Congressional Candidate Derek Tran Missed 40% Of All Commission Meetings

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”.

In this year’s 45th Congressional District race, Tran took on incumbent Michelle Steel (R-CA). While Steel was up in May in polls, by July it was a 47%-47% tie. Tran, aided by targeting Asian communities in the District and Vice President Kamala Harris’ goodwill going down ballot, was soon up, with him being two points ahead in September. However, that began to change last month when Tran went from scandal to scandal, including lying about being able to speak fluent Vietnamese, false claims about his military record, and then the biggest roadblock so far, his legal career – such as representing a rapist for profit and defending someone who had put up a noose in his office.

Tran, fueled by money coming in from the national party, drastically increased ads in response. A few weeks ago a new poll found that Steel was four points ahead 45% to 41%. This only caused them to break out more last minute ads. However, that flurry of activity has brought to light some of Tran’s more questionable claims, with one including his traffic commission attendance.

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.