The Martin Chronicles phone lines were lighting up all day today and every reporter was working numerous e-mail leads. It is beginning to appear the one thread on that proverbial sweater that causes the whole sweater to unravel may be getting a very strong pull from several hands. We are beginning to wonder if Villa Hills' Mayor Mike Martin's legendary ability to lie himself out of any situation is finally eluding him.
1. Special Counsel’s interrogatories for Mayor Martin were delivered today (see the reference to “interrogatories” in our February 5 post). Mayor Martin now has a mere thirty days to respond to a series of questions from Special Counsel. Martin has a few options. Frankly, none of them are good for him. He could simply refuse to answer the questions (BAD DECISION). He could answer them in an untruthful way (VERY BAD DECISION. Or, he could answer them truthfully (DISASTROUS DECISION). It really doesn’t matter. Special Counsel has already spent the last few months rounding up the solid facts of the case against Mayor Martin. If you want to study the case for the mayor’s removal from office, several of the key points were outlined in our January 4 post. The facts will most likely be presented to the public perhaps as soon as the March council meeting.
2. Our sources in Lexington confirm that the City’s insurance carrier is attempting to quickly settle the sexual harassment and hostile work environment claims against Martin and Councilman Jim Noll. The Martin Chronicles readily admits that most insurance companies correctly decide that it is almost always cheaper to settle than to go to court. We also point out that the speed at which the insurance company indicated a willingness to settle signals their belief that the employee filing the complaint has a substantial case against Martin and Noll. In our humble opinion, the aggrieved party would be unwise to settle without a public admission by Martin and Noll of their “failures” in this matter. Otherwise the vine-swingers at the Civic Club and other various and sundry louts and holier-than-thou pinheads will argue that the employee was only interested in a “cash grab”. The Martin Chronicles has reviewed the evidence and interviewed several sources who clearly indicate that the complaints are legitimate.
3. The City’s Ethics Board voted unanimously in open session on Monday, February 6 to issue a confidential reprimand to Martin and Noll. Thought the details of the reprimand are confidential, The Martin Chronicles is convinced this reprimand deals with something other than the sexual harassment and hostile work environment problems. We believe it is related to the ethics complaint filed over Martin and Noll’s misuse of City personnel and resources to promote the ROAD TAX that was deceptively marketed and then soundly defeated at the polls last November. What was Martin’s bold-faced lie to the long-time resident who asked the mayor if he knew anything about the “pro-Road Tax" flyer in the November Voice of Villa Hills? We recall that it was something dreadful like, “I have no idea.”
It would be one thing if Martin was merely a person of low intelligence. The Martin Chronicles readily stipulates to that. But a list that may include the evasion of City, State and County fees and taxes, the wanton destruction of City property, the unauthorized removal of City property, retaliation against City employees, the violation of City contracts, cronyism, violations of State Open Records statutes, misuse of City personnel and equipment, improper destruction of City records, the willful falsification of City documents, sexual harassment and a host of other problems points to a person who is possessed of little or no honesty or integrity. “Honesty and Integrity”? Hmm, where have we all heard that before?
Our publisher reports a chat he had yesterday with a friend who is also in the media. When the many problems Martin has created for himself and the taxpayers were recounted, our publisher’s media friend wryly commented, “That Martin character is certainly an over-achiever”.
