investigation” for some time, though he referred any questions regarding when the investigation began to the FBI.
Attempts to reach Mobley and the FBI field office in Fortuna for this story were unsuccessful.
Elected to the city council in 2022, Mobley works as a business manager for Beacom Construction, Co. based in Fortuna. (Attempts to reach the company this afternoon were unsuccessful.)
The city’s press release says that to “ensure the investigation remains thorough and impartial,” the city is not in a position to comment further.
“While the city remains committed to transparency, it is important to emphasize that this investigation is being conducted solely under the jurisdiction of the FBI,” the release states. “We ask for the community’s patience and understanding as the FBI continues its work.”
The release asks that all media inquires be directed to the FBI, and asks any community members with information relevant to the investigation to “contact the appropriate authorities through official channels.”
See the full press release from the city here.
This article appears in Sanctuary in the Storm.