City Council rejects resolution in same-sex marriage debate

The Porterville City Council on a split vote late Tuesday rejected a resolution in opposition of a state Senate bill that, if passed, would alter how the state views same-sex marriages performed outside California.

The resolution drafted by Councilman Cameron Hamilton was in opposition to Senate Bill 54 by state Sen. Mark Leno, D-San Francisco.

Council members voted 3-2 against supporting a formal council resolution. The vote came late in a meeting that began with 90 minutes of public comment — much of it on SB 54 and Hamilton's proposed resolution.

Hamilton and Vice Mayor Brian Ward voted in favor of the resolution. Mayor Pete McCracken and Councilmen Pedro "Pete" Martinez and Felipe Martinez voted against it.

Porterville resident Barry Caplan commended the council majority for its "courage, conviction and statesmanship" in reversing course from last year, when the council voted unanimously in support of a resolution in support of Proposition 8, which was later approved by California voters.

Proposition 8 added language to California's constitution defining marriage as being only between a man and a woman.

Springville resident and Porterville businessman Dennis Townsend said he would choose other words to describe the council majority's vote. He singled out Pedro Martinez for criticism, while also commending Hamilton and Ward for their actions.

Pedro Martinez, after voting against Hamilton's proposed resolution, read into the record a letter he said he will send to state legislators condemning the manner in which SB 54 is making its way through the legislative process. The text of the letter echoes points raised in Hamilton's proposed resolution.

Townsend said there's a word for saying one thing as a private person and saying something else as a public figure: "Hypocrisy."

-- Contact Glen Faison at 784-5000, Ext. 1040, or gfaison@portervillerecorder.com.