Scott Voigts - The Recent Actions

We’ve been looking at Scott Voigts’ history of lying and his broken promises. Because Scott Voigts is an elected official who held the job of Mayor twice, and now holds the job of Mayor Pro Tem, it’s appropriate that we look closely at his behavior. Voigts represents the people of Lake Forest and his conduct is a reflection on us all. Of course no one is defined by a single act or even a series of acts, and much more could be said about Scott Voigts that goes beyond what appears to be a characterological tendency to lie. Yet in the case of Scott Voigts, no one trait seems to manifest itself more strongly.

To date we’ve chronicled a long list of Voigts’ lies, acts of omission, and broken promises. Before we review his most recent conduct, here’s a summary of what we’ve uncovered so far -

• · In 2010 Voigts claimed he had only $5,000 to spend on his 2010 campaign when in fact he had amassed $15,000 when he made that remark and eventually spent $37,000+.
• · In 2010 Voigts campaigned against increasing the size of Musick Jail, then in 2013 signed an agreement to more than double the size and to allow maximum security prisoners to be placed there.
• · In 2010 Voigts campaigned for term limits, then in 2013 pushed through a term limits ordinance that was virtually limitless, giving incumbents the ability to be in office for 24 out of 26 years.
• · Throughout 2013 Voigts claimed we are one of the “safest” cities in the U.S. when we are not even one of the safest cities in South Orange County.
• · In May 2013 Voigts claimed he spent no more than Peter Herzog in 2010 when in fact he spent 40% more.

• · In August 2013 Voigts claimed that the people in the “Save Lake Forest” initiative were lying about him, but failed to provide any proof and failed to initiate legal action.
• · In August 2013 Voigts falsely claimed that a special exemption had not been granted to children who lived in Brookfield Homes, the homes of the developer who contributed to his campaign and that of his BFF Dwight Robinson.
• · In December 2013 Voigts falsely claimed on the dais when he said that OC Alert would let residents know when prisoners escaped from Musikck Jail.
• · In December 2013 Voigts falsely claimed on the dais when he said that the expanded Musick Jail was not intended for maximum security prisoners.
• · Voigts consistently failed to reveal that he received money from companies for whom he votes to give City contracts, in apparent violation of the City’s code of ethics.
• · Voigts consistently failed to reveal that the people he appoints to City Commissions have social and financial ties to him, in apparent violation of the City’s code of ethics.
• · Voigts has many broken promises and often voted exactly opposite to what he promised.

Now we want to focus on his most recent behavior.

“I AM THE MAYOR” LIE

On June 6, 2014, when he was not the Mayor, Scott Voigts sent out an e-mail soliciting funds for his re-election campaign. He signed the e-mail “Mayor City of Lake Forest”

“I DID NOT WEAR A WIRE”

Prior to his now famous “I don’t recall” comment concerning the $10,000 support from Meritage Homes, Voigts’ most famous lie was his denial of the fact he wore a wire while trying to entrap a fellow Councilman. Putting aside the reprehensible nature of entrapment, Voigts from the dais in mid 2015 was confronted by Councilman Nick and Voigts denied that he wore a wire. He said “I did not wear a wire”. Nick had proof from the DA’s office, but before Nick could release the proof, Voigts admitted on August 12, 2015 in an article in The Voice of OC that he did wear the wire. This is one of the few times that Voigts actually admitted to a lie.

THE BRIBE LIES

In the same August 12, 2015 article in The Voice of OC in which Voigts admitted lying about wearing a wire, Voigts claimed that Adam Nick “offers cash to everybody” and singled out the former GOP Chairman Scott Baugh as someone Nick tried to bribe. Baugh denied the allegations, according to an August 26, 2015 article in the Voice of OC. Baugh was quoted as saying –

“How Mr. Voigts could take that conversation and suggest that Nick offered me cash for anything is astounding to me…Then, to wrap the false fact about cash into a suggestion that Nick was trying to bribe me is compounded irresponsibility that may be defamatory.”

To my knowledge, Voigts never responded to Baugh’s accusation.

BEHIND THE RECALL LIE

Scott Voigts and two of his cohorts on the Council, Dwight Robinson and Andy Hamilton, are being recalled by the people who claim that the corruption and cronyism exhibited by the three of them is against the public interest (Click Here). The petitions just started to be circulated. Right after the recall was initiated, Scott Voigts claimed that I was behind the movement. The fact is I had nothing to do with the recall and was as surprised as anyone was that my three colleagues were served. I explained this to him shortly after he was served, and explained it again in an article on the Patch. Nonetheless he persists in spreading this lie.

THE BAGELS & BREW LIE

In mid-December 2015, at a meeting of the Chamber of Commerce, Andy Hamilton, Mayor Pro Tem and part of the Voigts’ group being recalled, told me that Voigts reported to him that I had been thrown out of Bagels and Brew for handing out recall literature. That of course is a lie, and not merely a lie, but a crazy stupid lie. In fact it was such a crazy stupid lie that I e-mailed Scott and asked him to explain. He never responded.

THE 496 LIE

This brings us full circle back to the December 15, 2015 lie by Scott Voigts which prompted this entire series. To refresh your memory, Voigts claimed that there was no 496 State form showing he benefited from $10,000 spent by Meritage Homes, but Foothill Ranch resident Tracey Tingley showed up with that very form (see picture above). Then he claimed he knew nothing about the mailer from Restore California that was funded by the Meritage money, yet he was quoted in the OC Register commenting about the piece.

Tomorrow we’ll summarize.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dr. Jim Gardner is on the City Council for Lake Forest. You can check him out on LinkedIn and/or Facebook and you can share your thoughts about the City at Lake Forest Town Square on Facebook. His comments are not meant to reflect official City Policy.

Dr. Gardner has office hours every Tuesday from 4 pm to 6 pm at the City Hall. In addition, he holds a Town Hall meeting every quarter. The next meeting will be on Jan 30 at 2 pm at the Foothill Ranch Public Library.

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