Politics & Government
Scott Voigts - M.I.A.
Scott Voigts joins fellow Gang member Andy Hamilton on the M.I.A. list
Rita Bradley wrote an article about the recent (Aug 18) Vector Control meeting on aerial spraying (Click Here) and at the end of the article she noted that before the speakers had their chance to talk Scott Voigts had left the room. Voigts was elected to the position to represent Lake Forest in a rather contentious discussion last year in which there was a far more qualified and interested candidate but the Gang of 3 voted him the job, which many thought was so that Voigts could pick up the $100 per meeting stipend that went with the job. Prior to his appointment Voigts showed no interest or knowledge about Vector Control, and since that time, he barely mentions it even though it’s his job to report back to the Council. Recall what a good job Marcia Rudolph did with her monthly reports about Vector Control and her plentiful handouts.
I wondered if this was a pattern. Was Voigts showing up at the meetings for roll call, to pocket his $100 stipend, and then disappear? I went back to his appointment (November 2015) to track his record. Here’s what I found –
THE RECORD
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Nov 19 – Voigts is listed as the official representative however he does not show up. Click Here to see for yourself the official record.
Dec 17 – Voigts clocks in, then leaves immediately. By the first vote, Voigts is already “absent” and remains “absent” on all succeeding votes. Click Here to see for yourself. Go to items 13 and 15 where votes are recorded.
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Jan 21 – Voigts doesn’t even show up nor does he have an “excused absence”. Click Here to see for yourself.
Feb 18 - Voigts clocks in, hangs around for one vote, then leaves. By the second vote, Voigts is already “absent” and remains “absent” on all succeeding votes. Click Here to see for yourself. Go to items 10, 11, 12 and 13 where votes are recorded.
Mar – the record is not available. Click Here to see for yourself.
April 21 - Voigts clocks in, then leaves immediately. By the first vote, Voigts is already “absent” and remains “absent” on all succeeding votes. Click Here to see for yourself. Go to items 9 and 10 where votes are recorded.
May 19 - Voigts clocks in, hangs around for 2 votes then leaves. By the third vote, Voigts is already “absent” and remains “absent” on all succeeding votes. Click Here to see for yourself. Go to item 12 where the vote is recorded.
June 16 – For the first Voigts is actually present for an entire meeting.
July 21 – Voigts does it again. He manages to stay for a whole hour!
Aug 18 – The minutes are not yet available, but this is the meeting that launched the investigation, and it was another example of Voigts’ leaving the room early.
SUMMARY
In 10 meetings we have records for 9 of them - Voigts was absent 2 times, clocked in and left early 5 times, and stayed for a full meeting only twice. Even for government work, this is an inexcusable record for our Lake Forest representative at a meeting involving the entire County.
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 in November at the Foothill Ranch Public Library.
