Palmer council member arrested for driving under the influence

Richard Best, a Palmer city council member, was arrested Feb. 3 by Palmer police for Driving Under the Influence, which means his ability to drive safely was impaired.

Here is what appeared in Palmer’s police record:

“On February 3, 2024, Palmer Police arrested Richard W. Best, Age 54 of Palmer, for Driving Under the Influence and Refusal to Submit to a Chemical Test. Best was remanded to Mat-Su Pretrial (a holding facility) where he was to be released on his own recognizance, per the bail schedule.”

Best is an engineering professional and a long-time Palmer resident. He has been a member of Palmer’s council since 2006.

According to online court documents, Best also has an open case for operating under the influence in the Anchorage Municipality in 2022. The date of alleged offense is Oct. 4, 2022, according to court records. The next pre-trial conference is scheduled for April 8.

Best is now facing a pair of Class A misdemeanors for the Palmer offense and a single Class A misdemeanor for the Anchorage offense.

Best's arraignment for the Palmer offense is Feb. 20 at the Palmer Courthouse.

Palmer has a city ethics code that includes penalties for personal behavior that tarnishes the image of the city government. While it applies to employees it is not clear that it applies to part-time elected officials, according to sources familiar with the matter.