Hagan says ruling won't influence race for re-election
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WHERE IS DISTRICT 4?
City council single-member District 4 represents east-central Victoria.
It includes about one-fourth of the city's population.
Incumbent David Hagan said he doesn't think Thursday's ruling will affect his re-election campaign for the Victoria City Council.
"I'm running for re-election based on fiscal conservatism," he said. "Anything else has purely been a sidebar."
Hagan said lowering taxes, eliminating frivolous spending and being a good steward of the taxpayers' money has consistently been his focus in the election. That won't change, he said.
James Martinez, who is challenging Hagan for the single-member District 4 seat, said he's taking a wait-and-see attitude on whether the ruling will influence the race.
"I don't know," he said. "It's hard to tell."
Hagan has said Mayor Will Armstrong, Mayor Pro Tem Lewis Neitsch, Council Member Tom Halepaska and then-City Attorney David Smith met with prosecutor Stephen Tyler about two years ago. They wanted to talk about Tyler not accepting cases from the police department and sheriff's office.
Hagan, who wasn't present, said Armstrong felt he didn't receive the respect he should have, sparking a year-long plot to embarrass Tyler. That included charges of the council illegally meeting in secret to discuss how to do that.
"What can I say?" Hagan asked Thursday. "I'm a city councilman who was asked to address certain issues, and I did."
If there's a silver lining to this, Hagan said, it's that Victoria will have more open government.
He said people are ill-informed if they believe there is an alignment between himself and Tyler.
"Given the fact that I've spoken to him like two times in formal occasions on this matter, both times at his request, I doubt that makes you closely allied or friends or buddies," Hagan said. "But people can think what they will."
Martinez said it will be up to the voters to decide if Hagan has acted inappropriately.
"What transpired over the past year has been unfortunate for the entire community," he said. "Now it's time for the community to get back to the business at hand."
Comments
D#1...Lyon>>YES!
D#2...Neitsch>>HEAVANS NO!
D#3...Polasek>>>YES!
D#4...Martinez>>>YES!
D#5...Truman/Alvarez>>>Tossup!
So sayeth louie.
May 4, 2009 at 5:29 p.m.The real issue here is that change needs to come to the council and the voters have the ability.
District 1: Jeff Lyon. Has experience in the community and has not aligned himself with any on the council as Rangel has with Guittard and Wyatt. Plus, her injection of race and gender into the election is a desperate grasp. Perez seems to have Hagen's support.
District 2: Lewis Neitsch. Has the experience, though is a little tyranical in his approach. Soliz has progressive ideas but no support to move such issues.
District 3: Paul Polasek. Brings assuredness to the council. He knows his stuff and is involved. Fortenberry is a tool for CRG and offers little to help and his whiney letter to the editor draws similarities to David Haganisms. Holy has proved he's not interested in his no shows to answer questions.
District 4: James Martinez. This is a no brainer. We've seen Hagen's antics. It's time to move on with someone who can lead rather than whine.
District 5: Joe Truman. He's involved. He's engaged in the community and he will always try to do the right things. Alvarez has a plan but his career hopping will most likely disqualify him from ever finishing a term. He also seems to ride the PC fence and won't stand firm on some issues
May 2, 2009 at 11:23 a.m.Come on Hagan, "Anything else has purely been a sidebar"?
The central theme of your campaign has been that you plan on removing the "cloak of secrecy" and that helping to root out "official wrong doing" is your primary purpose.
The only fiscal conservative item that you talk about is not spending tax dollars on "free money for lawyers".
You really should read your own campaign material and listen to yourself speak.
You have repeatedly said that "the powers that be" are conspiring to keep you off the council.
News flash--the "powers that be" are the voters. It is not a conspiracy to vote.
May 1, 2009 at 8:12 a.m.I was wondering why David Hagan is able to use the city of victoria letter head?
May 1, 2009 at 12:24 a.m.wondering what southtexas has to say.
May 1, 2009 at 12:21 a.m.In today mail i received something from David Hagan this is what it says:
Dear Neighbor,
Being a good city coucil meember is about listening..... to you and
your concerns... Then standing up for those concerns and
defending your values.
Recently, our city has been embroiled in controversy. The news
has been full of sotires about indicted city officials, criminal trials
and official wrong doing. It is emarrassing. As a cityzen you
should be angry. I know i am. The truth should and be known.
Until then, rest assured, I will continue to represent your values
and protect the public trust.
Standing up for and defending the interest of taxpayers doesn't
always make me the most popular council with some of my
colleagues or the news media, but i wasn't elected to preresent
the special interests. I was elected to preresent the special
interest. I was elected to represent your interests.
I am proud of my work on the council and I am hubled by theoutpouring of support I have recived from the people of
Victoria for my efforts. that is why I am seeking re election to a
second term sothat i can continue to serve you.
That means continuing to listen to you and carrying your concerns
to the city council. representing you an your family is a high honor
and I hope that i can contiue to count on your support.
May 1, 2009 at 12:21 a.m.I thought his brother was the political one.
April 30, 2009 at 11:35 p.m.Joe Truman...is he married to Sandy Paul or is that his brother?
April 30, 2009 at 11:20 p.m.Fiercegossip,
How interesting! Apparently because James Martinez is a former police officer he shouldn't run for office in the local government.
Well, lets get it over with - you're right, Martinez DOES have connections with the VPD -he worked there and some of his friends still do. So if your a former cop, you're forever tainted, right? Or only if you run in District 4 against Hagan, then you're part of a City Council/Administration generated conspiracy.
Do you realize how absolutely SILLY that sounds?!?
Poor ol' Hapless Hagan - the 10% conservative, his grandstand play as the brave, stong, MANLY hero went right down the tube.
He still can't figure out what the truth is. In court, under oath, he said he went to Tyler, and now, once again, he's saying Tyler approached him. For Pete's sake David, choose one or the other and stick with it. Or better yet, just shut up - a closed mouth gathers no feet!
April 30, 2009 at 10:40 p.m.Oh, 'fgossip'....why must you continue exercising David Hagan's twisted antics and conspiracy crap??
Aren't you Haganeers tired of it yet - because EVERYONE ELSE IS OVER IT!!
April 30, 2009 at 7:58 p.m.All the Hagan conspiracy theorists need to be looking at James Martinez and his connections to law enforcement in this town. The establishment has picked a new puppet to silence the voice of dissent, and his name is James Martinez.
April 30, 2009 at 7:54 p.m.Reading this story I'm thinking the Advocate is working overtime on being Puppet Master of Victoria.
April 30, 2009 at 7:45 p.m."Given the facts..."??
Hagan, the facts are that when you FIRST heard of this conspiracy - it meant nothing to you - nor did Tyler. AND HERE WE ARE...2 YEARS LATER...AND NOW IT CONCERNS YOU??
Hagan, Hagan, Hagan...ever so eager to see justice served. [but, let's keep it a secret until we really need to use]
What were you thinking???? Were you??
April 30, 2009 at 7:27 p.m.So, Hagan....is it common practice for you to involve yourself in a so-called "conspiracy" that you don't even know for sure exists because YOU WEREN'T EVEN THERE TO WITNESS IT????
But, despite your absence, you aligned yourself with Tyler, who is not your friend, but compelling enough to...WHAT?!?!?
April 30, 2009 at 7:22 p.m.