National Guard service means missed budget vote

Paul Clinton

Assemblyman Ken Maddox avoided the state’s budget-crisis pressure

cooker to honor his commitment to the California Army National Guard.

Maddox left his Sacramento office on Friday for Ft. Leavenworth,

Kan. He is scheduled to spend two weeks there, returning Aug. 5.

“On Sept. 11, terrorists attacked our country because they hate

everything about the American system,” Maddox said in a statement.

“As an elected representative of that system, I rejoined the guard to

defend our way of life.”

Maddox, who represents Costa Mesa, is not on active duty. He will

be participating in training exercises.

Last Thursday, Maddox sent a letter to Assembly Speaker Herb

Wesson (D-Culver City) asking to be excused from any Assembly votes

during his absence. Maddox will not be paid the $125 “per diem” for

living expenses, Wesson spokeswoman Patricia Soto said.

“It’s very rare [for a legislator to leave for the National

Guard],” Soto said. “It’s personal business, and he’s waived per

diem.”

During his time in Kansas, Maddox will participate in military war

games and receive military intelligence training.

His departure isn’t out of the ordinary, even if the timing is,

said Mark Petracca, a political science professor at UC Irvine.

Maddox was not able to vote on Tuesday when the Assembly approved a

compromise plan to balance the state’s $38-billion shortfall.

“It’s not usual, because you don’t have a lot of legislators in

the National Guard,” Petracca said. “It does happen.”

Maddox is stationed at the Combined Arms Center at Ft.

Leavenworth. He has been assigned to the Headquarters Company’s 40th

Infantry Division.

He has been assigned to the night shift, from 6 p.m. to 9 a.m.,

said Mark Reeder, the assemblyman’s chief-of-staff. Maddox was not

given a choice about when or where he could serve.

His service requires two days a month and two weeks per year.

Maddox served in the guard between 1981 and 1989, where he served in

intelligence, armor and infantry units. He renewed his term shortly

after the Sept. 11 attacks. He holds the rank of sergeant.