Sunday, November 30, 2014

MONDAY MEMO: Every Move Martin Makes

The Martin Chronicles gets it. We clearly understand just how "slippery" now-outgoing Villa Hills malfeasant Mayor Mike Martin truly is. We also now know that Martin has no intention of doing the right thing and simply going away. This despite his unprecedented 84% - 16% walloping at the polls on November 4.

We know every single word Martin spouts at his favorite watering hole. Better yet, we will report every word. This is how we learned that Martin plans to misuse councilmembers Vaden and Koenig to gum up the works of the incoming Callery Administration until the little fella can get himself elected to council in 2016 to "save the day". Oh, brother.

We know the address of every single household where Martin's mostly-unlicensed , shoddy-at-best handyman company is performing its' shoddy-at-best work. Martin has even done work at the home of current City Administrator/City Clerk Craigory T. Bohman. Some residents are concerned that this work represents a kick-back for the huge pay raise Martin gave Bohman.

We know that some Villa Hills City employees are deeply concerned that a very angry Martin is going to fire them before the clock finally runs out on the little fella at 11:59:59PM, December 31, 2014. These employees are telling us that a livid Martin has been "beside himself" over his historic, incredibly lopsided, crushing defeat on Election Day, 2014. We have been told that Martin blames these employees-and everybody else but himself-for his embarrassing November 4 massacre.

We know that the shredders are working triple-overtime at the Villa Hills City Building. Now that Martin knows his days are numbered, we are told by several well-laced sources that he is quite open about leaving behind absolutely no evidence that can be used in the personal lawsuits that are going to be filed against the little fella after January 1, 2015. Martin probably doesn't understand that the soon-to-be-plaintiffs against him already have these documents thanks to City employees who have something he doesn't have-a conscience.

We know that Martin is doing at least some of his banking at the 5/3rd Bank branch at the corner of Kentucky 18 and Turfway Road. We have observers who report to us. 5/3rd bank employees are all on high alert. They know good and well that Martin is always happy to throw them under the proverbial bus. You remember, don't you? Martin claimed that bank tellers advised him it was okay to forge his deceased mother's name on her checks.

We know that Martin and his personal-and now City-Attorney Toad V. McMurtry both have their heads in a very tight vise. Why? These two are now lamely trying to convince The Kentucky Retirement Board that their previous statements to The Kentucky State Auditor's Office are "no longer operative". Martin and McMurtry have foolishly put SEVERAL HUNDRED THOUSAND TAXPAYER DOLLARS IN JEOPARDY because of their reckless and vindictive double-talk.

We know that both Bohman and McMurtry are absolutely convinced that incoming Mayor Callery will keep them both on the taxpayers' over-taxed payroll after January 1, 2015. This despite their major contributions to the last two years of Martin's malicious mayhem.

Bohman is relying on his long history with Callery. Despite the fact that the retired septuagenarian Callery has more than enough time and is perfectly capable of performing all of the tasks currently being handled by Bohman. McMurtry has been telling everyone who will listen-and some who won't-that "Callery will never get rid of me because he's close friends with my dad". Despite the fact that McMurtry has racked up legal bills in excess of TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND TAXPAYER DOLLARS since Martin hired him less than two years ago.

These are just some of the shameful reasons The Martin Chronicles has no intentions of going anywhere as we all head in to 2015.

Friday, November 28, 2014

WEEKENDER: Final Thoughts On A November To Remember

The Martin Chronicles entire staff will be dining on a variety of leftover turkey recipes through the weekend. One of our most veteran political reporters made the insightful observation that, "(Villa Hills malfeasant Mayor Mike) Martin is the biggest leftover turkey around these parts. The bad news is that, unlike the food on our plates, the little fella will still be around for another month".

But, before we start looking at Mike Martin's final month as mayor, we should look at what has become known by Villa Hills political observers as A NOVEMBER TO REMEMBER. A whole lot of "stuff" has happened in the last thirty days.

1. Despite Martin's best-or, perhaps better put, worst-efforts, the little fella ran in to a buzz saw on election day. Our crack research staff has been unable to find a previous example of a defeat of an incumbent mayor in a town the size of Villa Hills that comes anywhere close to the ass-whuppin' Martin experienced last November 4. So, its fair to say that Martin's crushing 84% - 16% shellacking was historically bad. Which is appropriate. Why? Because everything Martin has done over the past four years has been historically bad.

2. We have learned that Martin and his personal-and now City-Attorney Toad V. McMurtry have managed to put themselves in between a legal rock and a hard place. How? Well, first Martin and McMurtry made the (official) claim to The Kentucky State Auditor's Office that the former leadership of the Villa Hills Police Department were guilty of "pension spiking".

Well, well, well. A source deep inside Martin's administration has sent us three letters demonstrating that Martin and McMurtry are now making the (official) claim to The Kentucky Retirement Board that there was no "pension spiking". What's at stake? Well over $200,000 TAXPAYER DOLLARS.

But there very well may be far more at stake. Why? Let's say The Kentucky Retirement Board finally decides-after denying Martin's and McMurtry's defense three times-that there was no "pension spiking". Then Martin and McMurtry have left the taxpayers wide open to a SEVERAL HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLAR TAXPAYER-FUNDED LAWSUIT for conspiring to defame the former leadership of the Villa Hills Police Department with their previous (official) claims to The Kentucky State Auditor's Office. Wild, crazy stuff, huh?

3. The social network chatter has "gone dark". We aren't seeing any posts telling us to stop being "negative" (LMFAO) or predicting that "the voters will do the right thing (even though they did exactly that)".

We haven't heard from anyone who claims the have "the truth about Villa Hills secured from the Kenton County Library". There have been no claims from people who make the odd assertion that folks defeated in previous elections are somehow disqualified from being elected again.

There have been no snarky comments from teen-aged prodigies that provoke justifiable backlash. And, there have been no snarky teen-aged prodigies mommas who have rushed out to wrong-headedly defend the snarky comments made by their snarky teen-aged prodigies.

4. Martin has tipped his nasty hand during a "drunk-fest" at his favorite watering hole. Martin has let us know that he doesn't plan to do the right thing and finally go away. He is still in it to win it.

Will Vaden and Koenig really do Martin's bidding for the next two years while the little fella positions himself for a 2016 city council run? That is what Martin himself has said. Heck, we just don't know. That's exactly why The Martin Chronicles isn't going anywhere.

5. The new police chief of Villa Hills gave a very ironic quote to The Community Recorder when he warned Villa Hills residents about possible "scams". We're glad the new chief is trying to help the residents.

But what the new police chief of the local police department has no way of knowing is that the biggest scam that has ever been perpetrated on the residents of Villa Hills is the outgoing Martin Administration. Hundreds of thousands of TAXPAYER DOLLARS squandered on lawyers and legal fees. Hundreds of thousands of TAXPAYER DOLLARS in fines levied by Kentucky agencies. Martin's very-expensive-to-the-taxpayers CRONY HIRES. CONVICTIONS on several counts of OFFICIAL MISCONDUCT and NEGLECT OF DUTY. A REPRIMAND from the Villa Hills Ethics Board. Judges affirming Martin's 2007 FORGERY ARREST. Misuse of taxpayer money sending out a POLITICAL PROPAGANDA PIECE last month. There is all of that-and a whole lot more.

Isn't this fun?

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Why The Martin Chronicles Is Thankful

The Martin Chronicles is very thankful on this Thanksgiving Holiday. We have been working very hard now since even before our launch of October 8, 2011 to bring the residents of Villa Hills' Mayor Mike Martin town THE TRUTH. We can only conclude that since Martin was routed 84%-16% on November 4, 2014, THAT THE GOOD GUYS ARE WINNING!

It ain't over yet!

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Things For Which To Be Thankful

The Martin Chronicles certainly hopes the residents of now-outgoing malfeasant Mayor Mike Martin's Villa Hills remember the many things they can be thankful for this important holiday week. First and foremost, we should all be thankful for our family, friends and the many ways we have been blessed in this life.

There are other reasons to be thankful in Villa Hills. Let's explore the positive possibilities.

Villa Hills will see a positive change in its city government. A new mayor and mostly-new council will be taking the reins on January 1, 2015. After the last four, dreadful years of non-stop crisis, chaos and corruption of Mike Martin, there are many reasons to believe things will become decidedly better in a hurry.

We anticipate that incoming Mayor Callery will live up to his extensive resume. We think Mr. Callery will be a steady leader who focuses his efforts on making Martin's currently-broken city government an operation that works to serve the residents once again.

We look for incoming Mayor Callery to provide quiet leadership and cooperation with council that seeks areas of agreement for the betterment of the city. That will be a refreshing change from the past four years of conflict, contradiction, "gotcha" politics and "cult of personality" we saw with thankfully-outgoing Mayor Martin.

We think the seasoned incoming Mayor Callery will not let the trappings of the almost endless power the Kentucky Legislature gives mayors of a City of the Fourth Class get the better of him. Again, that will be a refreshing change for which we should all be thankful. The inexperienced and uneducated outgoing Mayor Martin was seduced by that power almost immediately. "I'm the CEO. It's my decision. We're moving on. Get over it." Remember? Sure you do.

We also think the new city council has a real chance to make a positive difference for the residents next year. No incoming council has had such an opportunity in more than a decade.

George Bruns, Greg Kilburn and Scott Ringo are returning to city council after a two-year hiatus. These three men did yeoman-like work for the residents during their prior council service. Then, they unfairly became the undeserving scapegoats for Martin's incompetence and corruption in the 2012 election. Now, they are returning to continue their true public service and-thankfully-Martin is departing.

Gary Waugaman also has an extensive record of public service and volunteerism. We are convinced that he will do his level best for the betterment of the city. Waugaman will speak his mind. He will also always do what he thinks is best for the residents of Villa Hills.

Jennifer Yost-Vaden has been given a gift. She now has the chance to prove she really does want to "move the city forward". We expect Councilmembers Bruns, Kilburn, Ringo and Waugaman will very quickly offer her the opportunity to do that very thing. Then, it's totally up to Yost-Vaden. The Martin Chronicles will be watching very closely.

Then there is Mary Koenig. Koenig was first elected to council in the last century. 1989 to be exact. While The Martin Chronicles has had very little use for her nasty brand of below-the-belt politics, we recognize that Koenig has been given the rare opportunity to finally do the right thing. Again, The Martin Chronicles will be watching very closely. This one will be fun!

Oh, there are more reason to be thankful.

In case you haven't noticed, the social network nitwittery has ground to an almost complete halt. No more morons posting things they claim came from the library that are totally false. No more snarky comments made by Martin teen worshippers that draw derision and rancor. No more misguided mommas jumping in to defend their Martin teen worshippers with even snarkier comments that draw even more derision and rancor.

Isn't it great?

Then there are the negative realities. Why?

Because The Martin Chronicles is also thankful that outgoing, malfeasant Mayor Mike Martin has already tipped his shady hand. As we have already reported, Martin has no intention of doing the right thing and getting on with his life. Martin plans to continue to stir up crisis, chaos and corruption. Why? Because he just can't accept the reality of having all of that power taken away from him by the voters. Oh, thank you little fella! Thank you!

We should all be thankful for 2015!

Monday, November 24, 2014

Martin Isn't Going Away

The Martin Chronicles has heard from our sources at now-outgoing Villa Hills malfeasant Mayor Mike Martin's favorite watering hole. These sources tell us that the malevolent Martin was recently holding court, entertaining his vastly depleted ranks of supporters.

Martin began his usual routine of tossing back beer after beer after beer and then launching into his litany of "F-him, F-her, F-us, F-them, F-you, F-that, F-this, F-me, F-everybody". No surprises there. Those antics happen all the time.

But then our sources tell us it got very interesting. Martin went on to tell his shrinking supporters that he "has Koenig and Vaden in his hip pocket". He assured the assembled asses that Koenig and Vaden will "stop everything Callery and those other assholes on council try to do". Then Martin assured them that he would be elected to city council again in two years "to start turning the city around again". Alrighty then.

If Martin was honest when he claimed to "love Villa Hills" more than four years ago, he would simply get on with his life. But Martin isn't honest. Martin doesn't have integrity. Martin can't accept the fact that his last four years have been a massive, embarrassing, dreadful failure.

Some might conclude that Martin's beer-boosted, bogus bravado was just the alcohol-fueled ramblings of a soon-to-be-deposed despot. After all, even if Koenig and Vaden were truly following Martin's marching orders (and we can't know that, at least not yet), they only represent two votes on a six member city council.

Others might believe that even the mallet-headed Martin has to see the handwriting on the electoral wall. He was embarrassingly crushed 84%-16% just three weeks ago. How much worse would his devastating defeat have to be for the tiny tyrant to finally realize that the vast majority of residents have had more than enough of his chicanery, right?

There are also those who realize that Martin will already have his hands full dealing with the many personal legal issues that are about to be dropped on his head. These folks understand that Martin will soon be provided the opportunity to explain his many misdeeds over the past four years.

Martin's under-oath answers could very well cost him a staggering fortune. Remember, the Kentucky League of Cities has already advised Martin that they are "out" and that the diminutive dictator is holding a very bad hand. Martin has to be going away for good, correct?

Despite Martin's many looming, personal problems, he would enjoy nothing more than causing problems for Mayor-elect Callery and the incoming council. They are his evil enemies, remember? That is who Martin is and will be forevermore.

So, The Martin Chronicles isn't falling for it. We have studied Martin very intently over the past several years. It almost worries us that we understand what makes Martin tick so well.

The Martin Chronicles knows that Martin is driven by his delusions of grandeur. We know that Martin has a messianic complex-convinced that only he knows what is best for anyone who has the misfortune of entering his off-kilter orbit. We know that Martin is a raging paranoid who firmly believes that anyone who opposes him is an enemy who must be totally destroyed.

Yes, Martin was annihilated on November 4. Election Day was an absolute repudiation of Martin and everything he stands for. But, he doesn't understand that. Martin just isn't capable of doing the right thing. Martin has already used his crazy calculus to rationalize everything that happened just three weeks ago. You know, "If only this, if only that. The voters were just too stupid to understand all the great things I did for them. I'll show them." Nutty? You bet. But that's Martin.

That is exactly why The Martin Chronicles isn't going anywhere.

Sunday, November 23, 2014

MONDAY MEMO: An Unresolved Issue

The Martin Chronicles has already advised our readers that now-outgoing Villa Hills malfeasant Mayor Mike Martin will be leaving behind a staggering mess for Mayor-elect Callery and a mostly-solid new city council. Some things simply won't be resolved prior to January 1, 2015 (also known as VM Day for "Victory over Martin" Day).

Mayor-elect Callery will have to make some difficult staffing decisions. Callery has a long association with City Administrator/City Clerk Craig T. Bohman. Martin's personal-and now City-Attorney Toad V. McMurtry also continues to assure people that his Villa Hills job is secure because of his father's close friendship with Callery. Many residents are concerned that Callery will be reluctant to redirect the careers of Bohman and McMurtry.

Much like outgoing malfeasant Mayor Martin, both Bohman and McMurtry have become toxic figures in Villa Hill City Government. Just consider some of the issues surrounding Bohman and McMurtry:
  • McMurtry has billed the taxpayers in excess of an indefensible $250,000 in legal fees in less than two years.
  • Bohman still faces the "opportunity" to explain-under oath-his questionable allegations that he was the "innocent victim" of selective traffic enforcement that led to the railroading of one member of the local police department's former leadership.
  • McMurtry still faces the "opportunity" to explain-under oath-whether he was correct when he told the Kentucky State Auditor that neither member of the local police department's former leadership received promotions, or that he was correct when he told the Kentucky State Retirement Board that both members of the local police department's former leadership received promotions. McMurtry-and the exposed taxpayers of Villa Hills-can't have it both ways.
  • Bohman was photographed removing campaign signs from the private property of a number of residents. Does Callery really want to be associated with Bohman's violation of those residents' First Amendment rights?
  • McMurtry will be a poisonous figure with some of the incoming 2015 council. Here is just one of many examples. McMurtry accused returning Councilmember Scott Ringo of tampering with evidence during the malfeasant Martin's October, 2012 removal hearing.
  • Bohman hired his boss Martin to do handyman work in his home after receiving a substantial taxpayer-funded pay raise. Many residents believe that was a sordid form of payback.
  • At least two outgoing councilmembers have publicly accused McMurtry of threatening them in to silence about Martin's reckless behavior. Does Mayor-elect Callery really want that lingering stench?
  • Bohman has yet to explain the photos that were taken of him removing City Records from the Police Department. This after Martin was warned by a respected judge to stop destroying and tampering with those very same City Records.
This is just a very small sampling of the taint both McMurtry and Bohman would carry in to the incoming Callery Administration. Many residents firmly believe that it wasn't enough to loudly toss the malfeasant Martin out of their City Building on November 4. They also believe his two taxpayer-funded co-conspirators must also exit. The Martin Chronicles agrees.

Mayor-elect Callery is already on the public record saying he would rather have a City Attorney with much more municipal law experience. Callery has publicly expressed great concern about the staggering legal fees Martin has handed to the taxpayers.

Mayor-elect Callery is also a retired septuagenarian who has all the time he needs to handle the day-to-day administrative duties at the City Building. Should the taxpayers also be funding a City Administrator? A huge number of taxpayers don't think so.

The exits of McMurtry and Bohman could be handled in a dignified, professional way. It wouldn't have to be anything like the ugly public spectacles orchestrated by Martin, McMurtry and Bohman when they railroaded the former leadership of the local police department. But, does Callery have the intestinal fortitude that is required to finish the job the voters began on Election Day?

This is an unresolved issue.

Saturday, November 22, 2014

SUNDAY SUPPLEMENT: Spiking Scandal Set To Explode

The Martin Chronicles was well-represented at the second-to-last Villa Hills council meeting now-outgoing malfeasant Mayor Mike Martin presided over on November 12. At first, we thought little of a brief exchange during that meeting. Councilman Jim Cahill asked if there were any updates on the city's many (costly-to-the-taxpayers) legal issues. Both Martin and his personal-and now City-Attorney Toad V. McMurtry quickly replied, "Nothing".

We now know that-at best-that Martin's and McMurtry's denials are "no longer operative". That is the polite way to say it now appears they were both lying.

We have had several editorial board meetings deciding whether or not to risk a well-placed source deep within the foul bowels of the outgoing Martin Administration. While its a tough call, we finally have decided to proceed. Why? Because-unlike returning Councilman Mary Koenig-we do believe the public needs to know.

That well-placed source has secretly sent us three letters that clearly prove there is a whole lot going on relating to all of the legal issues Martin has created. These letters indicate that the taxpayers may face shelling out hundreds of thousands of dollars more for Martin's four years of mischief.

The three letters were sent to the City from the Kentucky State Retirement Board. The first letter advises the City that their-very-costly-to-the-taxpayers'-appeal of the already-reported, kept-out-of-the-financial-records-$217,000 fine against Martin's Administration for pension spiking was denied.

The second letter advises the City that their second-very-costly-to-the-taxpayers'-appeal of the already-reported, kept-out-of-the-financial-records $217,000 fine against Martin's Administration for pension spiking was also denied. Not good. Not good at all.

The third letter advises the City that their last-very-costly-to-the-taxpayer's-chance to dodge the already-reported, kept-out-of-the-financial-records $217,000 fine against Martin's Administration for pension spiking will take place at a-yet-to-be-scheduled-hearing. Not good. Not good at all. In point of fact, it's very, very bad for the taxpayers.

Martin and McMurtry have a very serious problem. So do the taxpayers of Villa Hills. You see, Martin and McMurtry are pleading to the Kentucky State Retirement Board that there was no pension spiking. But, Martin and McMurtry previously made the exact opposite case to the Kentucky State Auditor's Office. Yes, Martin and McMurtry previously claimed that there was pension spiking but that it was the fault of the former Villa Hills Police Department leadership.

Mercifully for the taxpayers, Martin will be gone in less than 40 days. The Kentucky League of Cities Insurance has already informed Martin and his attorneys that they will not cover Martin's personal liability in the many current-and several pending-lawsuits resulting from the miscreant mayor's misbehavior. Why? Because they maintain that what Martin has done represents willful acts.

For Martin, this very well may be a case of Karma's well-known "bitchiness". Martin has spent the better part of a decade trying to ruin innocent peoples' lives. It could very well be that the worm is about to turn against Martin in a very loud way.

We aren't so sure about Toad V. McMurtry. We have learned that McMurtry has assured several people that "Mayor-elect Callery will never get rid of me because he's a close friend of my dad". You don't say? Is that a fact?

It appears Mayor-elect Callery has some very big decisions to make right away.

Friday, November 21, 2014

WEEKENDER: "Final Days" Humor

The Martin Chronicles can tell Villa Hills residents are still giddy about now-outgoing Mayor Mike Martin's voter-mandated exit from their City Building. How do we know? Because our reporters are hearing a series of one-liners and jokes all over town.

"What's worse than Mike Martin's Election Day vote totals. Nothing!"

"Did you know that Mike Martin is the only mayor who had his official portrait done by a police sketch artist?"

"What do Mike Martin and Cub Scout Pack 533 have in common? They are both preparing to take a hike soon."

In an homage to Johnny Carson's famous Karnac the Magnificent:
"The answer is -Big Ben, Andy Dalton, and Mike Martin's campaign promises."
"The question is - Name a clock, a jock and a crock."

"Martin, McMurtry and Bohman were rounded up by a mob of angry Villa Hills residents. The mob lined the trio up against the public works building to face a firing squad. McMurtry distracted the mob by yelling 'EARTHQUAKE!' and escaped in to the woods. The firing squad composed themselves and prepared to carry out their assignment. Then Bohman yelled 'TORNADO!' and used the momentary distraction to dive in to the frigid safety of Lake General Zod. The firing squad lined up again and began, 'READY', 'AIM'. . . Finally figuring out what his 'associates' had done to temporarily distract the riflemen, Martin yelled 'FIRE!'  . . . "


40 days to go.

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

"But You Can't Fool All Of The People All Of The Time"

The Martin Chronicles staff has been in a bit of a retrospective mood lately. We've been reporting on Villa Hills corrupt and incompetent Mayor Mike Martin since October 8, 2011. We've were doing our research on the diminutive dictator for several months prior to that launch.

Now-after suffering an historic, embarrassing defeat on Election Day-Martin will be leaving the mayor's office in barely 42 days. Thank God. Martin is exactly why television reality shows often warn viewers, "Do not try this at home."

Much of what has happened over Martin's last four, dreadful years remind us of some famous quotes:

1. "It is a tale told by an idiot. Full of sound and fury, signifying nothing." - William Shakespeare
Mike Martin's dishonest efforts to portray himself as the innocent victim of dark forces who wanted to derail his "good government zealotry" have now been indisputably revealed to be a colossal fabrication. Four separate judges have clearly determined that there was absolutely "probable cause" for Martin's 2007 forgery arrest. He did sign his deceased mother's name on his deceased mother's checks, cash them and pocket the proceeds. He's very lucky he didn't go to prison. Martin was also lying when he told the taxpayers of Villa Hills he wasn't suing them for $1.505 million. Why? Because the Supreme Court of the United States said he most certainly was.

2. "Power tends to corrupt. And absolute power corrupts absolutely." - Lord Acton
How many times did the residents have to listen to now-outgoing Mayor Mike Martin end legitimate, serious discussions by saying, "I'm the CEO. It's my decision. Deal with it. We're moving on." before they realized that Martin had been consumed by the power the Kentucky Revised Statutes granted him? Martin's luck finally ran out on November 4, 2014.

3. "The buck stops here." - Harry Truman
How many times did now-outgoing Mayor Mike Martin try to claim that "the buck never got here?" Problems were supposedly always someone else's fault. The previous City Attorney mishandled the Civil Service Commission. The previous Police Chief didn't tell Martin he wasn't allowed to illegally burn City records. His first City Council wouldn't work with him. The line that best sums up Martin's approach to everything is the excuse he used for his forgery, "I didn't  know it was wrong then. But I know it now." The voters resoundingly said, Enough, already" on November 4, 2014.

4. "I am not a crook." - Richard Nixon
Any sane person who witnessed Martin's bizarre comments to the media at the conclusion of his removal hearing in October, 2012 had to feel that they were witnessing Nixon's comments all over again. Despite the fact that Martin had just been convicted on seven of nine counts of Official Misconduct and Neglect of Duty, the diminutive dictator went before the cameras and reporters' notebooks to blame everyone else for his misbehavior.

5. "Be careful what you wish for. You just might get it." - Unknown
There were several foolish people who actually lamented that they would like to truly see what now-outgoing Mayor Martin was capable of if he had a city council who would work with him. Well, a majority of voters-in their disgust over Martin's first two years as mayor-gave him Koenig, Wischer and Menninger-Isenhour. That is exactly why the last two years of Martin's Reign of Error were an even-more-embarrassing-to-the-residents disaster. But, it is probably also why Martin will soon be on the outside looking in.

6. "Time is money." - Ben Franklin
Have you looked at the legal bills racked up by Martin's personal attorney who was hired to serve as City Attorney? If you have, you know what old Ben was talking about. More than $250,000? Really? For what? The remaining question? Will Mayor-elect Callery keep Martin's personal attorney on the taxpayer's dime?

7. "A man can fail many times, but he isn't a failure until he begins to blame somebody else." - John Burroughs
Residents finally came to realize that Martin's incessant blame-laying was a con job. They came to understand that Martin was the source of all of the problems and embarrassments of the past four years. They finally reached the conclusion that Martin didn't have even the basic tools to do the mayoral job. The voters sent a loud and clear message to Martin on November 4, 2014 that it was far past time to find something else to do.

8. "You can fool some of the people all of the time. You can fool all of the people some of the time. But you can't fool all of the people all of the time." - Abraham Lincoln
If Martin's 84%-16% annihilation on November 4, 2014 proved nothing else, it proved that Honest Abe was right when he said that.

9. "The pen is mightier than the sword." - Edward Bulwer-Lytton
This is where we might appear to be immodest. We don't mean to be. But we do think that our efforts-filling the void left by the shrinking-budget-hampered dinosaur media-played some role on the outcome of the November 4, 2014 election. We worked very hard to keep the truth about Martin's incessant antics in front of out audience. We don't think 285,000 visits to our blog happened by accident. We think the residents finally came to understand that their Mayor Martin was just a devious con man. So, the hard work paid off.

But we know our work is very far from over. We know Martin has no intentions of doing the right thing and just going away. So, we are staying on the job.

That's why we will see you tomorrow.

Sunday, November 16, 2014

SUNDAY SUPPLEMENT: "The Voters Finally Stopped Buying What He Was Selling"

The Martin Chronicles has a number of longtime Villa Hills political observers who have been helping us even before we launched our pesky, little blog on October 8, 2011. These pundits have been providing us valuable assistance as we tried to gain some understanding of now-thankfully outgoing malfeasant Mayor Mike Martin.

Martin is a classic con man. Just look at what he "accomplished" just during his up-and-down-and-up-and-out political career in Villa Hills.

Martin first became a member of Villa Hills City Council on January 1, 2005. Longtime observers told us he was-at best-"ineffectual". Martin botched every project he took on as Chairman of the City's Administration Committee.
  • Martin "saved" money on phone services by disconnecting necessary phone lines.
  • Martin never meet his promised deadlines to present alternatives for employee health insurance.
  • Martin was never able to grasp the ins and outs of the annual City Budget.
  • Martin antagonized his fellow councilmembers and City employees for reasons only he may be able to explain.
And then it happened. After years of cashing his deceased mother's child support checks and pocketing the money, Martin was arrested on forgery charges in December, 2007. Oh, the police offered Martin many opportunities to resolve the problem. But, Martin "cleverly" declined their many invitations to resolve the matter. The seeds of Martin's later attacks on the Villa Hills Police Department were planted and quickly began to take root.

After several court appearance, a judge decided that Martin simply didn't understand that he was committing a criminal act and made the inopportune statement that there was "no probable cause" to move forward with Martin's prosecution. Instead, the judge generously granted Martin a mulligan to undo the crime he had committed.

Instead of dropping to his knees to thank God for his good fortune, Martin soon filed a $1.505 million lawsuit against the Villa Hills Police Department and the taxpayers of Villa Hills. As we now know, Martin's suit falsely claimed that his forgery arrest "violated his constitutional rights".

Despite the fact that the original judge reviewing Martin's case told him that there was probable cause for his forgery arrest and dismissed his bogus lawsuit, Martin wasn't finished. He quickly filed an appeal of the original judges decision.

Martin lost his 2008 council re-election bid by only two votes. But Martin was far from finished. He continued his pursuit of a $1.505 million taxpayer-funded payday and launched his 2010 mayoral campaign.

Martin convinced barely enough voters of two falsehoods in 2010. First, that he wasn't suing them-even though he was. Second, that his forgery arrest was actually proof that he was just a victim of dark forces who were trying to derail his good government zealotry-even though he wasn't.

The next four years proved to be a perpetual series of embarrassments for Villa Hills. Martin was always in some kind of trouble.
  • A reprimand from the Ethics Board.
  • A judicial warning to stop illegally destroying City records.
  • Sexual harassment allegations.
  • Convictions on seven of nine counts of Official Misconduct and Neglect of Duty.
  • The hiring of Martin's personal attorney to serve as City Attorney.
  • The revelation that Martin actually did plan to disband the local police department he blamed for his 2007 forgery arrest.
  • The railroading of the leadership of the local police department he blamed for his 2007 forgery arrest.
  • Four straight busted City budgets, including more than $500,000 spent on lawyers and lawsuits.
  • The 2014 expenditure of taxpayer money to send out a political propaganda piece.
Just look at the people who have had the misfortune of dealing with the Mayor Martin. Six of the twelve councilmembers who worked with him over the past four years simply threw up their hands and walked away from their council posts. Five of the remaining six council members were voted out of office (all save one the victim of Martin's lies). The good news? Three of those five were returned to council in the 2014 election. Another would have been re-elected but withdrew from the 2014 race shortly after filing as a candidate.

Martin's doofus damage extends even beyond Villa Hills. Bilious blowhard Judge Executive Steve Arlinghaus will soon be on the outside looking in in large part because of his wrong-headed public support for Mike Martin. Do you want proof? Arlinghaus lost-again in large part-because the voters in his hometown of Villa Hills chose to support the outgoing Judge Executive's opponent. Why? Because of his ridiculous support of the malfeasant Martin. Bye-bye now.

Despite all of Martin's many failures, his 2014 re-election campaign urged voters to re-elect him and "The Martin Five" to keep the City "moving forward". It is obvious that Martin continued to believe that some number of voters simply weren't paying any attention to the mess he had created. But the November 4 results betray the fact that voters finally stopped buying what Martin was selling. Martin was annihilated, only receiving 16% of the total votes cast.

One oddball (Martin supporter) Facebook poster recently chided Martin's critics in a pre-election post for what he called "negativity". This poster listed all of Martin's supposed "accomplishments" and proclaimed that he was convinced that "the voters will do the right thing". Well. the voters did the right thing on November 4.

They resoundingly threw Martin out on his butt.

Saturday, November 15, 2014

WEEKENDER: It's Time For Some Optimism

The Martin Chronicles reporters are hearing a number of positive things about the prospects for Villa Hills incoming city government. Of course, the main reason for optimism is that outgoing malfeasant Mayor Mike Martin won't have an official role in the city government when he-very mercifully-leaves office in roughly 46 days.

There are other reasons as well. We have learned that Mayor-elect Callery has been attending various city meetings. That demonstrates Mayor-elect Callery's positive desire to be as up to speed as possible when the "Under New Management" sign goes up at the city building on January 1, 2015.

While we're on the subject of Mayor-elect Callery, The Martin Chronicles wants to make it abundantly clear that we do not believe the latest rumors circulating through Villa Hills about the mysterious piece of legislation that was tabled at the November council meeting.

You see, some residents are concerned that the mysterious legislation Martin brought before council was designed to overturn the results of the miniature mullah's November 4 massacre. They postulate that Martin's legislation was written to void the November 4 results, declaring the diminutive dictator "mayor for life",

This speculation was given further fuel by the fact that Martin delayed a vote on his proposed legislation due to the absence of one of his "friends" on council. As the rumor goes, Martin was hoping for yet another 3-3 tie vote from council. Then, the tiny tyrant could cast the tie-breaking vote that would install him as Villa Hills permanent potentate.

The last time we reported a wild rumor like that, then-mayoral candidate Callery wet his diaper and ran-well, walked-to the dinosaur media to whine himself in to some free, pre-election face time. So, no, we do not believe that even the mallet-headed Martin would use some odd piece of legislation to hold on to his seat in the mayor's office beyond December 31, 2014.

Even Martin has to understand the profound significance of the 84%-16% shellacking he suffered on November 4, right? Right? Right? Right? Right?!?!? Well, at least we hope so.

We have also discovered that most of the incoming city council members are already working on ways to start getting meaningful things done again. That will be a very positive thing for the residents. After four years of Martin's "cult of personality", vendetta-driven decision-making and "gotcha politics", this change is long overdue.

The Martin Chronicles is also going to extend the benefit of the doubt to all six of the incoming 2015/16 city council. We want to believe that all six members will enter their upcoming term with the understanding that this term represents a real opportunity to repair the great damage that Martin has done and to get some positive things accomplished.

We already know the full track records of the incoming councilmembers George Bruns and Greg Kilburn. Despite the dreadful lies Martin told about both of them in 2012 and 2014, they both have a long, positive history of public service. Mister Kilburn has proven himself willing to do the difficult things-politics be damned. Mister Bruns' history proves that he has been a public servant since his teenage years. We know they will always do what they think is best for the residents.

Gary Waugaman also has a long history of public service and sacrifice. By all accounts from everyone we've talked to, Mister Waugaman is a "good guy". He has willingly given endless hours of his time (and money) to many community endeavors and has already served on a number of city committees. He will never be a rubber stamp for anybody. And, he will also always do what he thinks is best for the residents.

Scott Ringo is clearly the smartest member of the incoming 2015/16 council. He has already developed a distinguished resume during his previous tenure on city council and will again provide excellent leadership beginning next year. Skittish teenagers who recently taped weird attacks against Mister Ringo on Villa Hills' doors need to somehow understand that serving on city council does not come with a mandate to say nothing when unfairly attacked at a public meeting. The Martin Chronicles' extensive research has told us that Mister Ringo will always do what he believes is best for the residents. No matter the political cost.

Jennifer Yost-Vaden has been presented with a great opportunity. Her interesting campaign claim that the city (government) was "moving forward" was resoundingly rejected by Villa Hills voters on November 4. But, Yost-Vaden was still elected and can now become a member of a city government that will actually do the things that are necessary to restore the residents' faith in their embarrassed city government. After four years of Martin's incessant lying, Yost-Vaden has the chance to be a part of a group that "speaks the truth". We hope everyone gives her the opportunity to do that very thing.

Then there is Mary Koenig. Yes, The Martin Chronicles freely admits that we don't like Koenig or what she has done since first being elected to city council in the previous century-1989, to be exact.

Why don't we like Koenig? Following are just a few reasons:
  • We don't like the fact that Mary Koenig is the only person to be at the epicenter of the unjust removals of two local police chiefs (Brown and Goodenough).
  • We don't like the fact that Mary Koenig publicly stated that "the residents don't need to know" how much money the misspending Martin was wasting on lawyers and lawsuits.
  • We don't like the fact that Mary Koenig wanted to waste more than ONE MILLION TAXPAYER DOLLARS to build a municipal swimming pool on civic club asshat property (especially since so many municipal swimming pools have been shut down at great expense to taxpayers).
  • We don't like the fact that Mary Koenig wanted to hand ONE MILLION TAXPAYER DOLLARS to the City of Crescent Springs to build their City Park.
  • We don't like the fact that Mary Koenig tricked the meat-headed Martin in to spending about FIFTY THOUSAND TAXPAYER DOLLARS repairing drainage problems near her private property.
  • We don't like the fact that Mary Koenig has yet to meet a TAX INCREASE she doesn't like.
  • We don't like the fact that Mary Koenig cut a deal with the devil (Martin) promising a 3-3 tie that he could break in his favor in exchange for the TAXPAYER-FUNDED IMPROVEMENTS OF HER PRIVATE PROPERTY.
Despite Mary Koenig's horrific, hateful past, she now has the chance to do the right thing for the residents of Villa Hills. It's totally up to Koenig. Will she finally do the right thing for the residents? That is up to her.

There is at least some reason for optimism because Martin will soon be dethroned.

Thursday, November 13, 2014

VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED

The Martin Chronicles knew it was bound to happen. These types of videos often surface after something embarrassing happens. The last four years have certainly been very embarrassing in Villa Hills.


Our perky, young intern found a video on Youtube that you can reach through the link below. Before you click the link, be advised that the video is shocking. If you are offended by strong language or any reference to Nazis, consider yourself warned.





Tuesday, November 11, 2014

One Week Later: News And Notes

The Martin Chronicles believes this past week has been a perfect example of time flying when we're having fun. It's hard to believe that its already been a full week since Villa Hills now-outgoing, malfeasant Mayor Mike Martin re-election effort was dealt a stinging rebuke at the polls. Because of that fact, we certainly do have to admit that the past week has been a tremendous amount of good, clean fun.

But we also realize that there are a lot of major problems that incoming Mayor-elect Callery and the six members of the 2015-16 council will have to address. That will continue to keep us very busy.

Now, for some news and notes from the post-election trail:

Council meeting tomorrow night
 
Now-outgoing Mayor Mike Martin will be presiding over his second-to-last council meeting as the current mayor of Villa Hills tomorrow night. The regular council meeting was understandably moved because of the Thanksgiving Holiday (a similar move will most likely occur for the December council meeting because of Christmas).
 
The Martin Chronicles expects a good-sized turnout for tomorrow night's meeting. Some will be there to provide sympathy and support. Many will be there to watch the beginning of the end. Others will be there because the meeting may prove to be an excellent experiment in anger management.
 
Will Martin begin another effort to re-write history tomorrow night? We will wait and see.
 
More on Social Networkers 


 We have already posted once about the social-networking Martin supporters who just can't handle the crushing defeat their guy suffered one week ago. Remember? We told you our perky, young intern described their pathetic efforts as an "epic fail".
 
If you think all the resident have to do is LTFAO, you had better think again. The next note will tell you exactly why.
 
The Price Tag For Martin's Four Years Of Recklessness
  • Mayor-elect Callery and the six members of the 2015-16 city council would be far happier if the only thing now-outgoing Mayor Martin left them was a dearth of "Post-It Notes and paper clips". But that is decidedly not the case. Instead, Martin is leaving behind an expensive legal and financial mess.
  • Mayor-elect Callery and the six members of the 2015-16 city council are going to have to find a legitimate way to fund a realistic street repair and replacement program after four years of deception and tax increases. They come in to office already several hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars "in the hole".
  • Mayor-elect Callery and the six members of the 2015-16 city council are going to have to figure out a way to untangle the city's financial records that have been left to them in such a mess by Martin and his cronies without breaking the bank.
  • Mayor-elect Callery and the six members of the 2015-16 city council are going to have to figure out a way to extricate the taxpayers from all of the legal entanglements Martin has created by his reckless behavior. There are still several lawsuits that have not been resolved. Let's lowball the figure it will take to resolve all of those unresolved lawsuits at say, $300,000.
  • Now, let's add in the $500,000 of taxpayer money Martin wasted in just the past couple of years on lawyers and legal actions, including Martin paying roughly $250,000 to his personal attorney who he maneuvered in to the position of City Attorney.
  • Then there is the $217,000 "spiking" fine that the Commonwealth of Kentucky has levied against the taxpayers of Villa Hills. Martin has been dishonestly keeping that $217,000 "spiking" fine off of the city books. But it is included in the most recent audit. It is a very real threat to the taxpayers. In fact, Martin has already paid his personal attorney who he maneuvered in to the position of City Attorney several thousand taxpayer dollars to try to defend against the fine. This despite the fact that Martin and his personal attorney who he maneuvered in to the position of City Attorney have left a paper trail accusing the former local police department of committing the aforementioned "spiking". Again, at great taxpayer expense.
For the uninitiated, if you total up the price tag of Martin's reckless spending of taxpayer money on lawyers and legal actions over just the last couple of years, IT TOTALS UP TO MORE THAN ONE MILLION TAXPAYER DOLLARS THANKS TO THE MISMANAGING MARTIN.
 
Shut up and LMFAO, indeed.



Now That The Shoe Is On The Other Foot

The Martin Chronicles first wants to thank all Americans who have served our country on this 2014 Veterans' Day. If you know a veteran or see a current member of any branch of the armed forces, please thank them for their service to our country. 


We are also well aware that the election in now-outgoing malfeasant Mayor Mike Martin's Villa Hills is over. But Martin's Reign of Error is not. Martin still has 50 days in office.


Even when Martin thankfully packs up and goes, the problems he created will still be there. Many of those problems Martin created are very serious. The solutions to all of the problems Martin created could very well cost the taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars.


That is why we are amused by a handful of social networkers-mostly embarrassed Martin supporters-who want everyone to "move on" (where have we heard that before?). These social networkers are also intentionally trying to confuse the "truth" about lasting damage Martin has done to Villa Hills' city government with "negativity". As our perky intern describes that bit of pathetic spin, "epic fail".


Sure, we expect Mayor-elect Callery and the newly elected city council to do a good job. Everyone should root for their success. Everyone should also realize that they face the huge task of cleaning up the colossal disaster Martin has left behind for them. In fact, the residents need to understand the true extent of the harm Martin has caused.


Why? Because of the potential, huge price tag attached to fixing things. Residents need to clearly see exactly who is responsible for the costly fixes. The expense won't be the fault of Mayor-elect Callery or the new city council. They shouldn't be blamed.


Martin is the one responsible.

Monday, November 10, 2014

What Happens Next ?

The Martin Chronicles is very pleased that Mike Martin will be exiting the mayor's office for the final time on or about December 31, 2014. "Mayor" Mike Martin will be no more in just 52 days-at least for another four years.

Do we think Martin will do the right thing and just get on with his life? No, we don't. We fully expect Martin will be vindictively working behind the scenes to stir up trouble. Why? Because he's done that very thing before. We also fully expect Martin will make a run for city council in two years. That is why The Martin Chronicles is not going anywhere.

But, the 2014 election is over. Martin was resoundingly defeated in an embarrassing 84%-16% avalanche. A new administration will be setting up shop come January 1, 2015. Change is coming. There is absolutely nothing that Martin or anyone else can do now to stop that long overdue change.

So, what does The Martin Chronicles think should happen next? Well, we hope that Mayor-elect Callery and the six incoming councilmembers commit themselves to working together in every way possible. We aren't suggesting that anyone walk away from their core beliefs. But we do hope that they all focus on those issues upon which they can work together.

We understand that Mayor-elect Callery is a huge baseball fan. That is a great sign. Why? Because that tells us that Callery fully understands that success is not based on the actions of any one person, but that success is a result of cohesive teamwork. We doubt we'll ever hear Callery say, "I'm the CEO. It's MY decision. Get over it. We're moving on."

Teamwork doesn't mean "marching in lockstep". But it does mean a group whose members are occasionally willing to "lay down a sacrifice bunt". How does that translate to the operation of a successful city government? It means that each issue should be respectfully debated, a vote taken and-no matter the outcome of that vote-each member of the team graciously accepts a win or a loss and simply moves on to the next issue.

There are several issues that the new mayor and incoming council must face:
  • There are several justifiable lawsuits generated by the reckless behavior of the previous administration that must be somehow equitably resolved.
  • The four-year long-unnecessarily ugly-debate over the future of the local police department must be brought to a conclusion. How many members? All full-time? A mix of full and part-time? This issue must be resolved.
  • Decisions must be made on a real, ongoing plan to correctly fund the necessary repair and replacement of Villa Hills aging streets.
  • Action needs to be taken-and taken quickly-to put an end to the outrageous waste of taxpayer money on lawyers and legal actions. Just think of how much good could have been done for the residents with the $500,000 outgoing Mayor Martin squandered on those lawyers and legal actions.
There are other important issues to face. We hope these issues are dealt with quietly. Not secretly. But, quietly.
  • THE BUDGET: It is clear that Martin and some of his cohorts have been "cooking the taxpayers' books" over much of the past four years. A serious effort must be undertaken to untangle the mess.
  • THE CITY ATTORNEY: A very close look has to be taken at who will hold that important position for the incoming mayor and council. It is a huge understatement to say that the current city attorney has been highly controversial and has billed far too much to the taxpayers. The current city attorney also has the baggage of serving as outgoing-mayor Martin's personal attorney. Mayor-elect Callery is on the record saying that he wants a city attorney "with real municipal law experience". That suggests that a change is definitely required.
  • THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR/CLERK: The current person holding this position has also been highly controversial. Besides, Mayor-elect Callery has the time to take care of much of the city's administrative work himself. We know Mayor-elect Callery and the current City Clerk/Administrator have worked together before. But we trust that Mayor-elect Callery will make the decision to do what is best for the taxpayers-despite previous connections.
January 1, 2015 represents a great opportunity for Villa Hills to move beyond the "cult of personality" that exemplified the last four years of the now-outgoing Martin Administration. There is a real chance that Villa Hills can have a city government run by true public servants instead of a mayor and some on council who were mostly interested in serving themselves.

The last four years of chest-beating, show-boating, game-playing and "gotcha" politics can finally come to an end. Martin has been resoundingly defeated. The election has decisively proven that it is the voters who are the true "CEOs" of their city. They have made their decision. It's time for the outgoing Martin to get over it. The residents have decisively told him in as loud and clear a way as possible that they are moving on.

51 days and counting.

Sunday, November 9, 2014

SUNDAY SUPPLEMENT: Describing Defeat

The Martin Chronicles reporters have been all over Villa Hills and neighboring establishments listening to the residents react to last Tuesday's local election results. Outgoing Mayor Mike Martin was presented with an electoral eviction notice of historically bad proportions.

Remember, Martin only received 514 of the 3,224 votes cast last Tuesday. That is an amazing 84%-16% landslide. The beating Martin took was so bad that he got 300 less votes than a council candidate who dropped out of the race more than two months ago.

Several sources tell us that Martin is very angry about his embarrassing loss. These same sources tell us that Martin was absolutely convinced that he was going to cruise to re-election and that Martin "blames the residents" for his crushing defeat. Well, it was the electorate who cast a tidal wave of votes against Martin. But Martin is the one fully responsible for his aforementioned crushing defeat.

So, what are some of the words and phrases the residents are using to describe Martin's decisive debacle?:
  1. Annihilation
  2. A$$-whuppin'
  3. Avalanche
  4. Bashing
  5. B!+c#-slappin'
  6. Beatdown
  7. Beating
  8. Blowout
  9. Blown up
  10. Butchered
  11. Clobbered
  12. Come-up-ance
  13. Crushing
  14. Creaming
  15. Demolished
  16. Destroyed
  17. Devastated
  18. Dissected
  19. Downfall
  20. Drop-kicked
  21. Drubbing
  22. Eliminated
  23. Embarrassed
  24. Eradicated
  25. Eviscerated
  26. Expelled
  27. Excreted
  28. Exterminated
  29. Hammered
  30. Humiliation
  31. Jettisoned
  32. Kicked out
  33. Killed
  34. Knocked out
  35. Liquidated
  36. Marinated
  37. Mashed
  38. Massacred
  39. Mortifying
  40. Murderized
  41. Nuked
  42. Overwhelming
  43. Pasting
  44. Pulverized
  45. Punished
  46. Purged
  47. Rejected
  48. Rout
  49. Ruined
  50. Shaming
  51. Shredded
  52. Skewered
  53. Skunked
  54. Slaughtered
  55. Smashed
  56. Stampede
  57. Stick a fork in Martin. He's done.
  58. Stomping
  59. Thrashing
  60. Thrown out
  61. Trashing
  62. Trouncing
  63. Vanquishing
  64. Vaporized
  65. Walloped
  66. Wasted
  67. Whipped
  68. Whitewashed 
  69. Wiped out
  70. Wrecked
There are 52 days left for Martin's Reign of Error.

Saturday, November 8, 2014

WEEKENDER II: Here's Our Song For The Malevolent Martin

The Martin Chronicles is at least mildly inspired by failed mayoral candidate Holly B. Menninger-Isenhour's song she sung as she left the city building in the early morning March, 2014 hours of former Villa Hills' Police Chief Dan Goodeough's atrocious railroad job.

Click on the link below. It is most earnestly meant for Menninger-Isenhour (L), Brian Wischer (L), Summer Berger (L), Dave Hilgefraud (L) and-most of all-outgoing corrupt and incompetent malfeasant Mayor Mike Martin (L).

(L) is for LOSER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://youtu.be/QaG2Acg8n60

Friday, November 7, 2014

WEEKENDER: The Magnitude Of Martin's Defeat

The Martin Chronicles staff has been sifting through the numbers from Tuesday's Villa Hills local election and continues to be amazed by the magnitude of now-outgoing malfeasant Mayor Mike Martin's defeat. We have been unable to find an example anywhere of any incumbent mayor in a situation similar to Martin's who suffered such an embarrassing electoral loss.

How is it that an incumbent mayor who could correctly say that he was presiding over the municipal government in a city that had recently been designated the best community in the Tri-State region suffer an 84%-16% shellacking in the next mayoral election? How could that possibly happen?

How is it that an incumbent mayor who could correctly say that he was presiding over the municipal government in a city that had recently been designated the Fourth Safest City in the Commonwealth of Kentucky not even manage to get 1 out of every 6 votes cast in the next mayoral election? How could that possibly happen?

How is it that an incumbent mayor who could correctly say that he was presiding over the municipal government in a city that had recently been designated the Seventh Best Community in the United States only manage to get 514 of the 3,224 votes cast in the next mayoral election? How could that possibly happen?

How is it that an incumbent mayor who could correctly say that he was presiding over the municipal government in a city that had recently received the preceding three prestigious designations drag the maximum number of "his" council candidates down to defeat in the next council election? How could that possibly happen?

The Martin Chronicles has come up with some of the reasons:

1. Martin's atrocious first two years in office.
The facts of Martin's miserable first two years in office have been well documented in The Martin Chronicles and in the dinosaur media. Martin inexplicably crushing the city safe open with a backhoe. Martin's hiring of an unaccomplished crony to cook the city books. Martin's reprimand from The Villa Hills Ethics Board for misuse of city personnel and resources. Martin's judicial "dressing down" for illegal destruction of city documents. Martin's conviction on seven of nine counts of official misconduct and neglect of duty. Martin's inability to work with the 2011-12 city council. The corruption and incompetence of those first two years had a lasting effect on the outcome of the 2014 election.

2. Martin's hiring of his personal attorney to serve as city attorney.
The election results resoundingly prove that is a fact that this was a terrible move. Residents were appalled that Martin's personal-and for now City-Attorney billed them somewhere in the neighborhood of $250,000 to do Martin's bidding in only 20 months.

3. Martin's atrocious handling of former Police Chief Dan Goodenough's removal.
Martin would have been smart if he had never decided to go before media cameras misleading the residents by falsely telling them that "Chief Goodenough was just taking a few days off." But he wasn't smart enough to do that. Instead, that lie came back to haunt Martin a little more than 7 months later at the polls. Voters remembered the embarrassing-and very costly-spectacle of Chief Goodenough's removal last March.

4. Martin's questionable use of taxpayer money mailing a political propaganda piece.
Most of the residents who saw Martin's terrible political propaganda piece in the most previous property tax bill were appalled. While many residents never saw it, those who did told our reporters that they saw it for exactly what it was. Worse yet for Martin, these folks deeply resented paying for it.

5. Mayoral candidate Ernie Brown's excellent performance at the mayoral candidate Town Hall meeting.
Sure, Ernie Brown won't be the next mayor of Villa Hills. And, that may soon prove to be too bad. But either way, Brown's excellent performance at the mayoral candidate Town Hall meeting went a very, very long way ensuring that Martin didn't win another term either. Every time Martin floated some bogus accomplishment, Brown destroyed Martin's false statements with well-documented facts. We haven't witnessed a beating like that since the Ken Norton-Duane Bobick fight in 1977. Thank you, Ernie Brown. We are forever in your debt.

Thus, for these and many more reasons, an historic electoral rout was born.

Thursday, November 6, 2014

55 Days In Villa Hills

The Martin Chronicles post title today is an homage to the great film 55 Days in Peking. This 1963 cinematic classic starred Hollywood heavyweights Charlton Heston, Ava Gardner and David Niven. The movie portrayed the brave 55-day struggle by Western nations against desperate attacks by the hateful forces of the Chinese Boxer Rebellion in the long-ago year of 1900.

Flash forward 114 years. There are now a mere 55 days remaining for the now-outgoing Martin Administration in Villa Hills. And-by all reliable accounts-Norwood born and breed, street-brawling boxer Mike Martin is feeling both desperate and hateful. Why? Because the voters handed him a stinging 84%-16% defeat.

Many residents have expressed concern to us about what a defeated Mike Martin may do in the final 55 days of his failed administration:
  • Will Martin take vindictive actions designed to "poison the well" for the incoming Callery Administration and a council that will include four individuals who Martin considers "mortal enemies"?
  • Will Martin begin to retaliate against city employees who he believes failed him in this election because they refused to lie to the public about what a great job Martin was doing?
  • Will Martin deliver intentionally-actionable material designed to leave the incoming Callery Administration buried under an even greater number of costly-to-the-taxpayer lawsuits than the reckless tiny tyrant has already generated?
We've already seen the terrible things Martin is willing to do when he comes to the realization that his back is against the wall.

Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Odd Ends

The Martin Chronicles staff is back at it after a brief respite. The last 72 hours or so have seen a seismic shift in the politics of now-outgoing, malfeasant Mayor Mike Martin's Villa Hills. But a word of caution. Things are far from over.

First-as media titan Paul Harvey used to famously say-a "strange". Our sources at Crescent Springs Staples report that now-outgoing, malfeasant Mayor Mike Martin was seen copying boxes of multi-page material today.

One of our reporters answered the phone and was immediately knocked back on her heels with the odd question, "Martin knows the election was yesterday, right?"

"Yes, I'm sure he does. It was a very bad day for him" our reporter responded.

"Well, then why in the world is he copying what looks like campaign literature?" Our reporter assured the caller that The Martin Chronicles would be looking in to it.

As soon as our reporter hung up her phone she stood up and announced what she had just been told. Everyone immediately began to offer theories on what the deposed dictator was doing.

"Maybe Martin really doesn't know he was completely crushed in yesterday's election 84%-16%?"

"Maybe Martin plans to pass out a handout that will the rhetorical equivalent of the final scene in the original Planet of the Apes movie? You know, Martin will be like Charlton Heston's character "Taylor", writhing on the ground, looking at the wreckage of his regime and saying about the voters of Villa Hills, "Damn them. Damn them all to hell".

"Maybe Martin plans to pass out all of the libelous material he originally planned to use during the campaign? We all think Martin held off from doing that mostly because The Martin Chronicles called the little fella out on it. He might just be thinking, "Screw 'em. I got my tail waxed so why not stick it to 'em?" What better way to get the incoming administration off to a bad start?

A consensus soon began to form around one theory:
  • Martin plans to distribute a handout first thanking the people for giving him the chance to "serve" them. Martin will also thank the 16% of the voters who (weren't idiots and) understood his true intentions and cast a vote to continue to "move the city forward".
  • Martin will go on to say that he willingly sacrificed his political future to accomplish the many "great things" he did for the residents that the resident don't yet fully understand-but someday will.
  • Martin will say that he "fought the good fight against all of the dark forces" who continually tried to block his righteous path-but he "moved forward" anyway because only he knew what was truly best for the residents.
  • Martin will remind the residents just how much he and his family "love" Villa Hills and that he was willing to "pay any price" to help them even though they may not have realized why he did what he did these past four (dreadful and embarrassing) years. (read: the voters were just too stupid).
  • In other words, Martin has no intention to accept the voters' decision and just go away.
We'll all know what Martin was really up to at Staples soon enough. The Martin Chronicles cannot wait.

Second-the tyrants continue to be toppled. We have just learned that the Park Hills recount is over. Mayor Don Catchen is now also on his way out the mayor's office door. Catchen was Martin's "mentor". Catchen has been defeated by a write-in candidate 530 votes to 430 votes. While Catchen's far-fetched defeat is certainly a stinging rebuke, it still doesn't match the 84%-16% butt-kicking Martin endured yesterday.

You remember Catchen, right? Catchen was the one who recently, proudly announced that he and his pal Martin "were the only ones to have the balls to do what needs to be done". What was that "ballsy" move both Catchen and Martin made? It was to jack around with the local police department so recklessly that they both provoked a bushel basket-full of costly- to-the-taxpayers lawsuits.

Finally tonight, The Martin Chronicles wants to humbly thank the nearly 4,700 readers who visited out blog over the past 72 hours or so. We want to assure our readers that we aren't going anywhere. Why? Because the mayhem is far from over.

We will continue to watch and report.