News Scrapbook 1986

San Diego, CA (San Diego Co.) San Diego Union (C!r, D. 217,089) (Ctr. S. 341 ,840)

San Diego, CA (San Diego co.) E11enlng Tribune (Cir. D. 127,454)

San Diego, CA (San Diego Co.) Clairmont-Linda Vista

Star News (Cir. 2xW.)

AR 13 1986

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MAR 13 1986

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,_tt-p:inez faces 28 felony counts Grand jur indictment covers $1,879 in city credit card bills

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_ _..,. repares for Alzheimer' s~roje t Volunteers are am designed to aid those who provide care for victims of Al2beimer's Disease. Individuals participating in the project will learn strategies and techniques for timulating memory and problem-solving needed to take part in a

for a vouch r signed by the student, Soroka 1d. "If the tudents don't happen to have their ID card with them at the time, the cabdnver can call our se- curity office to verify that they are our . tudent ," Soroka said. The program began in late Febru- ary as an experiment and may be continued m the fall semester if it prov~ valuable to the students, Soro- ka aid. So far, four tudents have taken advantage of the service. Soroka does not know from what type of sit- uations they were rescued Tom Burke, dean of student af- fairs, said $1,000 has been set aside this seme ·ter to pay for the cab fares. ' That's about 75 to 90 cab rides," h said. If the cost goes over that, more money will be allocated. Soroka said the original idea for the rvice came from the Associat- ed Stud nts' concern about students who ovenndulge at off-campus par- tie and may drive home while under the influence. / ,. =====--:..

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ducted at the volunteer' home, is sponsored by the University of San Diego School of Nursing. For additional information regarding eligibility requirements, call Dr. Mary P. Quayhagen at

Martinez profile - Page A-9

By Lori Weisberg, Starr Writer

City C~uncilman Uvaldo ~arlinez was indicted yesterday on 28 felony of illeg_ally appro_pnatmg public funds for personal use and submitting a e records mconnection with his use of a city credit card The indictment covers a senes of ·

260-4578.

21 drmk and meal charges totaling $1,879.70 made on the credit card be- tween Nov. 1, 1984, and July 24, 1985. including one tab of $402.93 - were made at 14 restaurants, among them some of the most expensive m the city. . If convicted on all 28 counts, Mar- tmez could face a maximum sen- tence of eight years in pnson and a $~80.000 fine. Convict10n of even a smgle charge would mean his ouster from office. 'Obviously, I'm disappointed " Martinez said last mght from Wash- ington, D.C., where he had gone Tues- da Y to lobby federal officials mcon- nection with the city's border sewage problem~ The expenditures - Asked if he intends to resign from the council, Martinez, speaking cal~ly, ~id: ''.No, I'm not gomg to resign. I m gomg to continue to be the same councilman I have been and that's an effective one." ' Asked how he could be that while fighting the charges, Martinez said: "It's the lawyer's job to present the defense . I've got a job to do . . I think it can be done. It's just another phase in the process." Martinez, 43, who has represented the council's 8th District since 1982 said he has no plans to seek a pie~ bargain. ···~~~i~a

San Diego, CA (San Diego Co.) Evening Tribune (Cir. D. 127,454)

MAR 1 41986

"It didn't come as a complete surprise," he said. "When we notified the prosecutor that I was not gomg to testify before the grand jury, we Uvalda Martinez already pretty much felt there would be an indictment."

San Diego, CA (San Diego Co.) Evening Tribune (Cir. D. 127,454)

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The 19-member grand jury, which began its probe Feb 11, heard testi- mony from 71 witnesses. The jury de- hberatt'd for a little more than two hours befor,, returning the exact in- dictment requested by prosecutors. The indictment, returned to Pre- sidi_ng Superior Court Judge Donald Smith, comes after a nearly six- month investigation mto allegations t~at Martinez and his former top aide, Rudy Murillo, fraudulently used their city credit cards. "Hopefully, this sends out a mes- sage that (public officials) ought to See MARTINE1 on Page A_-8~- -----

Los Angeles, CA (Los Angeles Co) Times (San Diego Ed.) (Cir. D 50,010) (Cir. S 55,573) R

R1 4 l986

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i, The ~~~phony will perform works ech co93~ Smeta- na, Dworak, J~l'J~ Friml,_ at 2.30 p.m. Sunday in the C~~mo Theater Ate-ala Park. Adm1SS10n: general.' $4;. enior citizens and mil~- tary. $2. ,udents, $2. Information: 260-4600. L

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San Diego, CA (San Diego Co.) Evening Tribune (Cir. D. 127,454)

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a former aide who had been serving as press secretary for the campaign to defeat the Managed Growth Initia- tive, resigned from the campaign be- cause he felt he had become a politi- cal liability. Martinez is working on trying to reduce an $18.000 debt he accrued for legal and other expenses related to his campaign. He was forced to seek :.i court-appointed attorney when he could no longer pay his lawyer's bills. !\iartinez's political allies, past and present, reacted with sadness to the news of the indictments. ·•it's a dismaying development, but I think he should remain in office 1 ntil he has gone through the pro- c_,~~. and Jet's see where we stand," said David Lewis, whose political consulting firm ran Martinez's 1983 council campaign. "He has had just about as much scrutiny and attention as anybody, except possioly Roger Hedgecock, in the past few months and ha· operat- ed effectively. 1 Unnk he can contin- ue doing th t I thmk hf' should get his turn Ill court befo e he makes any career moves." 'I know that a lot of people are saymg it would be better to resign," sa d restaurateur Ralph Pesqueira, a fri nd of Martinez's. .. (But) Uvalrlo could do a very efl ctive job as a councilman during ti i entire thing. and if he could be a< mtted he would put everything bet•nd him and the city would go for- wa rl . . I think he's very strong." ·d Ii ke him to know there are people out there who are his friends an that when he has the opportunity to c ear himself, he'll feel a whole lot oett r about it,· said Don Harrison, a longtime Martinez friend. '' ... Uval• do wants to clear his name ... He'll want to stay in there.'' Attorney Cf'lia Ballesteros, whom Martmez defeatc>d m1983, said, "Tt is reall a tragic thrng, a personal trag- edy for him to have to go through this.''

Mister A's, DiCanti Ristorante, At- lantis, L'Escargot, Old Town Mexi- can Cafe and Tarantino's. Others are Lubach's, Mulvaney's and Los Arcos in Escondido, Stefano's and Fat City/China Camp. The bills involved ranged from an $8.50 charge at Mister A's lo a $402.93 charge at Dobson's. Also included were two meals at DiCantJ, each to- taling more than $200. In one instance. Martinez charged a $98.13 meal at the Butcher Shop attended hy he and his wife, Pat, and University of San Diego baseball coach John Cunrungham and his wife, Nancy. Cunningham later said he and his wife met Martinez by chance at the restaurant and were asked to join them at their table, partly because it was the councilman's birthday. Soon after revelations began sur- facing last fall about Martinez's use of his city credit card, Martinez ack- nowleged he had been sloppy in his record-keeping, but maintained he was guilty of nothing more. "l am probably one of the most disorganized people on the (council) floor, and I'm paying the price for it," he said in an interview in Sep- tember. In an open council session months later, Martmez publicly apolo6ized for any embarrassment l 1 e might have caused the city. Martinez's first lawver, William Grauer, hired a private investigator, who prepared an 800-page report for the district attorney's office detailing who had dined with Martinez on his city credit card. Fallout from the controversy came quickly at City Hall. Council members began calling for a new policy on credit cards and reim- bursement for city expenditures

,esign ;, the fm,1 .,a1ysi,." Council members agreed the in-

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be observant and. circumspect inso- dictment will be detrimental to San far as expenditure of public money is Diego's image and detract from city concerned," said Deputy District At- business. torney Allan J. Preckel, who had pre- "I feel like I've been through this sented the grand jury with a pro- before," said Councilman William posed indictment. Jones. "It's another painful and em- Martinez scheduled to be ar- barrassing subject to deal with. At- ra1gned m ~u nor Court at 2 p.m. tentions will be divided." Tuesday. "I feel sad the City Council is once Preckel said the case is "prosecut- again put in this limelight that is un- able" and that there is a "pattern pleasant," sa d Councilwoman Abbe inherent in the evidence." Preckel Wolfsheimer "But we'll get through; said the idea of a plea bargain has we'll pull together.'' not been raised by either the defense She said that if Martinez does or prosecution. leave office, a Hispanic should be ap- "I am not going to speculate on pointed in his place. what the future may bring," Preckel The district attorney's office began said, adding that he is ethicaily its investigation into Martinez fol- obliged to discuss a plea bargain if lowing news reports that a number the defense requests it. of people listed by Martinez as his Murillo's case before the grand dining partm•rs denied having been jury is still pending. and testimony with him will not be heard until Preckel has a More than two dozen people told chance to work out dates for a trial The San Diego Union they either did in Martinez's case. Preckel said. not recall dining with Martinez on The indictment comes in a period the occasion he reported to the city in which the council has been rocked auditor or that if they were present, by scandal involving its own mem- the primary purpose of the meal was bers. social. Just three months ago, Roger Among those who were quick to had shared drinks or meals with him spiracy. Councilman Ed Struiksma is were a number of high-ranking offi- under investigation by the district at- cials, including a U.S. congressman, torney in connection with expendi- a county supervisor, the mayor of tures be made during a trip to the Chula Vista ind the president of the East Coast. San Diego Chamber of Commerce. Former Councilwoman Maureen Sources said some of Martinez"s O'Connor, who will face Councilman aides and personal friends were the Bill Cleator in a June 3 runoff elec- actual guests at several of the meals. tion for mayor, called for Martinez's Three members of Martinez's staff resignation, while Cleator said such a were called to testify before the decision should be made by Martinez grand jury. the 1984-85 fiscal year, "My first reaction is that I'm sad Martinez and Murillo charged more for the city and I'm sad for Uvaldo's than $6,600 to their credit cards for family," Cleator said. "All politicians meals at San Diego restaurants, en· in public life will suffer by each one tertaming a host of politicians, bus1- of these situations. A grand jury in- ness leade , developers and mem- dictment is really not a conviction, bers of the. media. Their charges and my only response is to let the were h1ghe than the amount of process run its course." money charged by all other council Said O'Connor: "This is something members combined. that Mr. Martinez got himself in, not San Diego area restaurants that some outside force. We are talking were the snbject of yesterday's in- about the city of San Diego, a repre- dictment include The Brigantine sentative of the city. I feel he will Butcher Shop Steak House, Dobson's, Hedgecock resigned as mayor after being convicted of perjury and con- refute Martinez's claims that they himself. During

USD tops out its 'living room' _University Center, the $9 million "living room" on the Uni~n ~~go camp~ r~~e~tly was topped out as the last of nearly 500 tons of steel fo:~~~e~!Sc~~;truc~f~no Cpolacteh, accordinlg to Paul Muzzy, marketing director . ., e genera contractor. The ceremony included the signing of the final beam by off. . t· ber befo e ·t · II 1c1a mg mem- r I was mSta ed Those in attendance included USO 'd t Author E Hughe . R O . . pres1 en Mosher/Drew/Watso~iFerogusyo/':• prmKc1pfal _of project architects 1 d G T ' er.man op , vice president of Artimex ron. an ene repte and Mike King, both of Trepte Construction Co f ~he 74,500-~uare_-f?

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As a result, a new policy was for- mulated by the city manager and city auditor that halted the is~uance of credit cards to council nembers and city employees and tightened guidelines on expenditures charged to the city. Limits also were placed on how much could be spent on breakfasts, lunches and dinners. M1rillo was asked to resign from M ..rtinez's staff, and Colin Flaherty,

Al~:o contributing to this report were Copley News Service reporter Wi//iam Osborne and staff writers Carol Sottili, Michael Smolens and GerrJ Braun.