TOPEKA, KS — A Kansas mayor who drew national attention after being charged with election fraud has resigned from office. Joe Ceballos, the mayor of Coldwater, stepped down Monday as he faces multiple felony counts related to allegedly voting illegally despite not being a U.S. citizen.
The Coldwater City Council announced it had accepted Ceballos’ resignation and emphasized that municipal operations would continue uninterrupted. Council president Britt Lenertz was sworn in as mayor and will serve the remainder of Ceballos’ term.
Ceballos, a legal permanent resident with a green card, was elected to his second term just one day before Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach revealed at a November press conference that the mayor had been arrested. Federal officials said Ceballos did not apply for U.S. citizenship until February, years after he first entered office, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Assistant Homeland Security Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told the outlet that Ceballos could face removal proceedings if convicted. The charges have renewed political debate in Kansas over election integrity, noncitizen voting, and state oversight of local elected officials.
City leaders said their focus now is maintaining public services and providing stability during the transition. Lenertz added that her priority will be ensuring community trust as the legal case moves forward.
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