St. Charles city council says goodbye to Jim Martin

St. Charles Alderman Jim Martin embraces the curmudgeon label nearly four decades of service and more than a few "no" votes earned him.

Martin delivered his final "no" vote Monday night. And with thanks and remembrances, the city's residents lined up to embrace him and give him a little of his own medicine on the way out.

Steve Gaugel took the oath of office and filled Martin's seat Monday night as the city's longest-serving member of the city council stepped down after declining pursuit of another term. Aldermen and mayors of the past and present, local business owners, and family and friends sent Martin off with multiple standing ovations and a bit of ribbing.

Alderman Dan Stellato relived Martin's words of wisdom to him after Stellato won his first term on the council.

"He gave me a phrase that I can tell he went to the highest points of the Tibetan mountains and talked to the monks up there to come up with," Stellato said. "The phrase was, 'Sit down, and shut up.' Now that he will be a distinguished member of our community, I invite him back some night to this very council. I hope that he asks to speak, because I'm going to use that same phrase."

Former Mayor Don DeWitte wrote Martin a letter recognizing him as a calming leader on the city council rooted in the sense of community possessed by what many call "The Greatest Generation."

"It's the leadership provided by those of you from that bygone era that has fostered and maintained the solid foundation our community is built upon today that will ensure that our children and grandchildren can continue to enjoy our community," DeWitte wrote.

Former Mayor Sue Klinkhamer recalled Martin's determination to give to the city as embodied by his phoning in to attend a council meeting in 1999. Martin had just come out of a five-day coma stemming from a near-death illness.

It's when he returned from that hospitalization that Martin kicked his support for the city's downtown and local businesses into high gear. It resulted in the creation of the Downtown St. Charles Partnership and the city winning a Great American Main Street Award in 2000.

"Thank you for everything you've done," Klinkhamer said. "You've made such a difference in my life."

Current Mayor Ray Rogina recited the old Irish blessing about the wind being always at your back in honor of Martin's tenure and next phase of his life. He also gave Martin, a Chicago Cubs fan, two autographed baseballs from the 1969 Cubs and Cubs great Billy Williams.

Then it was time for Martin to say farewell.

"It's all a matter of faith, family and friends," Martin said of his time on the city council. "You can agree to disagree, but when it's over, it's all over, and let's go on to the next one. We're all here to make St. Charles the best that it is, and we've done that."

Martin closed by holding up a copy of his prepared remarks. Five words were printed in big, bold letters: "Retired - Thank you, St. Charles."