Boes/er and Others Disagree

Lexington Herald (Ky) March 23, 1977

Martin Charges Trip A 'Taxpa}'er Rip-Off'

By ANDY MEAD
Of Tiie Herald Staff

A .trip to- Florida earlier this month by several Urban County Gov- ernment officials wa{a "taxpayer rip-off" designed to "break the winter monotony," says mayoral candidate Nick Martin. But everyone involved with the trip disagrees. That includes Vice Mayor Scotty Baesler, who's also running' for mayor and paid his own expenses at the Chamber of Commerce-sponsored conference in Tampa. Seven others - Mayor Foster Pettit and six council members members - had their expenses paid by the government.

' the conference "two and a half days of full-fledged meetings trying to wrestle with this question of growth management." Councilman William Ward said the expense "was probably the best money the urban county gi:>vernment has spent on me in a long time," adding that "all except six hours was planned program." 'Shooting Off His Mouth' "He just doesn't know what's going on and doesn't know what's benef icial," said Councilman O.M. Travis. "He's just shooting off his mouth to draw attention whenever he can." Councilman Howard Palmer called the conference " anything but a pleasure trip," and councilman Bob ~inn said Martin's charges "are what you would expect from a guy running ,... for office." Pettit and the other councilman who made the trip, Donald Blevins, could not be reached for comment.

MARTIN

Charges 'Fun And Games' Martin issued a press release yesterday accusing them of using public funds for "fun and game$." . "I recently spoke to Mr. Baesler about the affair," said Martin in the release . "He described the main focus of the trip as that of a 'social gathering' rather thf111-- en important or useful government fotum." " That's not true," Baesler sai$1 last night. "I think it was a very important and useful forum." Baesler says he paid his own way because he came home day early and "I felt I should." He would not "judge anybody else" whO didn't pay. Expenses were reportedly $275 per pers6n per day. . "You can expect that kind of (charge) from somebody whb is run-

ning for office ," said councilman Robert Finn, one of those who made the trip. "It was designed to be an educati9nal trip and it was. We hadthings planned from the time we got off the plane until the time we left." His comments were typical of those attending. ' Councilman William Lyons called