Supervisor Nadia Lockyer absent as key votes near Alameda County supervisor already has missed 13 meetings in 14 months

Alameda County Supervisor Nadia Lockyer seat reamins empty during the boards scheduled meeting in Oakland Tuesday March 13, 2012. Alameda County Supervisor Nadia Lockyer seat reamins empty during the boards scheduled meeting in Oakland Tuesday March 13, 2012. Photo: Lance Iversen, The Chronicle Photo: Lance Iversen, The Chronicle Image 1 of / 4 Caption Close Supervisor Nadia Lockyer absent as key votes near 1 / 4 Back to Gallery

The Chronicle ran a front page story March 14 based on reporting errors that misrepresented the number of Alameda County Board of Supervisors meetings missed by Supervisor Nadia Lockyer. She missed about 19 percent of the meetings since she took office in January 2011, not the 43 percent reported in the story. The story also misstated how many meetings had been held up to that time and the date of the last regular board meeting Lockyer had attended.

According to the county clerk, the supervisors held 32 regular board meetings between Jan. 1, 2011, and March 14. Lockyer was absent from six of those meetings and arrived late to 11. Most of her absences occurred this year just before and after she entered a rehabilitation center for chemical dependency.

She last attended a regular meeting on Jan. 24.

Two days after the front-page story ran, an opinion column by Chip Johnson was based on the erroneous information. The column also erroneously stated that Lockyer had been previously hospitalized for addiction. She attended an outpatient program.

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Alameda County Supervisor Nadia Lockyer, whose election cost her and her supporters a record-shattering $1.6 million, has missed 43 percent of the board's regular meetings since she took office in January 2011, according to records.

But despite her absences, officials say county business is on track.

"We haven't missed a beat," said Supervisor Nate Miley.

Her absences, however, could hinder the business of the five-member board because budgetary items require four votes for passage, and a fifth vote is necessary for breaking ties.

Lockyer entered a rehabilitation center for chemical dependency in mid-February and last attended a regular supervisors meeting Nov. 1, according to the county clerk.

Since then, she has missed seven meetings, including one Tuesday that included a significant issue in her district: a $2 million vote to bail out St. Rose Hospital in Hayward.

Supervisor Scott Haggarty said he had to call off a business trip to attend Tuesday's meeting; otherwise the hospital bailout would not have had enough votes to pass.

Lockyer, a political newcomer, was elected in November 2010 to represent Hayward, Union City, Newark, Sunol and a portion of Fremont.

13 meetings missed

In all, Lockyer has missed 13 of the 30 regular meetings that the supervisors have held since she took office.

The public protection subcommittee, which Lockyer chairs, has not met at all since early November because of her absence. The committee oversees the district attorney's and sheriff's departments, as well as issues like prison realignment and victims' rights.

Lockyer's absence "is a huge problem," said Gail Steele, who represented District 2 for 18 years before retiring in 2010, when Lockyer was elected. "If one board member has an objection, or is out of town, the whole budget process could be jeopardized."

Lockyer, wife of state Treasurer Bill Lockyer, checked into a rehab center after a highly publicized incident at a Newark hotel room in which she called police claiming her former boyfriend had assaulted her.

She met him in 2010 while both were in treatment, she for alcohol dependency and he for chemical dependency.

In a letter to constituents on Feb. 14, Lockyer explained: "With the strong encouragement and support of the people in my life who love me, including my husband ... I decided to get help and treatment so that I may fully heal and recover."

Staff filling in

Meanwhile, Lockyer's staff has been attending supervisors meetings, as well as subcommittee meetings, in her absence. Lockyer's return date is unknown, said Ruben Briones, her chief of staff.

"She's doing great," said Briones, who said he talks to her regularly about county business. "The treatment has been very good, and she's recuperating very well."

Lockyer is not on medical leave from the board and is still collecting her $143,000 annual salary, Briones said.

The supervisors oversee the county's $2.48 billion annual budget, which includes the registrar of voters; vital records; libraries; the sheriff's, probation and district attorney's offices; health care services including Highland Hospital; and an array of social services, such as public assistance and child protective services.

The board typically meets twice a month. Lockyer did attend a board retreat on Jan. 31, Briones said.

Lockyer has been productive in county and district affairs since she took office, despite her board attendance record, Briones said.

Coffee with constituents

She has held dozens of town-hall and coffee-hour meetings with constituents; voted for $54 million in funding for nonprofits in her district; and helped cut county costs associated with services for the indigent, among other accomplishments, Briones said.

Perhaps the most critical task in District 2 is the fate of St. Rose Hospital, a charity hospital that serves a wide swath of southern Alameda County's residents who lack health insurance.

The Board of Supervisors voted on a $2 million emergency bailout for the hospital Tuesday, and began working on plans to join St. Rose with Washington Township Hospital in Fremont.

"Supervisor Lockyer has been unbelievably supportive of us," said St. Rose's chief executive, Michael Mahoney. "She's been involved behind the scenes. She's one of the reasons we've had a positive resolution. ... We're very anxious for her to recover and get back to work."