Guilty of drug use, he should step down

Monday, November 3, 1997

Guilty of drug use, he should step down

CITY COUNCIL Mike Hernandez needs to take full responsibility
for his actions and leave his office

When November rolls around each year, voters go to the polls and
cast their ballots for those politicians who embody several
important qualities. Honesty, integrity, competence are a few
noteworthy characteristics voters look for. They place their faith
in the one candidate who they deem capable of improving our lives
and the city.

And when they fail to demonstrate these qualities, we expect
them to acknowledge their wrongdoings and step down from
office.

City Councilman Mike Hernandez needs to consider these things
and immediately relinquish his role as one of the city’s leaders.
Hernandez, the subject of an intensive Police Department
investigation, formally pleaded guilty last week to one count of
cocaine possession.

Hernandez has two options right now. He can remain in office,
and hope a citizen-recall vote is not called. We encourage a recall
if Hernandez doesn’t quit, because he obviously needs to deal with
his morally deplorable actions. If a recall is implemented, the
voters would determine whether he should continue working for them.
However, if he fails to resign, he is essentially telling us that
he does not think his drug use is a problem. Admitting to a problem
is only half the battle. The next, and most important, step is to
take action.

Hernandez’s other and morally correct option is to take the
responsible route and announce his resignation, in which case he
could take time to recover from his illness. He needs some time
away from the public spotlight so that he can get better. Following
a successful rehabilitation, Hernandez could attempt to win back
the support of his constituents.

Hernandez has a few things to consider. The role of city
councilman entails responsibility and good character. He needs to
put those qualifications back into the office. Whether he likes it
or not, Hernandez, as a public elected official, is automatically
put in the position of a role model. Therefore, he needs to conduct
himself in a manner and be a positive influence on the constituents
he serves.

Remaining on the City Council would be hypocritical on his part.
If he continues working as councilman, he will send out severely
mixed messages: "Kids, don’t do drugs – even though I do."

The situation has struck a nerve with several. Mayor Riordan
urged Hernandez to resign from office following the guilty plea
last week. However, Riordan had been aware of the incident and
neglected to take action until now. It seems as though the mayor
waited for the right moment when public awareness and pressure to
oust Hernandez was brought to a boil, to hop aboard the bandwagon.
As the city’s leader, he must take action immediately, even if that
means standing up on his own.

Following the shameful situation Hernandez has faced in recent
weeks, he is in the position where he can attempt to redeem
himself. If he wants to return to office later, he needs help now.
And by resigning from the council, he can save face in a political
game where reputation, integrity and responsibility matter.