Elect Rodney Martin to the Porterville City Council 2012

Rodney Martin and his family will spend the day with many other Porterville families at the United Farm Workers Convention in Bakersfield.

Rodney Martin attends Latino Pac of Tulare County Dinner and Endorsement Forum Saturday evening

Rodney Martin spoke about protecting neighborhoods and removing politics from community planning and the re-establishment of a Porterville Planning Commission. Rodney also pledged to bring more people into City decision making and assuring that City services and amenities are applied equally and his opposition to excessive City fees, costs and regulations.

WHY DO CITY TAXPAYERS SUBSIDIZE THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
"Donnette Carter, president and CEO of the Porterville Chamber of Commerce, gave the Porterville City Council a report on its 2011-2012 fiscal year activities Tuesday night. Carter also handed the council and city manager a letter serving as the chamber's official request for disbursement of $35,000 for the coming fiscal year."

It's that time of year again, the Lobbyists and Special Interests are coming to the troughs, the local Lobbyists and Special Interests that is. http://www.recorderonline.com/news/chamber-52783-carter-report.html

Our local Chamber of Commerce has once again made their request, after a glitzy presentation, for $35,000 in City Taxpayer subsidy. Of course it is very cleverly disguised as a "Contract" to perform services. As I said in 2009, "With all the talk about pork in Washington, it sure seems like we have found a way to put lipstick on the pig right here at the local level. Yes, of course, there are political implications as there always are. Chamber members can and do write checks at election time"

In 2009 I wrote a guest column exposing this boondoggle and calling for its end, I even posted the so called "Agreement. None of the current Councilmembers running for re-election or former Councilmembers who wish to serve again seem to think it is a bad idea to provide corporate welfare in tough economic times to an entity that will come back and lobby City Government. http://www.recorderonline.com/opinion/council-43329-city-expenditures.html , they have ALL VOTED FOR IT.

The Chamber of Commerce receives these funds under the guise of an agreement to put on and coordinate events and services, yet at the same time the Chamber keeps all revenue from these events as well, this seems to resemble double dipping. If the Chamber is being paid by the City, i.e. the taxpayers to coordinate events, then the revenue form the events should go to the taxpayers and the Chamber only take should be the "fee".

The Chamber of Commerce is a membership organization that is flush with revenue; it has a very well paid Executive Director and staff as well. It also has a very nice office and each year travels to exotic locations around the globe, which has resulted in no meaningful benefit other than great pictures. The Chamber does NOT need taxpayer subsidy when our City budget is strapped and we have streets that need repair, have public safety issues and above all fail in the delivery of effective programs for youth and gang prevention. Why has the City funded the Chamber at $35,000 and the Boys & Girls Club and other more deserving "Non Profits" that perform real services at 0?

All around the State and locally, Cities have ended this practice of providing taxpayer funds to local Chambers, except Porterville. We as Citizens and Taxpayers must ask why?

However, the problem is more far reaching than just one Councilmember as the Recorder implies. The current Council has engaged in a Goat Dance with music provided by an assortment of Special Interests, rather than acting as a group of elected Statesmen working for the benefit of the entire Community. Yes, Councilman Shelton's antics leave much to be desired, but equally reprehensible are other Councilpersons disregard for openness in government and kitchen cabinetry and behind the scenes decision making that has left Porterville in a perpetual state of decline and decay.

Rodney Martin opposes City's proposed 125 acre annexation
.......the City's proposed annexation is SOS- Stuck On Stupid

The Porterville City Council will begin the process to ramrod an annexation of 125 acres this evening. http://www.recorderonline.com/news/hearing-52726-council-annexation.html

A move "I fervently oppose given the City's inability to provide essential services within its existing boundaries", furthermore, given the moon like condition of existing City streets, there is no logical reason for the City to take on any additional responsibility in this area specifically.
Bigger does not mean better, and the City's proposed annexation is SOS- Stuck On Stupid.

Annexation has far reaching financial impacts on City Taxpayers as well as those who are slated for annexation. According to City Manager Lollis, "the area has some specific challenges where there's generally water service, but limited to no sewer service and no curb, gutter or sidewalks".

The City's Community Development Dept. has too long been in rogue mode in its attempt to impose interesting social experiments on the citizens of Porterville. This must end.
The City must assess its current ability to deliver services within its current boundaries BEFORE giving any thought to expanding those boundaries, then any expansion must be part of a well thought out plan that has been fully vetted by the Public, all the Public and not just cherry picked special interest.
As a City Councilman, I will be a check on the Nightmare on Main Street that has been City Hall and specifically the City Community Development Dept.

As a Citizen and a potential City Councilman, I have serious issues with the City's philosophy regarding community notification and the City's overall philosophy which resembles hubris, with regard to civic involvement in the planning process.

Rodney Martin receives support from Anti-Gang and "Anti-Sag" Veterans

Don Martin and Greg McCowan travel to Porterville to support Rodney Martin's Pro-Youth, Anti-Gang and Pro-Accountability Proposals.

Mr. Don Martin and Mr. Greg McCowan are veterans in the Anti Saggy Pants initiative having started the "Respect yourself-Pull-them up" Anti-Saggy Initiative in Fresno in 2011. Both Mr. McCowan and Mr. Don Martin traveled to Porterville and met with Rodney Martin to share ideas and to show support. A Joint meeting was also held with Mother's United Against Gang Violence.

Mr. McCowan has a unique history having lived in Oakland, he stresses personal responsibility and education and and both he and Mr. Don Martin, who stresses the same and is a successful business owner understand and advocate against the negative effects of "saggy pants" and the many negative impacts it has BOTH on the individual and the Community.

Rodney asked to make a few words, noted that the evening was the first in what would become a long tradition for Porterville.

Rodney Martin responds to The Recorder's Editor-"Questions he wished he could have asked" at last Monday's Candidate Forum

In a Editorial in today's print edition of The Recorder, Editor Rick Elkins opined at "questions he wished he could have asked" and described last Monday's Forum as the "first".

Rodney Martin sent the follow email, which corrected many misconceptions in Mr. Elkins Opinion Piece. People are entitled to their own opinion, but not their own facts.

-----Original Message-----
From: "Rodney Martin" [rodney@rodneymartin.com]
Date: 05/10/2012 03:13 PM
To: relkins@portervillerecorder.com
Subject: REPLY TO YOUR QUESTIONS

Dear Editor:I wish to take the opportunity to answer the questions you "wish you could have asked" this week's candidate forum. First let me correct you, Monday's Forum was the second Forum, the first being hosted by the Porterville Area Republican Assembly. A forum, ignored by the Recorder.A major disappointment with the joint Recorder-KTIP-Chamber forum was the lack of dynamic questions that reflect real issues.

Many of the questions asked were the same questions asked in 2010.It should also be noted that some candidates have indeed been speaking out on a broad range of issues, but have been ignored by local media, but has been covered by Visalia and even Fresno media. As to your questions:I already spoke out in favor of moving the Council election to November, including direct election of the Mayor on March 14th, the Recorder failed to report it: http://www.rodneymartin.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/press_release_charter_amendments.pdf.

Of course the City Council should hold Joint Meetings with other entities, but more meetings between the City Council and its constituents would be far more important.

I would support the new Jail site, only after a thorough and very public vetting.

I am not convinced that "new" taxes should be imposed on citizens for streets before a complete review of our spending priorities.

Regarding city financial support of the Chamber of Commerce, my position was well documented in the Recorder on October 1, 2009, well before it became a recent hot topic: http://www.recorderonline.com/articles/council-43329-city-expenditures.html.

Unlike other candidates, I have proposed specific details and proposals on my web site and am unafraid to discuss issues, all issues, nor am I afraid to take a stand. We are at a point where we must be bold for the benefit of all our citizens.

Rodney Martin
1279 W. Henderson, Suite 171
Porterville, Ca 93257
559-310-6412

MAY 7 Candidate's Forum

Rodney Martin provides direct and clear answers and specifics

Other candidates "dodged questions" and former Councilmebers/Mayor admitted to not"having read the City's $89K Economic Development Plan. http://www.recorderonline.com/news/city-52667-stance-monday.html Incumbents continue their Wizard Of Oz strategy, "ignore that man behind the curtain", i.e. asking voters to ignore facts and their failures and ask for another term so they can manage the decline of Porterville. David Gong calls the City he wishes to serve the "arm pit of the Central Valley", Can he be an effective ambassador for Porterville with this perspective? Candidate Shawn Cable demonstrated that he is ill prepared to serve on the Council with a complete lack of understanding of the issues while Tahah Seleh attempted to find overly vague words, statements, and sound bites in place of real solutions. Brian Ward failed to justify his frivolous use of tax payer funds for exotic travel to "study" problems, problems that have worsened during his tenure on the City Council. Candidate John Simonich stated that because the City is "quick to cover up graffiti", gang activity is down. Rodney Martin rebuffed this statement and replied that because graffiti is painted over quickly does not mean the under lying problem is solved, in fact violent crime, gang crime and property crime is up in Porterville. Rodney Martin also reminded those in attendance that government does NOT create jobs, but rather creates a positive environment for business and job creation and pledged to reform the City Development Dept, calling the City Development Dept a "Nightmare on Main Street". Interestingly, many of the pre-packaged questions posed to the candidates by the "Committee", were identical to those posed to candidates in 2010, it seems that the sponsors of the Forum, the Recorder, the Chamber of Commerce and KTIP may need to come up with some new material OR the problems and issues from two years ago have not been addressed.

RODNEY MARTIN APPOINTED TO 4-YEAR TERM ON
JUDICIAL SELECTION COMMISSION

Rodney Martin received official notification late Friday afternoon, April 26, 2012, that he has been appointed to the Pima-Maricopa Community Judicial Selection Commission.

Rodney Martin will serve a 4-year term.

According to the official notification letter, the primary responsibility of the Judicial Commission will be to review all potential Juvenile and Associate Judge Candidates as well as develop the best practices process for filling judicial vacancies with the best qualified candidates for the bench.

The position is not a salaried position and will present no conflict of interest in the event Rodney Martin is elected to the Porterville City Council in the upcoming June election.

Rodney Martin was selected based on his years of experience in both Native American and Non Native American Government service. Rodney Martin has developed numerous Ordinances and Law Enforcement Entitles and has assisted Members of the California Legislature with legislation regarding child welfare and Joint Powers between Tribal Governments Local Governments.

Rodney Martin has served on a broad range of Boards and Commissions, ranging from International Water & Boundary to Planning & Zoning to State Commissions. Rodney has also served on Corporate Boards and has taught seminars to the State Bar of Arizona regarding business, structure, and finance on Native American Reservations.

Rodney Martin to participate in Porterville Patriots Tea Party Candidate Forum

I am honored to once again have the support and more importantly, friendship of Larry and Andy Garfield.

THE CITY OF PORTERVILLE-WHY DOESN'T IT HAVE A PLANNING COMMISSION?--POLITICS

VISALIA INTERVIEWED FOR SEATS ON THEIR PLANNING COMMISSION LAST WEEK

http://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/article/20120418/OPINION/204180307/Editorial-Visalia-makes-leadership-priority?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Frontpage|p

PORTERVILLE POLITICIZES CITY PLANNING- RESULTS HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS

Candidate Shawn Cable seems to NOT know Porterville does NOT have a independent Planning Commission

Professionally run Cities have Planning Commissions in an effort to limit patronage and politics in City Planning. Not so in the City of Porterville. The Porterville City Council some years ago abolished its City Planning Commission and assumed the City Planning Commission duties itself. The results speak for themselves:

Poor Planning driven by political and benefactor concerns

Destruction of neighborhood via non-conforming uses

Nefarious Zoning

Patronage based Planning &zoning decisions

Carnival -Like Hearings

Council Conflict of Interests

Needless delays in Planning & Zoning issues due to Council only scheduling & workload

In a professional planning process, the Council should be the final body, after the Planning Commission Hearing. Not so in Porterville, where the Council has sought to politicize everything in order to curtsy favor with any potential special interest or donor.

Interestingly, one candidate for City Council, Shawn Cable in a statement to the Porterville Post, http://www.portervillepost.com/vote/Shawn-Cable-2012.html, pledges to work with the Planning Commission, a Commission which does not presently exist as an independent Commission, nor did it exist when Mr, Cable ran for Council in 2010.

As a City Councilman I plan to work to re-establish the Planning Commission and to work to appoint merit based members and to remove politics and patronage from City Planning. I believe Porterville has talented citizens who could serve on a re-established independent City Planning Commission and thus allow the City Council to focus more clearly on bigger picture issues.

In the March 28, 2012 edition of the Porterville Recorder, City Council candidate Wendy Taylor stated her reasons for seeking a seat on the Council as:

"watching money", a "balanced budget", "listening and responding to people and doing what you say you will do"

While these sound-bite statements sound nice, Porterville is much more and has far more important priorities than Main Street. For far too long the City's attention has been too narrowly focused on Main Street while other areas and neighborhoods in the City have been ignored.In fact, the City was upset when Gov. Brown abolished Redevelopment Agencies because the City had greatly expanded the Porterville RDA so as to expand the RDA tax base to fund special interest projects, primarily on Main Street, i.e. the City expanded the boundaries of the then RDA so it could play reverse Robin Hood and take funds from a larger area to fund special interest projects, particularly on Main Street.

As to being a "Project Manager" for 3 years Porterville Citizens should ask, what became of the "Entity" for which Mrs. Taylor served as "Project Manager", does it still exist?and why is Main Street in Porterville so lacking when Main Streets in other comparable Communities are thriving. http://www.recorderonline.com/opinion/city-49695-need-impression.html.

The Merchants on Main Street have the option to form a self-taxing District, which they have not, to improve the aesthetics of Main Street, http://www.recorderonline.com/news/main-51527-merchants-street.html , which would be in their interest. Main Street need not rely on corporate welfare at the expense of curb, gutter, sidewalks, street improvements and other much needed amenities that have been so lacking in many Porterville neighborhoods.

As to "watching the money", that is a clichés. The current City Council has watched the money, they have watched the money used foolishly on the purchase of residential properties and frivolous travel, especially Brian Ward as he jet-sets around the country to "research" problems at taxpayer expense.

A Councilperson must be able to be a custodian of the public trust, absent "special" relationships and not be swayed by what sounds or feels good. A Councilperson must have vision, reason, and logic.

Mrs. Taylor's statements makes it clear, she is a special interest candidate. Sure she will, "listen and respond to (her) people" and "do what she says she says", in so much as her limited worldview allows, and what her special interests tell her.

BRIAN WARD - THE DO NOTHING COUNCILMAN
BRIAN WARD'S REAL RECORD

Lots of talk, talk absent action is meaningless

Lots of meetings, which he fails to follow up on and in many cases fails to attend.

Attends all the right parties and tickles all the right ears with charming meaningless words

Travel-at taxpayer expense OF COURSE,- junkets shall we say $6K to learn about gangs in Florida

His own words show his travel is frivolous and a waste.

He has proposed NO meaninful initiatives, NO proposals, and has achieved NO results,

Mr. Ward has NO IDEAS, and is a textbook case of intellectual malnutrition

Mr Ward has questionable ethics

Brian Ward is too busy wanting to be something rather than doing something

BACKROOM POLITICS MUST END IN PORTERVILLE

The former Editor of the Porterville Recorder showed courage in exposing what was clearly a dishonest and unethical appointment process

Read her Editorial here:

http://www.recorderonline.com/opinion/wrote-45031-appointment-city.html

How did Councilmembers Hamilton, Ward, and McCracken discuss, review and decide and have the new appointee in the Chambers to be sworn in in just 11 minutes and exclude another person who had followed the process?

The answer is simple, they violated the Brown Act, fixed the appointment and used phone calls and private emails such as yahoo and gmail to communicate , sometimes through a 3rd Party conduit.

This type of incest politics must come to an end and the ethically challanged Councilmembers who engage in it must be voted out of office.

If you keep doing what you are doing, you will keep getting what you are getting.

SHOULD WE BE CONCERNED ABOUT SEX CRIMES AND THE SAFETY OF OUR CHILDREN IN PORTERVILLE?
25 SEX CRIME INCIDENTS REPORTED IN THE RECORER SINCE JANUARY, 2011
AND COUNTING..........

UPDATE, NOW IT IS 26 & COUNTING

In the April 7/8 print Edition of the Recorder, it was reported in the "Crime Blotter" Section that 29-year old Hector Pachecohad been arrested for attempting to coax a child into his car. The child stated Pacheco had made a similar attempt in February . This article has not yet been posted online.

The Porterville Recorder reported this incident as "Annoying a Child", any other real newspaper would have reported the incident as what it was, attempted kidnapping or attempted sex crime.

As a candidate I have proposed a tough anti-sex offender zoning ordinance, which would make it a misdemeanor for a sex offender to be a permanent or temporary resident in a house, duplex or hotel room already occupied by a sex offender, unless the offenders are legally related by blood, marriage or adoption or for sex offenders to be within 1000 feet of schools, school bus stops, parks, libraries, or other locations where children are present or gather.

Recently the Porterville Recorder ran an article criticizing Megan's Law which is designed to protect children from sex offenders via community notification.

The fact is this is a serious issue in our City and we, as parents should be concerned. Sex crimes should not be dismissed, as was the case taken by the Porterville Recorder and our priorities should be with safety of children and victims' rights and not the plight of sex offenders, which is the position taken by the Porterville Recorder.

Below is a sampling of reported sex crimes, reported ONLY in the Porterville Recorder and ONLY since January of 2011, 25, a mere 14 months. This does not account for crimes not reported or not reported in the Recorer and crimes prior to January, 2011.

What does one do when you open your local newspaper and the front page story is essentially an editorial cleverly disguised as a "news story" which opines at the harsh treatment taken by the legal system against sex offenders who prey on children. This is what the Porterville Recorder did on April 2, 2012. http://www.recorderonline.com/news/frances-52259-girl-law.html

What does one do when your local paper runs a "article", supposedly about Megan's Law, a Law designed to protect the public, and does not interview any victims or families of victims of sex offenders, but instead interviews only family of convicted sex offenders and legal defenders of sex offenders in an effort to present the message that ex-offenders are treated harshly and the public should not have notification when sex offenders locate into their neighborhoods.
What does one do when your local paper makes no mention of the life-long impacts that sexual abuse has on the victim?

What does one do when your local newspaper decides to engage in both yellow journalism but also betray our children?

The only answer for families and business is to boycott this publication. Do not purchase this publication and do not advertise in a publication that for intents and purposes has ran a clever and closeted editorial in the form of a "news story" that criticized harsh treatment of sex offenders by way of Megan's Law and in a prior story on March 31, 2012, failed to mention Jessica's Law. http://www.recorderonline.com/news/keeping-52234-sex-offenders.htm l
Victims of sexual abuse and their families and law abiding citizens should be outraged by the so called news stories which were ran by the Recorder on March 31/April 1 and on April 2, 2012.
Business should also recoil by the position advocated by the Recorder and express their outrage by withdrawing their advertising from the Porterville Recorder.

Contact the CEO of Freedom Communications, the parent of the Porterville Recorder and tell him your thoughts on the Recorder's journalism standards:

Mitchell Stern
President/CEO
President/CEO
Freedom Communications
jterris@freedom.com
17666 Fitch
Irvine, Ca 92614-6022

TAHA SELEH OPPOSES NATIVE AMERICAN BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT & REGIONAL JOB CREATION
Native American business benefits the Porterville Community

City Council Candidate Taha Seleh touts his "business acumen" however he has, for the last several years engaged in a quasi-bigoted crusade against Native American business and has all but ignored the tremendous business and economic benefits that Native American business brings to the Porterville regional economy. Mr. Seleh has been a primary leader in a group called "Coalition of Retailers". http://www.recorderonline.com/articles/violate-47210-brown-city.html

Mr. Seleh has not limited his anti-Native American activities to Porterville.
On March 29, 2012, just a few days ago, The Coalition of Retailers partnered with a Special Interest group, Stand up California, and filed a Court Brief, Amicus Curiae, that opposes Native American business development in a Michigan matter, that is right, Mr. Seleh and his group have seen fit to take their crusade to Michigan and join with an assorted collection NIMBYS, quasi-bigots, knuckle draggers and special interests. http://www.standupca.org/courtrulings/FOR%20IMMEDIATE%20RELEASE%20Stand%20Up%20For%20California.pdf

Amici curiae are twenty eight California community groups (including Coalition of Retailers) that have a strong interest in the Court's resolution of the questions presented. Amici oppose many fee to trust conversions of land in California. They also oppose the construction and operation of casinos in their hometowns because casinos degrade quality of life and have other negative impacts

Mr. Seleh's positions regarding Native American business development is troubling given the tremendous impacts (positive) in terms of jobs, services, et all that have benefited the Porterville Region.

Mr. Seleh's position appears to be more rooted in emotional charged over simplifications and quasi-bigotry, than any real intellectually honest position.

The Native American business that Mr. Seleh opposes provides living wage jobs, with health benefits and retirement benefits.

The Native American business that Mr. Seleh opposes employ 90 percent of their workforce from non-Native American peoples, from the Porterville area, thus is one of the top 3 job providers in the Porterville region.

The Native American business that Mr. Seleh opposes provides millions of dollars to local Porterville business in vendor services.

The Native American business that Mr. Seleh opposes provides hundreds of thousands of dollars in charitable contributions to local Porterville nonprofits.

The Native American business that Mr. Seleh opposes, each year, collaboratively, distributes hundreds of thousands of dollars to local Porterville Region governments to offset impacts

Native American business has NOT "degraded the quality of life of our Community" as stated in the position taken by Mr. Seleh and his group and there is no factual basis for their position other than outright bigotry.

Mr. Seleh's opposition demonstrates a complete lack of real business acumen and does demonstrates a self-centered based position at the expense of the Community good, something that has plagued Porterville for far too long. This makes Mr. Seleh unfit for office.

PORTERVILLE POLICE NEGLIGENT AND INCOMPETENT REGARDING SEX OFFENDERS

Is PPD Captain is uninformed regarding Prop. 83 Sex Offender Residency?
Captain Kroutil said, "there aren't any laws in place that can restrict where sex offenders can live",
........................................Statement is patently FLASE

In the April 1, 2012 issue of the Porterville Recorder, in the Story "Porterville Police Keeping Track of Sex Offenders", http://www.recorderonline.com/news/keeping-52234-sex-offenders.html
PPD Captain, Eric Kroutil, who himself has School Board service made a chilling statement.
Captain Krouitil said, "there aren't any laws in place that can restrict where sex offenders can live". Captain Kroutil's statement was made in response to the recent arrest of a 36-year old sex offender, Jimmy Tanguma, who attempted to molest a 7 year old girl by offering her candy. The sex offender was living within a mile of Belleview School. http://www.recorderonline.com/articles/police-51850-home-girl.htm . Obviously PPD had NOT been keeping track of Mr. Tanguma.

WHAT ABOUT
PROPOSITION 83--Jessica's Law: http://vote2006.sos.ca.gov/voterguide/pdf/prop83_text.pdf

The fundamental problem with Captain Kroutil's statement is that it is patently false. Proposition 83, approved by 70% of California voters in 2006 and upheld by the California Supreme Court, does indeed place residency restrictions on sex offenders. After a series of lower court skirmishes, the California Supreme Court ruled the residency provisions of Prop 83 could be applied retroactively, http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/02/jessicas-law-can-be-applied-retroactively-state-supreme-court-decides.html

Specifically, Proposition 83, bars convicted sex offenders from living within 2,000 feet of a school or any place where children gather.
Parents should be greatly concerned at the revelation that Porterville Police is unaware or perhaps is not enforcing Proposition 83. Incidentally, Jimmy Tanguma, was in violation of both registration laws and provisions of Prop 83.

The concluding comments made by Porterville Chief McMillan, to the effect that 130 sex offenders may not be significant given the City population is outright irresponsible and demonstrates that sex offenders is not a priority. Obviously the PPD's tracking system failed to keep Jimmy Tanguma within compliance and away from Belleview School as provided by Prop. 83.

Additionally in 2010, Porterville Police Dept., refused to participate in a County-wide ant-sex offender operation, Operation Boo, a joint effort to assure that Sex Offenders would not participate in Halloween. http://www.recorderonline.com/news/sex-46954-parolees-weekend.html

Sex Offenders in our City is a serious issue, whether there are 1 or 130, and the issue should NOT be dismissed as has been the practice by the current leadership of the Porterville Police Dept. who by their statements and practices are either unaware of Prop. 83 or are not bothering to enforce its provisions.

Furthermore, Capt. Kroutil's position that the PPD only concerns itself with 116 Sex Offenders because some may live on County islands is clever shirking. Let's be clear, any sex offender that lives within the exterior boundaries of the City of Porterville is a threat to our children and should be a concern of the PPD.
Fundamentally, Capt. Kroutil's statement that "there aren't any laws in place that can restrict where sex offenders can live" is a serious concern, given that it comes from a person of his rank, Chief McMillan's statement," but there's 100 people out of (a population of) 55,000. I don't know if that's huge", when in fact there are 130 and possibly more unregistered sex offenders demonstrates a nonchalant approach that mandates his resignation in the interest of our children. Recently, Chief McMillan has mandated bicycle and pedestrian issues be a renewed priority, this revenue enhancement policy seems to be misguided in light of his lax policy regarding sex offenders.

The Jimmy Tanguma incident and the PPD's refusal to participate in "Operation Boo" demonstrate this.
It should be noted that PRIOR TO Governor Brown's recent Budget and Prison realignment and Court decisions which mandated increased prisoner releases, The California Dept., of Corrections had reported that about 350 such offenders returning to California communities each month. Many of them child molesters, for instance -- were bound by residency rules and equipped with tracking devices under laws adopted by the Legislature before passage of Prop 83. Prop 83 broadened the affected group to include all felony sex offenders.

As a candidate, I have proposed a City Ordinance that would further restrict convicted sex offenders and places to prohibit their being within 1000 feet of schools, bus stops, parks, etc. A draft of my proposed Ordinance has been posted on my web site at WWW.RODNEYMARTIN.COM.

Recently, the Recorder stated it would present issues that would face the next Council, thus the Recorder would seek to drive the issues that would be addressed in the City Council election.
Porterville Citizens should not stand for this. The Recorder has ignored skullduggery at City Hall and has refused to engage in real journalism and has at times engaged in yellow journalism.
The Citizens must drive this election and not allow the Recorder to be a sole source of election information. There are 11 candidates running for the Porterville City Council. Citizens should take it upon themselves to learn where each candidate stands on issues and if the Recorder is unwilling to cover the candidate's proposals and positions, than the citizens must educate themselves.
If you keep doing what you do, you will keep getting what you got, The Recorder, like the incumbent members of the City Council has become a major part of the problem and lack of progress and vision in Porterville.

BRIAN WARD: FACT VS. HIS FICTION

Councilman Brian Ward who wants another 4 years on the City Council so he can "offer more" and of course continue to travel to far away locations at tax payer expense to "study" problems told the citizens in the March 27, 2012 edition of the Porterville Recorder he has:

"worked tirelessly to balance the budget"
"worked to fix the roads"
"worked to bring in more jobs"
" worked to protect kids from gangs"
" worked to provide more opportunities for our kids"

The REALITY is:

The Roads in Porterville are no better now than they were when Mr. Ward assumed office, some sections of a few roads have been resurfaced and Porterville's roads remain much like the surface of the moon.

Business continues to close and in August of 2011, a consultant reported that Porterville's impression would not even make the cut http://www.recorderonline.com/opinion/city-49695-need-impression.html. The report explained that blight leaves a bad impression on those who might be considering the city to locate a factory or some other business here. Councilman Ward has proposed no serious proposals to address this issue. Perhaps he can travel to Fairbanks, Alaska to research the problem.

Gang and juvenile crime has not been reduced in the last four years. In fact violence has increased and despite Mr. wards expense of $6,000 to travel to Florida to "learn about gangs" and the hosting of meetings to spend grant money to "talk about the problem", Mr. Ward, nor the Council has proposed any serious proposal to address the escalating problem.

There are not sufficient activities for children in Porterville. In fact Mr. Ward and the current Council refused to renew a mere $15,000 in support for the Porterville Boys & Girls Club, a Program with proven results, while providing funds for frivolous "activities" for political benefactors and expending funds for frivolous travel.

Mr. Ward says he has "worked" to do a lot, however his idea of work is that of a typical politician, study, travel and endless talk, while the problems gets worse. After all, ineffective politicians benefit by milking the problems, not by solving them.

MARTIN PROPOSES PUBLIC INDECENCY ORDINNACE THAT PROHIBITS "SAGGY" PANTS IN PUBLIC

Rodney Martin today unveiled a proposal in the form of a draft City Ordinance which would greatly strengthen City Public Decency Standards.
The Public Indecency Ordinance proposed by Rodney Martin, which is available in draft form on his web site at WWW.RODNEY MARTIN.COM, would prohibit the public wearing of so called "saggy" pants 4 inches below the waist, this is just one of many standards covered in he proposed Public Indecency Ordinance.

This proposed Ordinance joins several others that Martin has proposed in a constructive effort, since 2010, to address serious social and rising criminal issues that are impacting our City.

"The time has come for us as a Community to take a stand and decide specifically what kind of Community we want", Martin said in announcing the proposed Public Indecency Ordinance.
Martin went on to say, "No doubt we will hear endless excuses as to why we cannot do these type of public safety and community building efforts by those who have been in the halls and shadows of power for too long, these excuses demonstrate a failure of leadership, vision, and willingness to take a stand on behalf of BOTH our Community and our families and youth, I have never been fearful of taking a stand".

RODNEY MARTIN CALLS FOR MOVE OF COUNCIL ELECTIONS TO NOVEMBER AND CITY VOTERS TO DIRECTLY ELECT OUR MAYOR AND REFORM THE CITY COUNCIL APPOINTMENT PROCESS

March 14, 2012 Martin Campaign Press Release
On March 9, 2012, the Porterville Recorder reported that the City Council, in yet another example of dysfunction, failed to advance a matter whereby future City Elections would be held in November. The numbers speak for themselves; City Taxpayers would realize significant savings in terms of cost, an estimated savings of $22,000. Furthermore one need not be a rocket scientist to understand that voter turnout would no doubt be much higher, especially in Presidential and Gubernatorial election years, than the anemic turnouts that have been the case in recent City Elections. However the City Council failed, yet again and choose to make something difficult that is really simple. Given the lack of business acumen on the Council, this decision is not surprising.
In the March 14, 2012 Editorial in the Porterville Recorder, the Editor stated that the matter "needs more study" by a Committee and perhaps other City Charter Amendments considered as well
I, as a Citizen of Porterville agree, with the later.

As a citizen and as a candidate and if elected to the City Council, I pledge to support the placement of a Charter Amendment on the ballot for consideration by City Voters that would move future City Council elections to November as well as additional Charter Amendments for:

Direct election of the Mayor by City Voters. A City the size of Porterville, should allow its Citizens to elect its Mayor and thus end the embarrassing process of internal selection by Council that is based on back room promises, personalities and "my turn". The Mayor should truly be a spokesperson of the people, and thus be elected by the people, and never should Porterville ever have an unelected Mayor. For the last two years Porterville has had a Mayor unelected, without a mandate and the result of a vague and outdated appointment provision in the City Charter that allowed for skullduggery.

Reform Council Appointment process: A Charter Amendment should be placed on the ballot that reforms the appointment process regarding vacancies on the City Council. The most recent vacancy and the manner in which it was filled was a disgrace. The process should be reformed to require a an appointment only when the remainder of the terms is 12 months or less and require Public Notification, a formal application period of 30 days, and the appointment made via Public Hearing. When the remainder of the vacancy is in excess of 12 months a Special Election shall be called or the vacancy shall be placed on the next regular General Election if the General Election is within six months.

MY COMMITMENTS

The 2012 City Council election will be an election where our friends and neighbors must take an honest look at our City and ask if business as usual has been effective.

If you keep on doing what you are doing, you will keep on getting what you are getting.

I ask the voters to look at the candidates, their various platforms, positions, if they have them, and ask if the candidates are essentially proposing business as usual, are a retread of years past, and if elected, will just keep on doing what the current Council has been doing.
I am the exact opposite. I recognize problems and will never shirk from my responsibility in addressing problems, no matter what special interest may be impacted and regardless of personal political ramifications.

I will not have to travel to the east coast to be educated about gang issues.

I will never attempt to commit taxpayer funds to events merely to court personal political favor.

I will never commit the City to enter into the role of Developer or Banker or picking winners and losers in business development in the City.

I will never support action on far reaching issues in closed sessions, under the clever guise of "due to risk of potential litigation".

I will never conduct myself in any way that diminishes the office the way the current Council has, a City Council meeting should never resemble the Jerry Springer Show.

I will proactively address long standing issues:

The City Development Services Dept. is a nightmare that is driven by personal agendas and interesting social experimentation that is anti-citizen and anti-business.

Our City has commissioned and received thought provoking Studies an Analysis, that deserve serious consideration and implementation, beyond lip service in public meetings.

Planning should not be politicized, a City the size of Porterville should have an independent, non-political Planning Commission, given the current Council carnival hijinks, this is important now more than ever.

Our streets remain like the surface of the moon; we lost a Volkswagen on Villa just the other day as potholes get deeper.

Our City must take a proactive stance with regard to convicted sex offenders and for the protection of our children, pass an Ordinance that prohibits these predators from being in Parks, Libraries, Bus Stops and other places where children gather.

We must end the practice of permitting liquor licenses in a manner so the excessive liquor licenses are clustered near schools and across from schools.

We must assure that all of Porterville is a priority in terms of City Services and Projects; the City of Porterville extends beyond Main Street and Henderson.

I will never make cheap promises nor tell people what I think they want to hear nor engage in intellectual dishonesty. The issues facing Porterville require open and thought provoking discussions without emotionally charged over simplifications.

I ask for your support and more important, ask for you to become part of a team to change business as usual in Porterville.
Rodney Martin

Porterville faces numerous challenges that must be confronted. Job Creation and Economic Development are essential to a thriving and successful Community; however a Community that faces the, social and public safety issues as we do will continue to face significant challenges in economic and community development. We can and must address multiple issues and problems concurrently.

Public Safety: We have a gang problem in Porterville. We must take a multi-faceted approach and engage in action. I have proposed an Anti Gang & Parental Responsibility Ordinances, available on my web site, www.RodneyMartin.com. We must do a better job as a community in providing opportunities for our families who seek alternatives to the gangs.

Anti-Sex Offender Zoning: The greatest responsibility we have is to guard our children. The California Legislature has failed this by not acting on over 90 sex offenders laws. I propose an Anti-Sex Offender Ordinance for our community; the ordinance is on my website.

Economic Development: Too many of our local business have closed. At the same time, many have complained about the development and fee process. Our City must be both citizen and development friendly; to this end I propose the creation of a committee to review the city development process. I also propose the re-creation of a City Planning Commission in an effort to remove politics from the planning process.

Fiscal Accountability: With over 15 years in government, serving on corporate boards, and running my own business, I have direct experience with budgets and their constraints. The City of Porterville must engage in intellectually honest budgeting based on realistic expectations while insuring City Services, are not sacrificed in favor of speculative projects.

Community Outreach: As a Councilman, I will hold Community Roundtables throughout the city and will continue to do outreach via my web site.