The forum format was indicated as follows; each candidate would give an opening statement; a question and answer period on the issues would follow; concluding with a closing statement from each candidate. It also included, in accordance with President Reagan’s 11th Commandment, no personal attacks on fellow GOP candidates would be allowed.
During the forum the following question was asked: “You mentioned you signed the unity pledge honoring Ronald Reagan’s 11th commandment. Mrs. McKeon, it has been suggested that your campaign asked Steve Cooley, our District Attorney, and one of your supporters, to investigate Scott Wilk over an anonymous website that has been critical of your candidacy. Would you care to clear the air about this rumor?”
Patricia McKeon, in a rather indignant tone, claimed at the forum that she made a “general inquiry” of the District Attorney’s office about a website that was sharing negative information about her dealing as Rep. McKeon’s paid treasurer. She went on to claim that she did “not say who” was behind the anonymous websites that used her name and personal information. She emphasized that in her letter to District Attorney Steve Cooley that “…I did not ever, ever, ever, indicate one person ever…” was behind these “sites that were very vitriolic.” Click to hear the audio: Patricia McKeon – Lincoln Club Forum – 032312
Mrs. McKeon’s statements are contrary to the letter from the District Attorney’s office. That letter, in its opening paragraph, clearly sights Scott Wilk as the target of Patricia McKeon’s letter requesting an investigation (the full letter is at the end of this article). The letter, signed by Steve Cooley begins; “On January 18, 2012, the Public Integrity Division received your complaint that California Assembly Candidate Scott Wilk set up a website with the domain name patriciamckeonforassembly.com without your permission. I have reviewed the relevant statutes and, for the reasons stated below, I must decline to open a criminal investigation into this matter.”
As evidenced by the District Attorney letter that Mrs. McKeon lied publically about her when asked if she had named Wilk. Candidate Scott Wilk responded by telling the GOP crowd that he learned about the investigation when a community member called him and informed him that Rep. McKeon’s deputy chief of staff Bob Haueter told him that Wilk was being investigated by the DA’s office. That conversation took place during business hours; something that could be a violation of House Ethic Rules.
Haueter has publically denied making any statements that Scott Wilk was being investigated by the District Attorney’s office. He made those comments at the 38th Assenbly District Republican Central Committee meeting in early March. You can view comments here: Rep. McKeon’s Deputy Chief of Staff Bob Haueter
With all of this happening at an SCV candidate forum, why is that some other local media have not fully covered this story? This is information that voters need to know and that will help shape opinions about candidates. It is a disservice to local readers when some media outlets fail to print the entire story; in this case that Patricia McKeon’s lied as well as exposing what appears to be the dirty tactics of her campaign and Congressman McKeon’s government staff has been engaged in.
Isn’t it relevant to ask what evidence Patricia McKeon had that gave her the confidence to name Scott Wilk in the complaint to the DA? She named him in the letter yet there is no evidence to support the position that he was involved. Where is the proof? There is none nor does that really matter; it appears to be just political mud-slinging.
Now that it is out in the open, is Patricia McKeon going to take responsibility for her actions and admit that she lied and issue a formal apology to all parties involved? Is she going to publically apologize to Scott Wilk for falsely accusing him? Or will we get a typical response that she was mistaken or forgot what she wrote, if in fact she actually wrote the letter!
After reading about and listening to the audio of this first Assembly candidate forum, it is clear that Mrs. McKeon does not have the grasp of issues like the other candidates. Based on the aforementioned facts, she has painfully demonstrated she doesn’t have their character either.
As the Assembly campaigns move forward, voters will need to question everything Patricia McKeon says because apparently her lack of integrity and trustworthiness appears to be a major campaign issue for some.
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