Manpreet Kaur doesn't show up for us.

In just one term on the City Council, Kaur has missed 21 Council meetings and been late to 17 more — missing more Council votes than all but one other councilmember. That person was seriously ill.1

21 Council meetings missed
17 Meetings she was late to
15% Absence rate (2022–2026)
157 Minutes missed from tardiness

Kaur missed important votes that affected residents

March 2025

Higher water bills for residents

After voting to raise water rates on the Water Board, Kaur missed the full Council meeting where the Council approved notification to property owners of the rate increase — 4 to 1 — without her.2

March 2025

300% sewer rate increase

At the same March 26 meeting, while Kaur was absent, the Council voted 3-2 to approve notice of a 300% increase in the annual sewer rate. Kaur also missed the May 2025 meeting when the Council rescinded the increase under public pressure.2,3

October 2023

Pandemic response & public health

Kaur missed the Council meeting where members voted 3-1 to pass a resolution pledging not to enforce any future COVID-19 health orders — including future mask mandates, vaccine requirements, and dining restrictions.4

1. LaserFiche, "Bakersfield City Council Minutes," Accessed February 25, 2026.

2. The Bakersfield Californian, "Our View: The many reasons to delay city's sewer, water rate increases," April 5, 2025.

3. The Bakersfield Californian, "City Council officially rescinds sewer rate increase proposal," May 14, 2025; "Council Members say sewer rate proposal moved too fast," April 25, 2025.

4. The Bakersfield Californian, "City approves resolution to not enforce future COVID-19 mandates," October 11, 2023.