The Martin Chronicles suggested that our readers do a Google search Wednesday. Judging by the large number of readers who checked out that post, a number most likely did exactly that. One well-known Northern Kentucky attorney contacted our beloved publisher and floated the idea that the situation with that new Villa Hills councilman may be a lot like the situation faced by a Covington City Commissioner that received a great deal of media coverage about three weeks ago.
In case you aren't aware, Kenton County Attorney Garry Edmonson recently made news with his investigation of Covington City Commissioner Michelle Williams. The reason for Edmonson's investigation? The County Attorney said records show multiple convictions of Commissioner Williams ranging from 2008 to June 2010 in Northern Kentucky that may prevent her from holding public office.
An individual cannot hold office in Kentucky if convicted of a felony or high misdemeanor. A high misdemeanor usually involves what Edmonson described as "moral turpitude", citing theft as an example. It is worth noting, however, that Kentucky's Constitution provides no definition of a high misdemeanor.
County Attorney Edmonson issued his opinion that Commissioner Williams should vacate her office immediately. But, it appears Edmonson's opinion is simply that. The Kentucky Attorney General's Office would ultimately decide if an elected official must vacate their office. That has yet to play out.
Now to Villa Hills. Those who followed Wednesday's "Google trail" know that one of the new Villa Hills council members has a "history" of his own. Those who haven't followed the trail yet probably owe it to themselves to do so. This "history" may raise some of the same issues that Edmonson investigated in Covington. Should Edmonson-or someone else-be asking the same questions in Villa Hills?
Many may be surprised that we aren't sure if it is a wise idea to explore this new councilman's past. Villa Hills may not be able to handle more scrutiny of any of its elected officials, no matter how legitimate.
Last year, many voters were unintentionally misled by media headlines of "infighting" and "bickering" and intentionally misled by malfeasant Mayor Mike Martin and his cronies' false claims of "bullying", "blaming" and wrong-headed whining about "an unwillingness by incumbent council members to work with the mendacious mayor".
These same misled voters surrounded Martin with six new-or reconstituted-faces. The voters' desperate hope? That maybe Martin could finally show what he is capable of. Well, we believe that is exactly what is happening.
You see, it is now revealed that Martin has been lying for more than two years about his plans to eliminate the Villa Hills Police Department. It is now revealed that Martin never intended to "learn how to work" with Police Chief Dan Goodenough and Assistant Chief Joe Schutzman, despite his feckless claims to the contrary at the sham Villa Hills Civic Club's 2010 Candidate Forum. Martin has been revealed to be nothing more than a disgraceful dissembler.
So what is left? The hope that the voters will finally take the time to get the facts for themselves in 2014. Why? Because is becoming more apparent with each passing day that these voters must begin to re-direct the careers of at least a few of their elected officials, beginning with their dishonest Mayor Mike Martin.
