Derek Tran skipped 40 percent of meetings as city commissioner

Derek Tran skipped 40 percent of meetings as city commissioner

Derek Tran repeatedly touted his work as a city commissioner in his campaign, but Tran skipped 40 percent of the meetings, according to a new investigation.

Tran even lied about it, claiming in an interview "I find time in my schedule to continue to give back to the community as a City Commissioner."

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NOTE: "Derek Tran demanded voters give him a promotion while refusing to do his current job. Southern California voters can't trust a deadbeat like Tran who lied about his record and abandoned his basic responsibilities."

Congressional Candidate Derek Tran Missed 40% Of All Commission Meetings
California Globe
Evan Symon

45th Congressional District candidate and Attorney Derek Tran (D) missed around 40% of all City of Orange traffic commission meetings while serving as a commissioner there, despite ads boasting of him finding time and giving "back to the community as a City Commissioner".

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During an interview this year, Tran said, "I find time in my schedule to continue to give back to the community as a City Commissioner." His campaign also pressed on that point, adding that "As a small business owner and city commissioner, Derek knows first hand the challenges that our local economies face."

In all, Tran has missed nearly half of all Traffic Commission meetings, with him not attending 40% of them since joining the Commission. Many of these absences came within the last month despite some beginning to question him over the number of absences. The commission itself is not a huge commitment. They meet twice a month and meeting can last as little as seven minutes. But despite this, Tran didn't make 40% of them. At the same time, Steel was found to have attended 99% of all roll call votes in Congress.

The revelation on Monday resulted in a mainly negative response, with many questioning how Tran's low attendance figures as a Traffic Commissioner will translate to possible attendance in Congress.

"I don't know, if he doesn't show up now will he really show up in Washington," said Trey, an undecided voter in Orange County who helps a polling outlet get in touch with undecided voters, to the Globe on Monday. "Several of our people here do look at attendance figures in helping make up their minds. And Tran's 60% record really pales to Steel's 99% record. It's disappointing. It's just one small thing, but you are expected to make votes and show up in meetings to, you know, keep your position. Tran's 60% effort doesn't cut it. If you gave 60% in college, you wouldn't graduate. If you did 60% as a Doctor, you'd be fired and sued."

National Republican Congressional Committee spokesman Ben Petersen added, "Derek Tran demanded voters give him a promotion while refusing to do his current job. Southern California voters can't trust a deadbeat like Tran who lied about his record and abandoned his basic responsibilities."

As of Monday afternoon, the Tran campaign has yet to respond to the new Commission attendance figures being released.

Read more here.