DinnerGate Cover Up - "Driving Miss Kathy"

This is the fourth in a multi-part series about irregularities in the use of public money by Councilwoman Kathy McCullough, when she goes traveling to conferences on “city business”.

Part 1 set the stage for the investigation.

Part 2 detailed the refusal by the City Manager, City Attorney, and City Chief of Police to do anything about the complaint.

Part 3 showed that City Manager Dunek’s claim that he could not investigate Mrs. McCullough’s suspected illegal activities was not shared by the top law enforcement official in the State of California as well as law enforcement officials in Santa Ana and elsewhere.

In today’s report I intend to illustrate some of the transactions by Mrs. McCullough that appear to me (and others) to be illegal. Quite frankly I would have preferred to have this conversation in private with the City officials and with Mrs. McCullough, but neither the Manager, nor the Attorney, nor the Police Chief will do this.

QUID PRO QUO?

Their collective refusal raises some questions. Why would the people with the responsibility for enforcing the laws in this regard refuse to do their duty? Apparently the Attorney General of California expects them to do it, and apparently Managers, Attorneys, and Police Chiefs across the nation are doing it.

Can Mrs. McCullough’s mindless support of Police Services be a factor in the Police chief’s reluctance? After all, Mrs. McCullough has refused to consider getting competitive bids from the City of Irvine, whose reputation for excellence in Police services far exceeds that of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department (for whom the Police Chief works). It doesn’t make a lot of political sense to investigate your strongest supporter.

Can Mrs. McCullough’s mindless support of Mr. Dunek be a factor in his response? McCullough never tires of praising his work, even when it is shown to be faulty and flawed. And didn’t Mrs. McCullough recently vote Mr. Dunek a $10,000 bonus on top of what many people believe is an already obscene salary and benefits package? Would Mr. Dunek’s investigation of his “boss” impact his future bonuses?

LIMO LADY

The Lake Forest “Expense Reimbursement and Travel Policy” was adopted in 1995 and updated at periodic intervals, most recently in 2010. On page 6 it says –

“Officials shall use the most economical mode and class of transportation…”

Mrs. McCullough likes to go to Sacramento where she attends meetings of the League of California Cities. She stays in the Hyatt Regency, and to get from the airport to the hotel, the Hyatt staff recommends using the “super shuttle” which is available by reservation or can be chartered at the airport. The cost is $13 each way.

Apparently a $13 supper shuttle trip isn’t good enough for Mrs. McCullough. For example, the first trip I looked at (January 2012) documented that McCullough took an “Execucar Sedan” at a cost of $105.20. She shared the car with then Councilwioman Rudolph, and they split the charges, each one billing the City for $52.60.

BTW – the picture above is from Execucar Sacramento, the service used by Mrs. McCullough.

But that’s not all. Apparently 3 people shared the car, and the third person rode for free, at the City’s expense. I assume the third person was her husband, but it really doesn’t matter whether it was her husband, son, friend, or whomever. The third person got a ride for free and the City paid for it.

So not only did McCullough violate the City policy by not taking “the most economical mode of transportation”, she brought along a guest for free and the City paid for it.

It was the same thing for the next trip I examined (June 2012) only now the cost rose to $107.84, due mostly to a more generous tip this time. Once more 3 rode but only 2 paid.

On none of her trips to Sacramento did she use the super shuttle. Aside from the limo, McCullough used a taxi service which cost the City $45 each way, instead of the $13 required by the City policy.

McCullough’s taxi rides are even more expensive than her limo rides, because she shared the costs of the limo with then Councilwoman Rudolph. But in each case she costs the City between 2 and 4 times what she was permitted to spend.

What are City officials doing riding around in limousines when they are required to take the most economical mode of transportation? And what are City staff doing when they approved these expenses?

This is merely one example of how it appears to me City funds are being mis-used by Councilwoman McCullough, not merely by taking more expensive transportation than is allowed, but also possibly using City funds for personal purposes.

Next time I will offer more examples of “irregularities”, just to illustrate that there are enough examples over a period of time to warrant an investigation, not merely of Mrs. McCullough’s spending but also the City practices.

About Jim Gardner

Dr. Jim Gardner is the editor of CITY WATCH on The Patch and a contributing editor to OC Politics and Voice of OC. He is running for City Council in Lake Forest. You can check him out on LinkedIn and/or Facebook.