Throughout 2025, The Independent covered a wave of resignations from employees of the City of Moriarty as tension and financial crises arose.
In August, City Clerk/Treasurer Deborah Liu stepped down, citing “rampant corruption” and a lack of transparency within the city council. Liu, who was hired to resolve the city’s accounting issues, had uncovered IRS penalties and years of financial irregularities.
Following Liu’s departure, Mayor Brandon Webb resigned during a special council meeting on Sept. 22. Webb, who took office in 2024, expressed frustration with persistent resistance to his reform efforts, stating he was “tired of getting stabbed in the back.” His resignation came as the city struggled with $5 million in unbudgeted spending revealed by recent audits.
The trend continued in November, when Event Coordinator Debbie Adcock resigned after being required to handle alcohol licenses, a task she argued was not in her original job description.
Adcock cited the liability risk as a primary factor for her Nov. 12 resignation. City officials have since worked to fill these vacancies while addressing ongoing financial scrutiny from the State Auditor.