Village of Walden
Office of the Mayor
April 14, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Statement from the Mayor: supporting open and transparent government.
As Mayor and with the support of many board of trustees of the Village of Walden, I want to address recent developments involving Village Manager, John Revella, as well as inquiries received from the Orange County District Attorney’s office regarding Walden’s small cities loan program. First, we acknowledge that Mr. Revella is currently dealing with personal legal matters related to his private tax affairs. These matters are separate and unrelated to his official duties with the Village. At this time, no conclusions have been reached, and it is important to emphasize that any personnel action, including his paid administrative leave, is precautionary, while fact finding proceeds . This action should not be interpreted as finding of wrongdoing.
Separately, the Village has been served with a subpoena requesting records associated with the administration of small cities loans dating back to 2013. In recognition of the fact that the Village manager plays a central role in overseeing grants and loan programs ,the Board believed it both prudent and necessary to handle all related matters with heightened care and transparency during this time. To that end, the Village is fully cooperating with the state and local agencies and taking appropriate steps to review internal processes and ensure full compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.
The Mayor and the Board of Trustees remain committed to upholding the oath of office we have taken to serve the residents and businesses of the village of Walden with integrity, accountability, and transparency. We are working diligently to respond to all requests, support the ongoing review process, and ensure that the Village operations continue without disruption.
We understand that this is a challenging time for our employees and our community. We ask for your patience and support as we work through these matters responsibly and thoroughly. Our goal is to resolve these issues as efficiently as possible so we can continue focusing on the priorities that matter most to our residents and maintaining the quality of life that makes the Village of Walden a great place to live, work and enjoy
Further updates will be provided as appropriate.
Mayor Becky Pearson