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Residents and community leaders defend Mayor Palmer at Willow Park council meeting
Summary
Multiple residents and community leaders used the public‑comment period to defend Mayor Theresa Palmer against allegations raised at a previous meeting, urging fairness and decorum and calling for the council to focus on governing the city.
Dozens of residents urged the Willow Park City Council to stop airing unproven allegations in public and to work cooperatively with Mayor Theresa Palmer.
At the Oct. 14 meeting, several speakers told the council that recent accusations directed at the mayor were unfair and harmful to the community’s trust in local government. Alicia Buchols, who identified herself as a Willow Park resident and friend of the mayor, said she and her husband had voted for Palmer and asked the council to 'take a deep look at yourselves' and decide whether they could work with the newly elected mayor rather than trying to 'tear her down.'
Candy Blackstock, another resident, described 'poor conduct and behavior' by some council members and staff, calling it 'deeply troubling' and urging public officials to 'act with integrity, transparency, fairness and commitment.' Gene Martin and a former judge told the council they were 'appalled' by what they described as a prior meeting in which a private citizen’s legal issues were raised from the dais.
Spencer Hodge, whose name was cited during earlier remarks, addressed the council to dispute several claims: he said a recent arrest arose from a traffic stop where officers found his license invalid, that rumors he was a parole violator were false, and that his cash contribution to Mayor Palmer’s campaign was $1,000, not the larger amount that had been suggested. 'By law, everything involved in that event… must be recorded at fair market value,' Hodge said, describing how in‑kind contributions were reported.
Speakers emphasized civility and due process. Kelton Gunter, introduced as a Republican precinct chair, called for patience and respect, saying leaders should 'love each other' and treat one another with humility. Multiple residents asked the council to avoid personal attacks from the dais and to focus on the city’s business.
The mayor opened the meeting and allowed the public comments to proceed; council members listened but did not reach a formal action during the public‑comment period. The remainder of the meeting continued with regular agenda items.
