Sacramento Mayor's Absences Getting Scrutiny

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson's absence from one-in-five council meetings is starting to get attention.

   The Sacramento Bee  says Johnson missed another meeting on Oct. 11, his eighth this year and second in a row.

   It's the most skipped meetings by an elected official since 2001.

   Johnson spokesman Joaquin McPeek says the mayor has never missed a crucial vote.

   He missed a meeting to attend a movie screening at the White House and he was absent so he could deliver a speech at the Harvard Business School. Other trips have taken him to the United Nations and to New Orleans.

   He also missed meetings related to efforts to build a new downtown sports area.

   Johnson's office says two absences were for unspecified personal matters.