Jack Martins

Jack Martins
Member of the New York Senate
from the 7th district
In office
January 2011 – January 2017
Preceded by Craig M. Johnson
Succeeded by Elaine Phillips (Elect)
Personal details
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Paula[1]
Children 4[1]
Residence Mineola, New York[1]
Alma mater American University
St. John's University School of Law[1]
Profession Lawyer, politician
Website Official website

Joaquim " Jack" M. Martins is an American attorney and politician. A Republican, he has represented the 7th district in the New York State Senate since winning election in 2010.[2] He was the Republican nominee in the 2016 election to represent New York's 3rd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives, losing to Democrat Thomas Suozzi in the general election.[3]

Early life and education

Martins is a first-generation American, born to parents who emigrated from northern Portugal in the 1960s. He was raised in Mineola, graduated from Chaminade High School, received a bachelor's degree in political science from American University in 1988, and a Juris Doctor from St. John's University School of Law in 1991.[4]

Political career

Martins was elected Mayor of the Village of Mineola, New York in 2003. During his eight years as Mayor, Martins instituted a debt management plan, encouraged economic growth and passed balanced, fiscally-responsible budgets. During a difficult economic time, when most governmental entities were struggling, the Village of Mineola operated on solid fiscal ground while seeking ways to expand its tax base. He led the development of the Village's first ever comprehensive master plan [5] which received a Smart Growth Award from Vision Long Island.[6] During his tenure, Martins was named one of Long Island Business News' "Top 40 Under 40." [7] Martins won election to the New York State Senate in 2010 as the representative for the Seventh Senate District.

As a Senator, Martins supported numerous tax relief measures; he voted for the law creating New York State's property tax cap, voted to cut income taxes for middle class homeowners, voted to repeal the MTA payroll tax for small businesses and schools, and continues to support repealing the tax in its entirety.[8][9]

He has authored laws reducing busing costs for school districts;[10] creating a truss notification system to improve safety for volunteer firefighters;[11] establishing a new state fund to help homeless veterans;[12] enhancing law enforcement’s ability to investigate opioid prescription fraud; and expanding education provided to children about the dangers of heroin and other illegal drugs.[13]

Martins has repeatedly led Long Island's 31 state legislators in the number of bills sponsored which were ultimately passed by both houses of the State Legislature.[14][15]

Martins has also been highly critical of the New York State Education Department's implementation of Common Core [16] and called for the resignation of the State's Commissioner of Education for cancelling public forums on the issue with parents and teachers.[17]

In February 2016, Martins and Assemblywoman Michelle Schimel called for new state funding to support a comprehensive groundwater study for Long Island to help protect its drinking water.[18] An expanded version of their proposal was adopted by Governor Andrew Cuomo.[19]

Martins has been vocal about urging officials to take action in response to incidents of anti-Semitism against students and faculty on CUNY campuses [20][21] and has sponsored legislation that would prevent New York from entering into a state contract or investment with those seeking to economically harm Israel or other American allies through boycotts.[22]

Martins currently serves as Chairman of the Senate's Labor Committee [23] and Co-Chair of the Senate's Task Force on Workforce Development.[24] He previously chaired the Senate's Commerce, Economic Development and Small Business Committee and the Senate's Local Government Committee.[25] In addition to Chairing the Labor Committee, Martins is currently a member of the following Senate Committees: Finance, Health, Insurance, Transportation, Energy & Telecommunications, Banks, Civil Service & Pensions, Corporations, Authorities & Commissions, and Social Services.[26]

Martins is a recipient of the Association for a Better Long Island's 2016 Distinguished Leadership Award [27] and was named one of the 50 Most Influential Long Islanders by the Long Island Press in 2011. [28]

2016 U.S. congressional campaign

Martins ran in the 2016 election to represent New York's 3rd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives, and received the endorsement of the Republican, Conservative and Independence Parties.[29][30] Martins was among the first in the country to be named one of the National Republican Congressional Committee's Young Guns for 2016 [31] Martins was defeated by Democrat Thomas Suozzi in the general election. Suozzi won 53% of the vote to Martins' 47%.[32]

Personal life

Martins is a member of the County Seat Kiwanis Club and the Long Island Portuguese Lions Club.[1] He was honored as the 2012 Portuguese Man of the Year during Nassau County's first ever public event recognizing the Portuguese Community on Long Island.[33] He and his wife Paula have four daughters.[34]

Election results

Jack M. Martins (REP - IND - CON - Tax Revolt Party (TRP)) ... 40,465
Adam M. Haber (DEM - WFP - GRE - Women's Equality Party(WEP)) ... 31,552
Jack M. Martins (REP - IND - CON - Tax Revolt Party (TRP)) ... 58,039
Daniel S. Ross (DEM - WFP) ... 53,987
Jack M. Martins (REP - IND - CON) ... 42,928
Craig M. Johnson (DEM) ... 42,477

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Jack M. Martins: Biography". New York State Senate. Retrieved March 13, 2011.
  2. ↑ Epstein, Reid (December 20, 2010). "Appeals court backs Martins State Senate win". Newsday. Retrieved May 26, 2016.
  3. ↑ "Tom Suozzi victorious over Jack Martins in race to fill Steve Israel's Congressional seat - QNS.com". qns.com. Retrieved 2016-11-10.
  4. ↑ Kerr, Kathleen (December 4, 2010). "Martins leaving Mineola for Albany". Newsday. Retrieved March 13, 2011.
  5. ↑ "Comprehensive Master Plan for the Village of Mineola" (PDF). November 2005.
  6. ↑ "Village of Mineola Honored for Master Plan". Mineola American. June 23, 2006.
  7. ↑ "40 Under 40 Awards 2007". Long Island Business News. January 2, 2007.
  8. ↑ Walter, Geoffrey (December 15, 2011). "How Do You Spell Relief? T-A-X C-U-T-S". Mineola Patch.
  9. ↑ Santa, John (February 9, 2012). "Martins leads MTA tax repeal initiative". New Hyde Park Herald Courier. The Island Now.
  10. ↑ Nash, Jackie (October 25, 2011). "Schools cut bus costs, rev up savings". LI Herald.
  11. ↑ O'Reilly, Anthony (September 25, 2014). "Cuomo signs bill to protect firefighters". The Island Now.
  12. ↑ Brodsky, Robert (December 31, 2014). "New year brings new laws for Long Island residents". Newsday.
  13. ↑ "Senator Martins Announces Legislative Agreement on Measures to Combat Heroin & Prescription Drug Epidemic". June 19, 2014.
  14. ↑ Roy, Yancey (June 30, 2014). "Martins tops LI delegation in bills passed, ranks second overall". Newsday.
  15. ↑ Jacques, Rich (July 18, 2013). "Report: Martins Tops All LI Lawmakers in Getting Two-house Bills Passed". Port Washington Patch.
  16. ↑ "Emotions High At Common Core Forums On Long Island". CBS New York. November 13, 2013.
  17. ↑ "Resume Common Core forums: Martins". the Island Now. October 17, 2013.
  18. ↑ Barrios, Jennifer (February 15, 2016). "Nassau County groundwater study needed, legislators say". Newsday.
  19. ↑ "Cuomo plan includes $6 million study for Long Island drinking water". the Island Now. February 25, 2016.
  20. ↑ "State Sen. Martins: No place in colleges for people who want hate". Varney & Co. March 18, 2016.
  21. ↑ Lipsky, Seth (March 9, 2016). "New York's leaders must stand up to anti-Semitism at CUNY". New York Post.
  22. ↑ Gormley, Michael (January 20, 2016). "Senate acts first to boycott companies that boycott Israel". Newsday.
  23. ↑ "Senate Republicans Name New Committee Chairs". Politico New York. January 22, 2015.
  24. ↑ "Senate creates workforce development task force". Legislative Gazette. March 24, 2015.
  25. ↑ "Martins Takes Over Senate Commerce Committee, His Second Chairmanship". Newsday. March 21, 2014.
  26. ↑ "Senators and Committees". January 13, 2016.
  27. ↑ "ABLI Calendar of Events". 2016.
  28. ↑ "Long Island Press 2011 Power List". 2011.
  29. ↑ Brand, Rick (March 8, 2016). "Jack Martins wins GOP, Conservative backing for Congress". Newsday. Retrieved May 26, 2016.
  30. ↑ Brand, Rick (March 12, 2016). "Jack Martins Backed By Independence Party for House Seat". Newsday. Retrieved June 15, 2016.
  31. ↑ "NRCC Announces 1st Round of Young Guns". Retrieved June 29, 2016.
  32. ↑ "New York U.S. House 3rd District Results: Thomas Suozzi Wins". The New York Times. November 16, 2016. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
  33. ↑ Tedesco, Richard. "County Honors Martins on Portugal Day". Williston Times. The Island Now. Retrieved July 14, 2012.
  34. ↑ Epstein, Reid J. (December 20, 2010). "Appeals court backs Martins State Senate win". Newsday. Retrieved March 13, 2011.
  35. ↑ "General Election Results, State Senate: November 4, 2014" (PDF). New York State Board of Elections. December 15, 2014. Retrieved January 9, 2015.
  36. ↑ "General Election Results, State Senate: November 6, 2012" (PDF). New York State Board of Elections. December 31, 2012. Retrieved January 12, 2014.
  37. ↑ "General Election Results, State Senate: November 2, 2010" (PDF). New York State Board of Elections. December 13, 2010. Retrieved April 12, 2011.
New York State Senate
Preceded by
Craig M. Johnson		 New York State Senate, 7th District
2011–present 		Incumbent
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