By Helen Tomlin, News Review Staff Writer–
Michael Cash was presented the “Key to the City” by Mayor pro tem Solomon Rajaratnam at the last City Council meeting.
The councilman highlighted Cash’s accomplishments, which have positively impacted Ridgecrest. Many of them help veterans and their families. “You show your love and care for the veterans who have fought wars for our country’s freedom.”
Cash was recognized as “a man of faith” with a “strong desire” to help others in this community. Rajaratnam said of Cash’s many accomplishments, his most notable was establishing Operation Family, which was created shortly after 9/11. This 501c3 organization provides resources for veterans’ families. As of today, this foundation has raised $5 million.
The second achievement highlighted was Cash’s involvement in bringing the 9/11 Tunnel to Towers memorial to Ridgecrest. “This was a great thing for our little town.” Other events include The Parade of 1000 Flags, the American Legion, the Banner Program, Ridgecrest Police Explorers, Remember Our Fallen, the Navy Ball, the Maturango and China Lake museums, and Calvary Chapel’s annual Biker Blessing.
Cash has lived in Ridgecrest since he was eight years old. He attended Monroe and Burroughs, graduating with the class of ’67. During his journey into adulthood, two experiences formed his desire to help military families. First, Boy Scouts taught him the importance and satisfaction of helping others. Second, a unique experience with the Navy in high school taught him to appreciate the military. During two summers, he was asked to write a technical manual on weapons systems. While doing this work, he began to appreciate how important the military’s contributions are to our country.
After graduating from BHS, Cash studied biochemistry, electronics, and aviation in college. He then joined the Department of Defense and worked at the Pentagon. He also traveled to several countries, teaching about weapons.
Eventually, Cash returned to Ridgecrest and joined a local church. There, he got involved with the youth programs and met Caroline, whom he married. She has now passed away, but together, they raised four children in Ridgecrest, all of whom have served our country. Cash said, “We were blessed to have children who [also] have a passion to help others.”
After the presentation, Tom Wiknich challenged the legality of Councilman Kyle Blades’s run for councilman in this upcoming election. He reminded the council an initiative was passed in 2012 that limited the mayor and council members (or a combination) to serving eight years consecutively. He said if Blades were to win this November, he would not be able to fulfill the entire four-year term because he has already served five years.
Wiknich said, “In the Code, anyone who pulls papers for an office would have to be able to fulfill the terms of the office – not just part of the term.” He speculated there may be plans to change the code. Still, Wiknich reminded the council, “75 percent of the voters voted for term limits here.” In a recent poll conducted across the country, “82 percent agree on term limits for elected officials.” With those statistics, Wiknich said, “I don’t believe there is any chance of it being voted down if on the ballot.”
Wiknich offered advice to Blades. He said, “With three years left to go, you are in the position where you’d be actually smarter if you didn’t run this time and ran in two years because the initiative says ‘take a break for two years.’” In Wiknich’s thinking, Blades could take the two-year break and then serve another eight consecutive years. “You’d have a lot more opportunity to come back and do a lot more for the city if you’d wait the two years the initiative would require.”
In his conclusion, Wiknich requested Blades give this “some serious thought.” He said he believes if Blades wins, then he would serve three out of four years, and then “someone [the councilmembers] know and like” will be appointed to fulfill the last year of Blade’s term.
Currently, there are two candidates running for mayor and three running for city council. The two running for mayor are Eric Bruen and Travis W. Endicott. The three running for city council are Blades, Rajaratnam, and Wiknich, who is currently gathering signatures.
