Supervisors Trip to Washington More of a Mess

The fight over a taxpayer-paid trip to the Obama inauguration just got uglier. County Board Chairman Lee Holloway sent a harsh letter to County Executive Scott Walker accusing him of leaking the story to the press just to keep the spotlight off of Walker's decision to refuse federal stimulus money.

The letter reads in part, "What a maneuver! You know that you were the one behind the scenes pulling the strings that led to the news articles."

Holloway concludes the letter by saying sarcastically, "Nice move, Scott. Nice move." Holloway signed the letter with a smiley-face.

But questions are still being raised about the trip to Washington taken by County Board Supervisors Elizabeth Coggs and Toni Clark. TODAY'S TMJ4 reporter Michael George tried to talk to Supervisor Coggs at a board meeting on Tuesday morning, but Coggs left the meeting about 20 minutes early without taking questions.

Michael George then tried to go to Coggs' office to track her down. A secretary said she had already gone home for the day. Coggs and Clark did not return numerous voicemail messages on their phones and they did not answer the door at their listed addresses.

Both Coggs and Clark apologized in a written statement on Monday, saying they would return the money. But they did not specify when or how much money would be given back. - WTMJ

Actual Letter - WTMJ

That answers the question of whether or not there is still this I got your back mentality on the County Board. Facts are facts, this was a bad decision by two members of the board. Lee Holloway stands up and grandstands to point the blame at somebody who exposed the fact that we paid for them to go enjoy a trip to see Obama get inaugurated! Who cares how the information got out? This letter is only more proof that they were trying to sweep it under the rug. If not, why make a big deal out of it.

Now for the two supervisors. Quit being such whimps. Come out and face the music. Writing a little apology letter and saying you would pay it back does not make amends for your mistakes. Come out and face the public, apologize directly. Let us see the sincerity in your eyes. And lastly, don't try to send a weasel like Holloway out to shield you.

For more information on Holloway, look at how much of a leader he was with the last big blow up where a supervisor went on a trip for school matters and he ran and hid under his desk.