Exposed by his colleague, Elk Grove City Councilman Rod Brewer intentionally lied during a hearing about his compensation
Elk Grove District 3 City Councilmember Kevin Spease called out statements by his District 2 colleague Rod Brewer that were shown to be patently false.
The Wednesday, August 28, Elk Grove City Council meeting was a watershed moment that unfortunately verified what many suspect - that elected officials can intentionally deceive the public.
Elk Grove's case was unique because a public document request or a whistleblower did not uncover the deception. In this instance, a fellow elected official outed the elected official.
In this case, Elk Grove District 3 City Councilmember Kevin Spease called out statements by his District 2 colleague Rod Brewer that were shown to be patently false. Brewer intentionally lied during a public hearing.
During a hearing about increasing the salaries of the mayor and the four city council members, Elk Grove resident and mayoral candidate Lynn Wheat publicly commented that aside from their $800 monthly salary, the mayor and city council members received generous benefits like health insurance.
During city council deliberations, Mr. Brewer, perhaps in response to Wheat's assertions, stated that when he took office in 2022, he waived his health insurance benefit because he had coverage from his day job. Brewer further amplified his statement, saying that this savings of taxpayers' money could be used for other purposes.
"I waived my benefits before I got sworn into office because I'm very cognizant that other people who do not have what I have do not work the job that I work and make the money I make," Brewer said (see video below).
Brewer implied that the taxpayer money that would have been used for his health benefits would be redirected to the city general fund to help others in the community.
"They could use some of those benefits, and we could pour that money into other programs and other things that could really help our community," Brewer added.
During his remarks, Spease did not buy what Brewer was selling. Spease said those who waived health benefits were given deferred compensation and placed into a retirement account for their benefit.
Responding to an Elk Grove News inquiry, Elk Grove city manager Jason Behrman verified Spease's claims. According to information provided show that three council members - Brewer, Spease, and District 1 representative Darren Suen - all waived health care benefits and instead received $650 a month in deferred compensation.
The three council members' deferred compensation monies are invested in retirement accounts with Mission Square Retirement, which serves public-sector employees.
Combined with his $800 salary - not a stipend, as it was repeatedly called during the hearing - Brewer receives $1,450 in monthly compensation.
Councilmembers Brewer and Spease were included in the email inquiry to Berhman and were aware a story would be posted with the findings of the inquiries. Neither first-term council member contacted Elk Grove News regarding the investigation for this story and the findings.
The money Brewer claimed his refusal of health benefits saved does not go back to serving the community as claimed but rather to a savings account for him to enjoy when he retires. Council member Brewer lied to the public.
