Commissioner McVoy responds to Ethics Complaint
The Ethics complaint was initiated by Vice Mayor Sarah Malega who brought it up for a vote at a commission meeting to proceed with an ethics complaint advisory opinion. The entire Commission voted 5/0 (including Commissioner McVoy).Following is Commissioner McVoy's reply to the General Counsel, Rhonda Ginger, of the Palm Beach County on Ethics:
On Apr 22, 2025, at 12:32 PM, Christopher W. McVoy
"Good morning Counsel Giger, Thank you for your important work on behalf of improved governance for the residents of Palm Beach County. I am sure that it is not always easy. (But I am confident that it is providing excellent qualifications should you ever decide on a career change to refereeing professional hockey!)
My answers for right now may be incomplete as I’m supposed to be adjusting this week’s balance of science / public service toward the science side, that is attending the Greater Everglades Ecosystem Research conference.
My nominal employer, South Florida Engineering and Consulting (SFEC) has long supported my public service by allowing me very generous flexibility in working hours and quantity. In theory, serving as City Commissioner is a part time position, recompensed at $24K/yr. In practice, for me it is much closer to full time work. This is reflected in my SFEC W-2 which indicated that in 2024 I earned less than $97 (yes, less than one hundred $$) from SFEC. I think I did a bit better in 2023, but doubt that it was much over several thousand dollars. (Good thing my wife has a job!) I will send W-2’s when get a chance to dig them out.
SFEC does not have a board. To my knowledge I have always been an employee, not a contractor for SFEC, though given the limited hours, “honorary employee” might be a more accurate description. My wife has nothing to do with SFEC, nor do any other family members.
You will forgive me if I editorialize: Vice Mayor Malega’s allegation, if I understood it correctly, that I was required to recuse myself from any votes regarding a downtown development project, is in my opinion patently incorrect. Again if I understood correctly, she was asserting an old canard, that somehow I was basing my votes on influencing the existence of a federal HUBzone (sp?) that is adjacent(?) to the SFEC office. This is not only 100% false, but mechanistically somewhat ridiculous and 100% insulting.
Impuning motives is always risky business. I can assure you that my choice to serve, at the expense of my scientific research, is simply to try to do the greatest good for the broadest cross-section of the Lake Worth community. My votes have never, and will never, have anything to do with SFEC. They are always guided by my best efforts to make informed votes that, as best as I can discern, will bring the broadest benefit to the residents of Lake Worth.
Best,
Christopher McVoy
Christopher McVoy, Ph.D.
Commissioner, District 2
City of Lake Worth Beach, FL
cmcvoy@lakeworthbeachfl.gov
561.398.6115 (C)
10 comments:
I've known Christopher for two decades now and I can attest to the fact, and in my opinion, he is an honest person and always trying to do his best for the City and its residents. The Mayor and Vice Mayor give him a hard time and they have for years. He researches everything and asks quetions that are totally ignored, not only by the commission but by Staff.
Democrats eat their own and Christopher is treated like crap.
Boil this down Lynn: What's he supposed to have done?
The suggestion is because he is affiliated with the South Florida Engineering and Consulting organization which is located nearby to a proposed development that the city wants to pursue, that he is against it for some personal reason or benefit. They jumped to an erroneous and unfair assumption, IMO. It's an unproven attack.
In the 30 years I have lived in Lake Worth, I have never known a commissioner to be as responsible to the residents as is Chris McVoy. Chris does not play at the politics -- he lives the fight against what is bad for the people he represents, and he tirelessly does his best to fix what others have broken.
For the Vice Mayor to make a “play” to prevent Chris from representing the people of Lake Worth against a Developer --- this should SCARE EVERY RESIDENT OF LAKE WORTH. Each of us needs to ask for an investigation into potential benefits the Vice Mayor or her family or close friends could end up being connected to. Even if her past was beyond reproach, the action of attempting to exclude McVoy should be an enormous red flag that begs for a DOGE investigation.
The commissioners do not “own” the town.
The City Manager does not “own” the town.
If anyone “owns” it, this would be the voters, and the voters have spoken consistently against much of the development that now appears to be perched for rubber stamping without an advocate for the people to prevent this.
Every resident should be outraged by this power play by the Vice Mayor.
I voted for McVoy and consider him to be a good official.
Well ,the snarky days of old are back. Commissioners so busy trying to stab their "enemies " in the back that nothing meaningful to help the tax payers gets done! Some old ,wrinkled crows like P.F. have risen again to slither around city hall getting nothing meaningful done.Listen up,all of you electeds- STOP THIS SHIT AND WORK TOGETHER ! Get our garbage trucks fixed! Get the downtown side walks into a walkable condition! Crime is thru the roof!!! What does this petty lawsuit do to help our families??? NOT A DAMN THING !!! If you can't put aside your petty ,worthless bickering, STEP THE FUC DOWN and let people who are serious about fixing this city step in.
I advocated against Chris McVoy before the election and this is why. And one other thing: there are A LOT more skeletons in his closet. Trust me on this one.
@5:30...Why should anyone trust you? You are anonymous.
To the anonymous poster at 5:30p..... Trust requires you know the person that is desiring to be trusted. Trust requires actions demonstrated and results that inspire trust--trust becomes earned. It is impossible to trust an anonymous poster as they are inherently untrustworthy. Your liking or hating McVoy is equally nonsensical, as there can be no trust to your words or beliefs. Technically, Lynn should require anyone that wants to post comments to meet with her and show their drivers license as identification--making them a registered member of this community. Only registered members would be allowed to post comments. Posters could then earn trust over time, or prove unworthy of trust. Are you worthy?
i think the zoo has gone to saras head and 5.30 is just as narrow.we are with you chris
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