The final regular meeting of the month for the Folsom City Council didn’t have a lengthy agenda, but a topic that wasn’t even on the calendar drew some attention Tuesday evening at Folsom City Hall. Several area residents took to the podium during the evening’s “business from the floor” session to express concerns that District 1 Councilmember and former Folsom Mayor Mike Kozlowski allegedly does not reside in the district he represents. The speakers drew a public response from Kozlowski, who said the allegations are false and that he resides at the construction site of his home in a recreational travel trailer.
Tuesday’s speakers appeared following a letter sent to the city of Folsom last month, including to all council members and the city attorney, questioning Kozlowski’s residency within District 1 and calling for his resignation. The letter was authored and sent by Orrin Heatlie, a local resident and chairman of RebuildCalifornia.com, which was behind the 2020 recall efforts against Gov. Gavin Newsom.
“I am writing to demand the immediate resignation of Councilmember Michael Kozlowski due to multiple clear violations of residency requirements under California and municipal law, as well as breaches of public trust,” Heatlie wrote in the letter, which claims Kozlowski falsely listed his Mountain View Drive address on his nomination papers when his actual home was outside the district. At the time of the election, the Mountain View Drive address was a graded lot in preparation for the construction of his new home. According to Kozlowski, he has resided in a recreational camping trailer at the construction site since 2022.
Watch Folsom Councilmember Mike Kozlowski address allegations of non-residency above. See the full meeting video at HERE
“Mr. Kozlowski has claimed to reside in a camping trailer on the Mountain View property. However, this violates Folsom Municipal Code § 17.02.220, which prohibits living or camping on a property for more than 10 consecutive days without a permit,” Heatlie’s letter continued. “There has never been a permit issued to establish residency for the partially improved lot or trailer at 364 Mountain View Drive since he filed his nomination paperwork.”
Heatlie was among the handful of residents who attended Tuesday’s meeting to speak on the topic during business from the floor.
“It has been alleged that Mr. Kozlowski falsified his nomination papers. Engaging in such actions—such as falsifying election documents or misrepresenting one’s address for electoral advantage—violates several California laws,” Heatlie said during his three minutes at the podium. “I sent each of you a letter on Dec. 13 outlining these allegations in detail. I also sent a letter to the city attorney asking for a response. The response I received from Mayor Sarah Aquino was dismissive, essentially sweeping the allegation under the rug. If one of your police officers handled an investigation like that, how would the citizens view them?”
Heatlie recapped the contents of his letter until his three-minute time limit ended Tuesday. “I was in charge of internal affairs investigations at the Sheriff’s Department. If allegations of this magnitude came into my office and I responded in the same dismissive way as this council and the city attorney, it would completely undermine public trust.”
Resident Lisa Ladd also stood up and spoke Tuesday, questioning Kozlowski’s residency as well.
“It’s my opinion—according to city records—that he (Kozlowski) does not live in District 1. There are no occupancy permits on the property, whether it be a trailer or an incomplete structure. City code does not allow for anyone to live in a temporary trailer for more than 10 days a month. Therefore, he does not live at the District 1 address,” Ladd said. “The question is: Is the city ignoring this, or have they made special arrangements for him so he could run for reelection? Essentially, this is manipulating a candidate’s qualifications, which seems unethical and a manipulation of an election. It erodes public trust.”
Folsom resident Sarah Norberg shared similar concerns, referencing a letter to the editor authored by Heatlie and published in a local newspaper, as well as community discussions that brought the issue to her attention.
“It seems like a catch-22 situation. From both rumors and a letter to the editor, my understanding is that his wife and kids live elsewhere in Folsom—but not in District 1. His registered address is a house under construction with a trailer on the property,” Norberg said. “Even if he is living in the trailer, that’s not in accordance with city ordinances. And if he’s not living there, he’s not properly representing the district. The move to district elections was meant to ensure representation for each part of town. It’s crucial that representatives actually live in the districts they serve. I believe some sort of investigation or inquiry is warranted, and I would love to see prompt action on this matter.”
Naomi Machalo was the first to speak Tuesday. She also referenced Heatlie’s recently published letter and a Sacramento Bee article published before the election that had concerned her two years ago.
“The allegation that Mike Kozlowski falsely declared himself a District 1 resident was first raised years ago. But just like they are doing now, the city attorney’s office refused to investigate whether the councilman violated the law,” Machado said. “The city attorney is more concerned with protecting his friends in power than ensuring the residents of Folsom are represented fairly.”
When the topic of residency first surfaced in 2022, Kozlowski said construction of his home had been delayed because of pandemic-related issues obtaining materials. He stated at the time that it would be “livable” by the end of the year and finished by April 2023, according to a Sacramento Bee article. Kozlowski also said he was frequently at the property as he was the acting site superintendent on the home he designed and that he slept at the address at least five nights a week.
Fast forward to Tuesday night. Immediately after the first speaker, Kozlowski asked Mayor Aquino if he could respond. Aquino suggested he do so after all speakers had expressed their concerns. Kozlowski then addressed the allegations much like he did in 2022. His response was brief and direct, stating on the record that he has continuously lived at the address since 2022.
“I took up residence at my current home in District 1 in July 2022 and have lived there continuously to this day,” Kozlowski stated. “It’s the most easily verifiable fact, and it’s disappointing that Gold Country Media didn’t bother to do that. My adult children live elsewhere. My wife lives with me. That’s it.”
During business from the floor, council members do not deliberate on topics or presentations. The time is meant for them to listen to the community’s concerns and possibly consider them for future discussion. No actions were taken on the matter, and the meeting moved on to its regular agenda.
Folsom Times spoke with Mayor Aquino on Wednesday morning. At this time, she declined to comment on the matter beyond her previous statement, in which she said Councilmember Kozlowski told her he resides in District 1 and she has no reason to believe otherwise.
“This apparent inconsistency raises concerns about double standards and the equal application of residency rules and risks eroding public trust if not handled properly,” Heatlie shared, referencing the 2019 council requested resignation of then-Councilmember Roger Gaylord for failing residency requirements. “In addition to legal violations, Mr. Kozlowski’s actions may expose the city to civil liability. His opponent in the 2022 election, Michael Reynolds, was materially disadvantaged by this fraud. Mr. Reynolds could potentially pursue claims for lost professional and political opportunities caused by Mr. Kozlowski’s deceptive actions. The city, by failing to act, risks complicity and legal exposure.”
At this time, the city of Folsom is not commenting or planning to discuss the matter further.
Residents can watch Tuesday’s entire City Council meeting, including all presentations and speakers HERE. Orrin Heatlie’s letter submitted to the City of Folsom can be viewed HERE.
