As The Martin Chronicles previously reported, city council recently hired attorney Phil Taliaferro to examine several troubling questions raised about Mayor Mike Martin. One of the areas being explored is the concern about Martin's business practices. Martin operates Quality Home Services, a.k.a. Mike Martin Electric.
Several Northern Kentucky residents have indicated that Mr. Martin performed electrical work in their home. Here's the sticking point. Kentucky law (KRS 339.230) requires any person performing electrical work for another to have an electrician's license. In fairness to Villa Hills' "CEO", there are a limited number of exemptions and exceptions. Mr. Taliaferro will have to determine if the work Martin is said to have performed falls under the exemptions or exceptions. In fact, Martin could short circuit this whole line of the investigation by simply producing his electrical license.
Some may be thinking, "What's the big deal?" Well, if a person performs unlicensed electrical work in Kentucky they are committing a misdemeanor that carries with it a $500 to $5,000 fine and/or a 10 to 180 day jail sentence. Again, it has yet to be determined if Martin's work falls under any of the state exemptions or exceptions. Besides, Martin may produce an electrical license. Special counsel Phil Taliaferro is exploring that as The Martin Chronicles writes.
In the yet-to-be confirmed event that Martin has been performing unlicensed electrical work, some still may be thinking, "What's the big deal?"
KRS 83A.040 allows for the removal of an elected official for three reasons. The reasons are misconduct, inability to perform duties or willful neglect. If it is determined that Martin has been performing unlicensed electrical work, particularly if he has continued to do so while serving as mayor, city council may have grounds for removal because of misconduct.
Martin does have an additional "layer of protection". City council would need a unanimous vote to remove Martin from office. After observing them in action for some time, The Martin Chronicles thinks council may be hard pressed to get the support of councilmen Mike Pope and Jim Noll to vote to remove Martin from office-no matter the amount of evidence that may be presented. Pope in particular has been an ardent apologist for the many foul-ups, bleeps and blunders of the last ten months.
Let's carry the hypothetical scenario a little further. Suppose Martin survives because Pope and Noll disregard a damning special counsels' report and refuse to remove the mayor from office. The Martin Chronicles fully expects Martin to assume his patented role as "the victim" and claim that he has been "the target of a vicious political witch hunt".
If this hypothetical becomes reality, it will fall on the shoulders of Villa Hills' voters to sort it all out in the 2012 council election and when Martin stands for re-election in 2014.
As Hall-of-Fame sportscaster Dick Enberg used to say, "Oh my!"
