Lake County News | California

LAKEPORT, Calif. – A meeting earlier this week between a supervisorial candidate and a local newspaper editor allegedly resulted in an attempted assault.

Joan Moss, 67, of Cobb, who is running for the District 5 seat on the Lake County Board of Supervisors, allegedly attempted to punch Lake County Record-Bee Managing Editor Mandy Feder during a behind-closed-doors meeting on Tuesday morning.

Moss did not respond to numerous messages requesting comment left on her home and cellular phone, and sent to her via email throughout the day and into the evening Thursday.

Feder, 46, told Lake County News that Moss' punch missed her.

As a result of the attempted assault, Feder said she called the Lakeport Police Department as a precautionary measure and based on policy relating to when violence occurs.

Lakeport Police Chief Brad Rasmussen confirmed that his agency received a call from Feder about the incident. He said she initially spoke with Sgt. Kevin Odom at around 11 a.m. Tuesday.

“Sgt. Odom provided her with the options and she advised him that she did not want an investigation or for us to spend any time on this,” Rasmussen said.

Based on Feder’s wishes, Rasmussen said Odom did not take a report on the incident.

“This is not unusual in this type of incident where the crime is a minor misdemeanor with no mandated reporting or investigative requirement – we could complete a police report but are not required to and often do not when the victim does not want to pursue anything,” Rasmussen said.

Feder said she's fine, despite the attempted attack from the taller, heavier and older Moss.

Although she was the alleged target of a physical attack from a candidate for public office Feder declined to press charges because, she said, “I'm trying to maintain a fair election process.”

Feder did, however, have Moss – who previously had written columns for the newspaper – banned from the Record-Bee Building, located at 2150 S. Main St. in Lakeport.

“If there were contact it would be different,” Feder said of her decision not to press charges. “I would just like to say she acted inappropriately and was asked to leave and not come back.”

Feder would not explain what precipitated the confrontation with Moss, who recently has been placing attack ads with inaccurate information in the newspaper targeting her opponent in the race, incumbent District 5 Supervisor Rob Brown.

The Record-Bee has officially endorsed Brown in the District 5 supervisorial race.

In an email exchange between Brown and Moss on Thursday – which Brown shared with Lake County News, the Record-Bee and the Santa Rosa Press Democrat – Moss told Brown that “my attorney said no comment regarding allegations of any kind.”

“While I understand as well as anyone the pressures of campaigning, it would seem that there really is no excuse for the kind of behavior that my opponent is being accused of,” Brown told Lake County News Thursday.

Calls and emails to Record-Bee Publisher Kevin McConnell and the Denver parent corporation of the Record-Bee, MediaNews Group, were not returned or were disconnected.

A call to the MediaNews Group Human Resources Department to determine what policy might exist for workplace assaults was transferred to Ethics Director Tim McGuire and promptly disconnected. Subsequent calls to McGuire's extension were answered by voice mail and not returned.

Email John Jensen at jjensen@lakeconews.com .

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So yore saying
written by Greg_Cornish, May 27, 2012

Brown is the one who profits from there being more drugs and fewer jobs in this county. Think about it and vote for Joan.

Vote for Joan because she's endorsed by marijuana growers, and if marijuana growers have their way there will be less drugs? I can't quite wrap my mind around that, but then again that's why Measure D is so flawed. A strange logic.

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no jobs = more bail business
written by hatsoff, May 27, 2012

Brown is the one who profits from there being more drugs and fewer jobs in this county. Think about it and vote for Joan.

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She supports Measure D
written by Greg_Cornish, May 26, 2012

Think she knows growers?

Measure D is a smoke screen

Vote NO!

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That' sad if it's true
written by dogwalker, May 26, 2012

Joan is an odd and colorful lady and if really throwing punches, might need to see a doctor to check for neuro problems, cuz that is not normal even if her opponet may have deserved it!

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If Joan needed bail
written by MOUNTAIN MILITIA, May 25, 2012

would she call Bob brown??? lol....

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The sort of passion we need
written by hbhbglenn, May 25, 2012

Bob La Follette was called "fighting Bob La Follette," maybe that would work for Joan, who will bring passion and intensity to the job.

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Hilarious
written by barticle, May 25, 2012

Watching Lake County politics is lots more fun than TV. As long as you don't actually expect anything to get done.

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Typical
written by MOUNTAIN MILITIA, May 25, 2012

Liberal impulse....lol.....shes gonna save lake counties economy too....lol.........or maybe just bring more NARCOTICS traffickers to Loch Lomond.....

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...
written by Marzocco, May 25, 2012

Funny how no one mentioned that Joan is almost blind and is a SENIOR CITIZEN,

Smurf have you read the whole article?
Joan Moss, 67, of Cobb, who is running for the District 5 seat on the Lake County Board of Supervisors

Do you need to be told that a person over 65 is considered a SENIOR CITIZEN?

Congratulations also for your restrain on your impulses to do violence on local journalists.

If Moss is elected will the rest of the BOS need to be provided with Tasers or pepper spray to defend themselves from her?

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Unbecoming & Disappointing
written by SONTAG, May 25, 2012

Conduct unbecoming of someone seeking office!

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...
written by jlette, May 25, 2012

@ Valerie1209 So are you saying that Moss was stoned when she threw a fist at a news editor? i don't get the point you are trying to make there. I smoke pot and quite frankly, punching someone in the face is usually the last thing on my mind when i am smoking. just sayin.

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consider the source
written by hatsoff, May 25, 2012

I don't believe it.

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Self control, what a concept!
written by Liz M, May 25, 2012

So if someone disagrees or questions her at a board meeting will she then punch them also?

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hummm
written by since 1976, May 25, 2012

no excuse for a punch but I want to know what was said before the alledged attack "from the taller, heavier and older Moss". I think its a bit one sided. I know she was asked to respond but Feder was there she knows what she said. Why didn't she say what the conversation was.? I am also thinking if I wanted to really punch someone I doubt I'd miss.

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LOL How embarrassing.
written by Valarie1209, May 25, 2012

Medicinal MJ doesn't lead to violence? Or a fragmented thought process? Maybe it could make me think that I am Wonder Women?

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