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School Board's Martin Needs To Resign Her Position

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 2, 2007

When elected officials repeatedly miss public meetings and workshops over a period of months, even due to illness, it's time they step down because they're not doing their jobs effectively. And they need to muster the courage to admit it.

Now's the time for Pasco County School Board member Cathi Martin, who must be the unluckiest elected official on Earth.

In a stretch of 20 board meetings beginning Aug. 1, 2006, through May 1 this year, Martin missed seven, including three of four at one point - far more than any other member. She cited multiple reasons: knee and shoulder surgery, an automobile crash and her son's health problems. She also mentioned the suicide of a niece and the death of the family dog.

She attended all the meetings from May 15 through Oct. 16.

But late last month, because of her son's wedding, she missed crucial discussions between her colleagues and county commissioners regarding tying approval of new residential development to school capacity, a huge undertaking that has resulted in a major dispute over road costs.

She was absent from a meeting the week before last, reportedly because she had broken an ankle.

Last week she issued a "media release" headlined "School Board Member Faced With Health Challenges." In it she announced "pressing medical issues" had confined her to bed rest and she would miss a town hall meeting planned for that week, as well as both board meetings in December.

Martin didn't disclose the nature of the medical issues; they're believed to stem from the broken ankle. But she stressed she "will do everything" in her power to "ensure a speedy recovery so that I may be able to return to full participation as soon as possible."

Given her poor attendance record, her pledge simply isn't good enough. She has made similar promises before. She needs to accept that her numerous absences, personal issues and engagements have interfered with her ability to serve the public.

No one is questioning Martin's heart or eagerness to continue her third term, but she's not doing her job. It's that simple. The public has every right to expect public officials to regularly attend and participate in meetings where policy is decided and other decisions made. Martin has failed to deliver. Her fellow board members and superintendent deserve better, too.

It's understandable when illness and other personal issues force an official to miss a few meetings. Accidents happen, illnesses occur and public officials have lives outside government buildings. But Martin's poor attendance is extreme. She should respect her office and resign.

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