Longest serving alderman has racked excessive absences

Wrightsville Beach incumbent Ed Miastkowski has missed more board meetings since 2005 than all the other aldermen combined.
In 2008, Miastkowski was absent for 11 of 36 meetings. That is more absences in one year than all the other aldermen combined since 2005.
In 2007, he missed seven of 26 meetings; and in 2005 and 2006, he was absent for three meetings each year.
When the tallies were provided at the end of July, he had been absent for four of 22 meetings so far in 2009.
The attendance information was provided by town manager Bob Simpson in response to queries by other aldermen candidates.
Miastkowski has been marked absent a total 28 times out of 135 meetings.
Bill Blair earned second place for absenteeism. He has missed five of 58 meetings in his two years on the board.
Alderman Lisa Weeks was absent for three of 36 meetings in 2008, but had missed none in 2009 as of July.
Mayor and incumbent Stephen Whalen missed one meeting and mayoral candidate and Alderman David Cignotti hasn't missed any since his arrival on the board in 2005.
Miastkowski has served the Board of Aldermen since 1993, longer than any other current member.

—Brian Freskos