Cara Pelletier, who has served as chairperson of the Bangor City Council for the past two years, resigned on Tuesday evening effective immediately.
In her letter of resignation, which Pelletier sent to city leaders and was obtained by the Bangor Daily News, she cited “personal attacks” as her primary reason for stepping down.
While Pelletier said that holding public office “invites scrutiny” and constructive criticism from the public can be helpful, she noted she has “experienced personal attacks beyond what I consider to be the reasonable and expected demands of public office.”
“I have refrained from discussing these matters publicly in hopes of keeping the focus on the council’s work, but the impact on my well-being and the strain on my family have been significant,” Pelletier wrote in her resignation letter. “Public service is an honor, yet I do not believe it should come at the cost of one’s health.”
Pelletier’s resignation comes a few months before she was due to end her three-year term on the council, as she decided not to run for reelection. Her seat is one of three that will be available in the November election.
Pelletier, who is a Bangor native, declined to comment further on her resignation.
Councilor Dan Tremble said Pelletier’s resignation points to how toxic the environment has become for City Council members due to bad behavior from the public.
“There are so many positive things people can do to contribute to the city and instead they choose to spend their time and energy to be negative and disruptive,” Tremble said.
In Tremble’s 15 years on the council, he has seen a few councilors resign, but usually because someone took a new job. This is the first time Tremble knows of that a councilor has resigned due to attacks from the public.
Carollynn Lear, Bangor’s city manager, said she is grateful for the opportunity to work alongside Pelletier and respects her “decision to safeguard her health and wellbeing.”
“Councilor Pelletier cares tremendously about Bangor and its residents, which is inspiring to those who work with her,” Lear said.
As chairperson of the City Council, Pelletier led meetings, represented the council at public events and held the honorary title of mayor.
When she was elected in 2022, Pelletier said she wanted to prioritize spending the more than $20 million in federal pandemic recovery funding the city received from the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act and expand affordable housing — two challenges she wrote the city made progress on during her tenure.
Pelletier noted other advancements she oversaw, including the recently completed renovation of city hall and hiring Lear in June to be Bangor’s new city manager.
Pelletier also thanked her fellow councilors and city staff for their support and dedication to improving Bangor.