CALIFORNIA — South Lake Tahoe mayor Tamara Wallace resigned on October 13 after issuing a public letter admitting she had embezzled approximately $300,000 from the Lake Tahoe Community Presbyterian Church and had attempted suicide. 

Wallace’s resignation email, sent late Monday night to city officials, took immediate effect. In her statement, she urged Mayor Pro Tem Cody Bass to step down amid legal troubles of his own. 

In her confession letter published earlier this month, Wallace said that as the church administrator she had stolen funds over an extended period. She said she “turned myself in,” providing church officials with account numbers and passwords to uncover the discrepancies.

Wallace disclosed that on her birthday, September 11, she attempted suicide due to guilt and later spent 18 days in a mental health facility. 

She attributed her actions in part to long-term personal trauma, including alleged childhood abuse and the loss of her son to fentanyl poisoning, while acknowledging full responsibility. She pledged to repay every cent and accept whatever consequences follow. 

The El Dorado County District Attorney’s Office confirmed that it is investigating the case. 

Church officials said the missing money was discovered during an internal audit, and Wallace’s employment was terminated shortly thereafter. 

Mayor Pro Tem refuses to resign

Mayor Pro Tem Cody Bass has faced unrelated misdemeanor charges stemming from a bar altercation in September. 

“I will absolutely not be stepping down from my position on the City Council, as I have done nothing wrong. I am committed to going through the due process to prove my innocence,” Bass said in response to Wallace’s call for resignation.

The City Council will meet October 21 to discuss filling the vacancy and reassigning leadership.

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