Part-Time Compton Mayor Often Absent From Meetings

COMPTON (AP) — Compton's part-time mayor, Eric Perrodin, is often absent from meetings and when he does show up, he sometimes arrives late or leaves early, according to a report published Sunday.

Perrodin, who earns one of the highest salaries in Los Angeles County for a part-time mayor, attended only 59 of 162 board and commission meetings between July 7, 2009, and July 13 of this year, according to records reviewed by The Los Angeles Times.

On some occasions when Perrodin did show up, the Times said, he was more than an hour late or left the meeting in less than half an hour.

The mayor told the newspaper he misses more meetings than he would like because of his busy schedule as a full-time prosecutor with the Los Angeles County district attorney's office.

He said attending meetings is only part of his job as mayor, for which he earns $63,000 annually.

"If that's the main focus of your job, then something's wrong," he said. "It goes beyond meetings."

Perrodin said he often sits down with city staff and conducts commission-related business in the mornings before his job with the DA's office, and in his free time after work. He said he occasionally meets with citizens at his courthouse office during his lunch break.

During the 12-month period, Perrodin showed up to 25 of 41 council meetings. He arrived late or left early nine times, according to city records.

He showed up to only one of 19 Housing Development Commission meetings and nine of 30 sessions of the Public Finance Authority, records show. He attended less than one-third of Gaming Commission meetings and was a no-show for 26 of 42 Urban Community Development Commission sessions.

"It's atrocious," said William Kemp, chairman of the nonprofit Citizens for a Greater Compton, a political action committee that has repeatedly sought to recall Perrodin and other officials. "He's getting paid not to work."

Perrodin admitted he's unable to attend daytime meetings because on Tuesdays he has to attend arraignment court. In the past he had suggested that the start time for all council meetings be changed to 5 p.m., but fellow council members did not approve. He said he planned to revisit the issue.

Perrodin, a former Compton police officer, was elected to his first four-year term in 2001. He won re-election in 2005 and again last year.

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