Scottsdale: Mayor Borowsky’s Former Chief of Staff Seeks $1.5 Million as City Rejects Claim

A dispute that began with a parking ticket is now heading to court

Scottsdale rejected a $1.5 million claim from R. Lamar Whitmer, the former chief of staff to Mayor Lisa Borowsky, according to a report published June 16 by the Arizona Republic. The city's refusal means Whitmer is expected to file a lawsuit over his dismissal, escalating a scandal that has dominated Scottsdale City Hall since January.

How a parking ticket led to a firing

Whitmer was placed on non-disciplinary leave on January 14, 2026, after he received a parking ticket and allegedly tried to use his position to avoid the penalty. According to KJZZ, the city conducted a 65-day investigation that found Whitmer had flashed his business card and name-dropped powerful people in an attempt to get out of the ticket.

The city cited insubordination and unprofessional conduct in an 18-page report, according to Whitmer's attorney, Dennis Wilenchik, whose firm, Wilenchik & Bartness, P.C., has been covering the case.

"The city acted after a secretive 65-day probe, citing R. Lamar Whitmer in an 18-page report with misconduct," according to Wilenchik's news page.

Whitmer was ultimately fired by City Manager Greg Caton.

Whitmer says only the mayor had the power to fire him

Whitmer and his attorney have argued that Caton did not have the authority to suspend, investigate, or fire the chief of staff. Under their reading of city rules, only the mayor holds that power.

"Whitmer and his attorney, Dennis Wilenchik, have claimed" that only the mayor has such authority, according to the Arizona Republic.

Scottsdale spokesperson Holly Peralta said the city does not plan to formally respond to the $1.5 million claim. Under Arizona law, that silence effectively counts as a denial.

The fallout reaches the upcoming election

The dispute has spilled into the November municipal elections, where three Scottsdale City Council seats are open. The controversy surrounding Whitmer's firing has become a flashpoint in a race that already features heated debates over parking, housing, and the city's advanced water purification program.

Mayor Borowsky herself called for reforms to prevent infighting and power grabs inside City Hall after Whitmer's initial suspension, according to Wilenchik & Bartness. She demanded the city attorney detail the alleged policy violations that led to the suspension.

What happens next

Whitmer plans to sue the city, according to the Arizona Republic. The lawsuit will center on whether Caton had the legal authority to fire the mayor's top aide and whether the city followed proper procedure during the investigation.

The primary election is July 21. Early voting begins June 24. The November general election will decide who fills the three open council seats.

The Whitmer case is likely to remain a fixture in Scottsdale politics through the election cycle and beyond.