Comments on: Where’s Lincoln When You Need Him? https://www.ourvalleyvoice.com/2013/10/04/wheres-lincoln-need/ In-depth, locally-produced coverage of the Central Valley. Thu, 23 Apr 2026 19:43:55 -0700 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 By: William Martin https://www.ourvalleyvoice.com/2013/10/04/wheres-lincoln-need/#comment-119 William Martin Mon, 28 Oct 2013 07:23:35 +0000 http://www.ourvalleyvoice.com/?p=1733#comment-119 Those who know me understand that I make every attempt to be non partisan and non sectarian when making decisions. I'm interested in solving problems, not taking sides on issues. For the most part I do believe our current City Council has done just that and the the 3 incumbents deserve to be re elected. I sometimes don't agree with a position taken by the council or one or more of its members, but I respect the integrity of all of them. Next week's council election is a difficult one for me because 4 of the candidates are qualified to serve on the council but only 3 can be elected. But one candidate stands out and deserves to be re elected. Win or lose this will be Greg Collins last election. His more than 20 years on the council, some as mayor, have been marked by tremendous accomplishments and he deserves the opportunity to finish putting his final signature on our updated general plan, the plan he was so instrumental in creating over 20 years ago. Even though Visalia has grown at a faster pace than Bakersfield, Fresno, or Modesto, more than any single citizen of our great City, Collins is the reason Visalia has concentric growth around its downtown and does not have the urban sprawl or the very week downtowns of those cities. We quite possibly would not have the Marriott Hotel, expanded Convention Center, or hospital in our downtown. We would not have had as much historical preservation, parks, trails, bike paths, effective transit systems, sports programs, or support for the arts. Very importantly, over those 20+ years Collins has been arguably the most fiscally conservative council member and can take considerable credit for our City having enough financial reserves to survive the recent great recession. Even more importantly, Collins has never had a conflict of interest or been influenced by special interests, some of whom have spent 10's of thousands of dollars to unseat him, one time successfully. I urge voters to thank Collins for being instrumental in Visalia becoming the true "Jewel of the Valley" by giving him one last term on the council. He's certainly earned it! William A. Martin wam01@comcast.net Office: 559-625-9089 Cell: 559-731-2623 Those who know me understand that I make every attempt to be non partisan and non sectarian when making decisions. I’m interested in solving problems, not taking sides on issues. For the most part I do believe our current City Council has done just that and the the 3 incumbents deserve to be re elected. I sometimes don’t agree with a position taken by the council or one or more of its members, but I respect the integrity of all of them.

Next week’s council election is a difficult one for me because 4 of the candidates are qualified to serve on the council but only 3 can be elected. But one candidate stands out and deserves to be re elected. Win or lose this will be Greg Collins last election. His more than 20 years on the council, some as mayor, have been marked by tremendous accomplishments and he deserves the opportunity to finish putting his final signature on our updated general plan, the plan he was so instrumental in creating over 20 years ago.

Even though Visalia has grown at a faster pace than Bakersfield, Fresno, or Modesto, more than any single citizen of our great City, Collins is the reason Visalia has concentric growth around its downtown and does not have the urban sprawl or the very week downtowns of those cities. We quite possibly would not have the Marriott Hotel, expanded Convention Center, or hospital in our downtown. We would not have had as much historical preservation, parks, trails, bike paths, effective transit systems, sports programs, or support for the arts.

Very importantly, over those 20+ years Collins has been arguably the most fiscally conservative council member and can take considerable credit for our City having enough financial reserves to survive the recent great recession. Even more importantly, Collins has never had a conflict of interest or been influenced by special interests, some of whom have spent 10’s of thousands of dollars to unseat him, one time successfully.

I urge voters to thank Collins for being instrumental in Visalia becoming the true “Jewel of the Valley” by giving him one last term on the council. He’s certainly earned it!
William A. Martin
wam01@comcast.net
Office: 559-625-9089
Cell: 559-731-2623

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