Chad-Alan Carr, the newly elected mayor of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, has resigned after just over two months in office, citing a personal legal matter — leaving the small borough scrambling to find new leadership.
According to CBS 21, Gettysburg Borough Council President Matt Moon confirmed the resignation Tuesday (March 3), saying, "The Borough of Gettysburg has received Mr. Carr's resignation." Moon did not elaborate on the nature of the legal matter. He is now serving as acting mayor.
Carr had been sworn in on New Year's Eve following his victory over incumbent Rita Frealing in last November's municipal election. As reported by WGAL, Carr won the race by a margin of 56.05% to 43.95% — a difference of just 148 votes. Before becoming mayor, Carr served on the borough council and worked with several community and school organizations. His borough website bio described Gettysburg as his "adopted hometown" and "the grandest small town in America."
In addition to stepping down as mayor, Carr also resigned from his role as executive director of the Gettysburg Community Theatre. FOX43 reports that the theater's board announced the departure Thursday (March 5), stating: "The Board is working to ensure a smooth transition and will appoint interim leadership as the organization moves forward. Our priority remains supporting the students, families, artists, and community members who make Gettysburg Community Theatre such a special place."
The Borough Council is set to formally vote on accepting Carr's resignation at its monthly business meeting on Monday (March 9) at 7 p.m. Once the resignation is accepted, the council will have 30 days to appoint an interim mayor who will serve until the next municipal election in November 2027.
Frealing, who served as Gettysburg's mayor from 2021 to 2025, says she wants her old job back. She told WGAL she would be interested in resuming the role and has already applied. The Adams County Republican Committee also weighed in, saying it "will field a qualified Republican candidate to submit their information for consideration by the Gettysburg Borough Council for the Mayor position."
Moon offered a measured farewell to the outgoing mayor: "We wish him well as he resolves his personal legal issues."