The Martin Chronicles has just learned that close Martin ally and member of council, Mike Pope, is not going to be in attendance at tonight's council meeting. The interesting part of this breaking story is that the announcement came very late in the day.
The rumor mill is already grinding. One source describes Pope's absence as "suspicious". Others are wondering if Pope has determined that the mayor has been lying to him about the "document barbecue" and/or has suddenly come to realize that Martin's incessant whining about the absence of records left for him has been a deception. Others speculate that Pope is now feeling the pressure of the complaint filed against him, realizing that it is the prelude to a lawsuit.
The Martin Chronicles is willing to extend Pope some benefit of the doubt. Despite Pope's incessant antics and previously reported e-mail support of Open Records and Open Meetings violations. Perhaps there is a business or family schedule conflict. It is the flu season after all. The late notice is what has caused the rampant speculation.
Our publisher has assigned multiple reporters to this story. We will try to determine the real reason for Pope's "late scratch" from tonight's council card. Odds are it will make for an interesting report.
Maybe this meeting will now end on the same day it starts.
