The Gazette reports that Palmer Lake is once again without a town attorney after Kent Whitmer resigned, becoming the third legal representative to walk away from the town in just a few months. According to the article, Whitmer cited “strife and turmoil” that had become more than a full-time commitment and had begun affecting his home life, health, and other clients. When the lawyers start sprinting for the exits, the public should probably stop pretending everything is fine.
The article details a long chain of instability in Palmer Lake government, including the firing of a previous attorney before his resignation date, another law firm backing out after allegations of undisclosed communication with a trustee, and significant turnover among elected officials and staff. The town has lost its mayor, town clerk, multiple trustees, and has seen two trustees recalled in the last year. Mayor Dennis Stern blamed “constant conflict, hostility and division” for damaging the town’s operations and ability to retain qualified professionals.
The Bullet Point Brief
- Palmer Lake just lost its third attorney or law firm in a matter of months. That is not bad luck. That is a flare gun.
- Kent Whitmer said the “strife and turmoil” had become overwhelming enough to affect his health, family, and other clients. Governance is not supposed to resemble emotional trench warfare.
- Another law firm previously backed out after controversy surrounding alleged undisclosed communications with a trustee before hiring. In small-town politics, smoke usually means somebody is holding matches near dry grass.
- The town has also lost a mayor, clerk, multiple trustees, and endured recalls. At some point, instability stops being “spirited democracy” and starts looking like institutional self-harm.
- Mayor Dennis Stern warned the hostility is damaging Palmer Lake’s ability to retain qualified professionals. Translation: serious people eventually stop volunteering to walk into food fights.
My Bottom Line
Thomas Jefferson was right: people get the government they deserve.
There was a time when calmer heads prevailed in local government. Disagreements happened. Arguments happened. Hard votes happened. But somewhere along the way, performative anger became more valuable than competence, and social media applause replaced actual governance as the prize everyone seems to chase.
Apparently now, if you are loud enough, angry enough, or theatrical enough online, some people mistake that for leadership. It is not. “Clicks” are not governance. Going viral is not public service. Being social-media famous does not mean you can balance a budget, negotiate a contract, manage staff, or govern a town without setting it on fire emotionally every six weeks.
And here is the thing citizens should really pay attention to: when the lawyers will not stay, ask questions.
Attorneys are not exactly delicate flowers. Municipal attorneys especially are used to conflict, complaints, public meetings, accusations, angry emails, and political tension. That is part of the job description. So when multiple attorneys and firms walk away from the same town in rapid succession, that is not normal turbulence. That is a warning light on the dashboard.
You cannot run effective government when every meeting becomes a gladiator match for social media clips. You cannot retain talented professionals when hostility becomes the operating culture. Competent people eventually stop volunteering to be targets.
And this is not just about Palmer Lake. This is happening in pockets all over America. Politics has become entertainment. Governance has become performance art. Too many people now approach local government like it is a reality show where outrage is currency and compromise is betrayal.
Meanwhile, roads still need maintained. Budgets still need balanced. Lawsuits still need managed. Public records still need handled. Staff still need leadership. Somebody still has to govern after the Facebook livestream ends.
The public should absolutely demand accountability from elected officials. They should ask hard questions. They should challenge authority. But there is a difference between accountability and constant performative chaos. One builds communities. The other burns people out until nobody serious wants the job.
When calmer heads disappear, dysfunction rushes in to fill the vacuum. And when the lawyers start leaving three at a time, maybe it is time for the town to stop scrolling, stop shouting, and start asking itself what kind of government culture it has created.
Source: The Gazette
Share your thoughts...