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Former Councilman's 2002 Calendar Missing

Calendar Contains Daily Records, Appointments

POSTED: 5:23 pm PDT June 6, 2003
UPDATED: 5:29 pm PDT June 6, 2003

A check of public records on former Councilman George Stevens opened another can of worms Friday. It appears that Stevens' assistant destroyed public records relating to whom the councilman met with during his last year in office, according to 10News.

Discussion

George Stevens

According to 10News, Steven's appointment books -- daily records of who Stevens met with and where he went as a public official -- for the years 2000 and 2001 were accessible. But, the appointment calendar for 2002 -- the year FBI agents were had council members and strip club owners under surveillance -- is missing.

Joyce Lane, the assistant city clerk in charge of records, said, "We have 2000 and 2001 and some other records from the District Four office. No, we don't have 2002."

At about the same time that Lane filled in 10News with details, Stevens finished his appointment with the federal grand jury that is investigating alleged influence-buying at City Hall.

Stevens told reporters that all his appointment calendars have been destroyed.

"I didn't know my calendars had been destroyed. I found out yesterday that all the appointment calendars for 11 or 12 years had been destroyed. Permission was given from the clerk's office," Stevens said.

Stevens said all of the calendars were missing but 10News had already seen the 2000 and 2001 calendars. It was just the 2002 calendar that was missing.

Stevens said his assistant, Peggy Cooper, destroyed the calendar. Cooper testified before the grand jury two weeks ago.

Stevens said Cooper was given permission to destroy the public record by one of two women in the clerk's office.

"I don't want to get into names with you," Stevens said.

However, Lane said public records should never be destroyed.

Lane told 10News she never gave anyone permission to destroy the calendar. She pointed out that under law, destroying public records is a crime punishable by a fine and imprisonment.


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