The Martin Chronicles strongly believes that Councilman Jim Noll owes an honest explanation to the residents of the City who gave him more votes than any other council candidate in the 2010 election. What Noll has done is an absolute disgrace.
The scene? Monday, April 30 at River Ridge Elementary. Special Counsel had just concluded a far too folksy presentation of the preliminary results of their investigation in to the misconduct of Mayor Mike Martin (Despite the sub par presentation, the media accurately reported the explosive nature of Martin's misconduct). Never one to miss the opportunity for "face time", Noll strode to the microphones and reporter's note pads to introduce himself as a candidate for State Senate and glibly pronounce that he had seen "nothing new. Is that a fact? No kidding? You don't say?
We freely admit that we have held Councilman Noll in low regard since the outset of his hapless first-and mercifully only term- on Villa Hills City Council. Noll was unaware what a caucus meeting is. Like Martin, Noll has also been slapped with a "confidential" reprimand by the Villa Hills Ethics Board. Reliable sources have reported that Noll has arrived at council meetings in an "altered state of consciousness" on multiple occasions. Noll is dealing with serious allegations of sexually harassing a City employee. Noll cloyingly tries to act as if a mediator is the answer to all of the terrible problems Martin has created. To sum it up, Noll is a joke.
So what is the big deal about Noll saying he heard "nothing new"? The other five council members knew they had seen strong evidence of official misconduct and illegal activity for the very first time. If they commented to the media at all, the other five were very cautious and stressed the need to thoughtfully examine the forty-five page report Special Counsel provided them just that night. But not Noll.
Noll is purportedly an attorney by trade. He is an officer of the Court. That carries with it certain clearly delineated duties and responsibilities. Should the public conclude from Noll's comments that he was already aware of Martin's misconduct and illegal activity? A reasonable person would have every right to believe so.
If Noll was already aware of Martin's misconduct and illegal activities, why has he not come forward about them? A failure to do so is a very serious matter. To say that turning a blind eye to Martin's corruption disqualifies Noll to serve in the State Senate is obvious. Worse yet, it could cost Noll his license to practice law.
Defense attorneys always avoid asking their clients if they committed the crime for which they have been charged. Why, because if the answer is"yes" and they move forward with the presentation of a knowingly false defense they are perpetrating a fraud on the Court. That is a grievous offense.
Is Noll serious? Even if he was simply playing a cynical game of politics, he has clearly crossed the line. The public has every right to demand an explanation from Noll for such behavior.
Many are convinced that Noll is hoping this is kept "under the rug" just long enough to get through his State Senate run. He wants to keep his ethics rebuke and the sexual harassment allegations against him out of the media just long enough for the voters to punch his ticket to Frankfort. What happens after that will be a problem for the Democrat Party machine to deal with.
But the explanation should be given at Wednesday's council meeting. We will be watching.
