Watsonville city council members voted yesterday to cite councilman emilio martinez for violating the city council’s ethics code. The 5 to 1 vote reprimanded martinez for violating the respect clause of the code. The action revolved around a phone call that martinez allegedly made to a local developer, which was viewed as threatening. Martinez is accused of invoking his status as a council member and a private investigator in order to intimidate the city resident into telling martinez details of a meeting that was held between the developer and watsonville’s city manager. Martinez did not attend the meeting, and is threatening legal action against the council.
