The publisher of The Martin Chronicles had a wonderful lunch with a very long time resident of Villa Hills. In fact, the publisher’s lunch partner has lived in the area many years before Villa Hills was even a city. Our publisher asked his guest for permission to use quotes on background. It was readily granted and extensive notes were taken. Food was chewed. But no words were minced.
“There is no question that prior to January 1, 2011, Steve Clark would have to be considered the worst mayor in the short history of Villa Hills. If for no other reason than things got so bad he decided to resign after a little more than two years in office”, began the long-time resident.
“But in just a little over a year, it’s very clear that Mike Martin has taken that title away from Clark. Clark was a whole lot smarter. Good Lord, at least Clark could string a sentence together. Clark was a more honest guy, despite that mess with the $25,000 check. Clark actually got some things done. Clark just misjudged how the public would react to his firing of Chief Brown and that city clerk. I don’t remember her name.”
“This guy Martin is a disgrace. He wraps himself in Jesus Christ, Haitian orphans and 911 victims and treats his own employees like dirt. He got elected by making himself out to be some kind of victim who had been persecuted just because he was doing things out of love for the city. What a phony.” Our publisher decided it was the perfect time to order a cold draft beer.
“And this whole road tax thing. Yeah, I know it was Kilburn’s crazy idea. But Martin had to go and lie about it. It wasn’t a vote to repeal that (EXPLETIVE) sticker tax. The vote was to raise our property tax. Worse than that, Martin didn’t even have the guts to give the guy who asked him about that flyer in the Voice a truthful answer. [EDITOR’S NOTE: There was a pro-road tax flyer distributed in the Voice of Villa Hills the weekend prior to the November, 2011 vote that is now the subject of a complaint before the Ethics Board.] Martin is a dirty liar.” Our publisher decided it was time to order another cold draft beer.
“Here is what I want to know. Didn’t Martin whine that he came into office and there were no records left for him? Didn’t he boo-hoo to anyone that would listen that he wasn’t left with even a paper clip or Post-It Note? Then why did he decide to burn a bunch of documents that he whined didn’t exist smack-dab in the middle of a lawsuit and when all kinds of people are complaining that they can’t get open records filled? What was the rush? That doesn’t make any sense. Unless the guy was up to no good. The bad thing, Martin’s mess could end up getting some employees and even the council in trouble as well.” At this point, our publisher ordered a third cold draft beer.
The floodgates remained open. The city was doing just fine before this sawed-off runt got elected. Now nothing is getting done. I’d feel better if Steve Clark was still mayor rather than having Martin in there destroying the city. It’s a disservice to call Martin stupid. He isn’t very bright. But he’s smart enough to know he is up to no good. I don’t care if Martin resigns, gets impeached or leaves in handcuffs. He is terrible for this city. I hope he gets creamed in that lawsuit.”
At this point our publisher, while in complete agreement with everything his lunch guest was saying, tried to change the subject to the upcoming Reds season, ordered himself a fourth cold draft beer and a cab ride home.
Yes, the torch has definitely passed.
