The chief of staff for Scottsdale Mayor Lisa Borowsky is being investigated for alleged violations of city policy. He’s also been suspended from his position.
The removal of R. Lamar Whitmer from his position follows turmoil between the mayor and other city officials.
Whitmer was employed as the chief of staff in October 2025.
Dennis Wilenchik, an attorney for Whitmer, says the city has not elaborated on the reasons behind the suspension.
“I don't know how they think they can treat people that way, particularly officials that are high up in the administration of the city and act so brazenly without giving any reasons for any of it,” he said.
Wilenchik says Whitmer was escorted out of city hall by police and is currently not allowed to leave his home without permission.
“So the actions of the city are really incredible — to me, very bizarre — and violative of fundamental fair dealing to people,” he said.
In a statement to KJZZ, the mayor criticized the removal of Whitmer from his position and said she was not provided with any information on the city’s actions.
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The Scottsdale Unified School District is considering school closures as it faces declining enrollment. At a governing board meeting on Tuesday, the district presented seven options for potential closures. -
Tempe, Gilbert, Scottsdale and Tucson have joined 85 other plaintiffs in the Fire Apparatus Antitrust Litigation. -
The Scottsdale Unified School District is considering whether to close more of its campuses. A public hearing has been set for Sept. 22. -
Some wine growers in California are struggling. The New York Times reports some wineries are ripping out — or burning — their grapes in response to lower sales. -
An exhibit at Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West pays homage to Westerns through the decades. It’s called “Still in the Saddle: A New History of the Hollywood Western” and is on display through the end of the year.
