by Steve Evans

Subject: Adriana Martinez. Counterfeit Candidacy.

At this juncture my hope is that the victor in the race is the person best able to lead us for the next several years, and the public servant who can best meet the challenges and carry forward the successes that so many of us have championed over these many years.

While we didn't prevail, ours was a campaign based upon issues, vision for the future, and a chronicle of our record of achievements. Against the advice of the professionals, we did not go negative, or demonize our formidable opponents.  I was the face of hope of a limited, but extremely committed group of people.

Many of these very people have asked me about who to vote for in the Ward 3 General election.  For me, it really comes down to a question of character. Ms. Martinez' residency issues leave me perplexed. Her neighbors have said that she has never actually lived in the home on Sweeney, which she purported to have bought for the purpose of establishing  the legal residency necessary to become a candidate. Her claims to have lived in the small casita in the back, just don't add-up.  And her protestations of being a victim when called-out on it, don't either.  But more importantly, Adrianna and her handlers have attempted to create a history  that just doesn't seem to be true.  A fact I did not know until recently is that Ms Martinez has never once in her life...voted in the City of Las Vegas, let alone the Ward that she wants to represent.  In her Facebook page, mailers, and debates, she claimed to be   "Proud to have the endorsement of Mayor Oscar Goodman" This was not true, and multiple calls by various business leaders  to the Mayor, confirmed this as disingenuous. Yet when challenged at the Downtown Business Alliance candidate forum, Ms Martinez defiantly insisted this to be so, even after the mayor told many in the room, including me, otherwise.  The endorsement claim was ultimately removed from her Facebook page and web-site, but  weeks later. Most recently she claims to have the endorsement of the Culinary Union. This, too , is not so.

What Ms Martinez seems to have the most of - is ambition; an overwhelming desire  to be elected to office. She even says so in her biography. But if she's willing to create a Counterfeit Candidacy - what does that portend for the future if elected?  I'm not looking for perfection in a candidate, but I do expect authenticity and truthfulness.  Sadly,  Ms Martinez' Pants are on Fire.

Additionally, her inability to articulate her own views and  clearly answer questions at the various candidate forums, debates, and endorsement interviews, have led me to conclude that, aside from the fact that she has no recent experience in the neighborhoods and Ward other than her campaign - Adriana is not the choice as our representative.

By comparison, Bob Coffin has his heart and his history in the Ward. He will get my vote, and I hope that of my supporters. He has committed to allowing us a voice and a partnership in his tenure as Councilman for Ward 3; where he has actually lived and served for decades.

Bob has a sensitivity to Neighborhood issues, supports good in-fill urban development, is committed to cutting unnecessary red-tape and burdensome bureaucracy,  and is not afraid to be an independent voice for the betterment of the community.  I am pleased to endorse him.