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In a remarkable display of hypocrisy, Councilman Rolan Resendiz has recently launched an attack against fellow councilman Rick Perez, questioning his eligibility to run for office due to a past criminal conviction.
Perez’s redemption story highlights the values of forgiveness and second chances, which are celebrated in communities across the nation. Yet, Resendiz, who himself has a checkered past, insists that Perez’s previous felony makes him unfit for public office, disregarding the strides he has made in overcoming his past mistakes.
Resendiz’s accusations, however, are dripping with irony. Public records show that Resendiz himself was indicted by the Modesto Superior Court on charges related to elder abuse (Penal Code Section 368(c)), which involves the mistreatment of adults with physical or mental disabilities. He was also charged under Penal Code Section 415(2) for willfully disturbing others with unreasonable noise. This stark reality raises the question: how can Resendiz, with his own criminal record, stand in judgment of Perez? It’s a classic case of the pot calling the kettle black.
The double standard doesn’t end there. Supervisor Kollin Kosmicki has taken to Facebook to criticize Perez, calling his past “the most absurd background I have ever seen for a public official” and claiming that voters were unaware of his criminal history when they elected him. While Kosmicki is quick to attack Perez, he remains notably silent about Resendiz’s own troubling background, even going as far as to repost Resendiz’s comments. This selective outrage is telling, as Kosmicki seems to have no problem with Resendiz’s past, which includes allegations of spousal abuse.
In fact, records show that Resendiz’s domestic partner accused him of domestic violence before later dropping the charges.
It’s clear that these attacks on Perez are part of a politically motivated campaign to discredit him, while Resendiz and his supporters conveniently overlook his own controversial past. If Resendiz and Kosmicki are going to throw stones, they should be prepared for the public to examine their records as well.
The real question for voters is whether they will accept this blatant hypocrisy, where a previously convicted individual accuses another of the same. Perhaps Supervisor Kosmicki will offer more insight into this contradiction on Facebook.
What’s certain is that the public deserves transparency and fairness in their elected officials—and a fair look at the facts before casting judgment.
The post COMMIUNITY OPINION: Exposing hypocrisy in local Politics: A look at the claims of Rolan Resendiz appeared first on BenitoLink.