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Voters Need Martin Around As A Reminder

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By TOM JACKSON

tjackson@tampatrib.com

Published: March 11, 2009

Once upon a time, when she was the princess of Pasco County politics, the soundtrack to Cathi Martin's life might have been composed by Tchaikovsky, who gave us those magical melodies from "Sleeping Beauty."

Now it's all John Williams all the time: the theme from "Jaws," looped and rolling toward its deadly crescendo.

Just when you thought it was safe to ignore Martin's spotty attendance record, just when you were certain she'd reprioritized the voters' trust - which she has won three (!) times - the star-crossed princess is back in the water, a lone moonlight swimmer.

Below, the shark corkscrews toward its target, its appetite whetted by e-mail, faxes and renewed citizen alarm.

Hearts race; hands fly to the face. We can't watch. We must watch. Tell me when it's over!

Chomp, Chomp, Chomp

At the heart of the shark are three mightily displeased state legislators, all Republicans, representing Pasco constituencies: Sen. Mike Fasano, Rep. John Legg and Rep. Will Weatherford.

Inspired by Martin's latest slapstick mishap - she apparently took a spill the morning of a meeting stoked with controversial items - and ensuing absence that inconvenienced dozens, the trio bared slashing teeth, penning a letter to Gov. Charlie Crist seeking Democrat Martin's removal from the Pasco County School Board.

"Nonfeasance, malfeasance, incompetence," Legg says. "In these days, and in this economy with people getting laid off left and right, $37,000 a year a board member's salary is good money just to attend two meetings a month."

Well. This Space appreciates the local lawmakers' pique. Nothing enflames quite like an elected official who appears to be loafing or otherwise taking advantage, even in boom times. And we concede that Martin makes an inviting target, even as we concede, as Weatherford does, that we "feel sorry for Cathi."

But do we really want her fired? Even now, not so much.

Electing Without Vetting

This is not to suggest that our legislators have larger perch to fry - although they do - or that their time would be better spent in more productive pursuits - although it would. Messrs. Fasano, Legg and Weatherford are experienced political hands; they can fall out of bed, file a petition to the governor and not be late for morning oatmeal.

Martin's habitual absences from school board functions - she had missed meetings and even dodged a debate within a week of Election Day - were an issue before the 2006 election. She nonetheless retained her District 3 seat, nosing out challenger Michele Chamberlin. That she was only getting warmed up is beside the point.

Voters glimpsed what they were signing up for. If they suffer now from buyers' remorse, that's politics for you. Short of getting caught with her hand in Olga Swinson's petty cash jar, scalping tickets at the annual 9-Mile War or influencing cheerleader selections at Ridgewood High, Martin and her indifference to duty need to stick around until next election season as a (yet another glaring) reminder of what happens when voters pledge themselves to candidates who, clearly, just aren't that into the offices they seek.

Keyword: The Jax Files, for additional musings on the state of things in Tom Jackson's blog.

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