James Martin (Maine politician)
Encyclopedia
James R. Martin commonly known as Jim Martin, is an American IT consultant and politician
from the state of Maine
. A Democrat
, he served a single term in the Maine House of Representatives
, representing the 18th district which encompasses his hometown of Orono
, as well as Veazie
and the northeast side of Bangor
.
Born in Des Moines, Iowa
, Martin grew up in Missouri. His stepfather served in the armed forces and Martin spent part of his youth at the U.S. Air Force base in Adana
, Turkey. On leaving high school in 1984, he moved to Maine and, in 1992, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Work from the University of Maine
in Orono. He became a social worker, practicing in Penobscot County
. More recently, Martin has worked in the IT industry, opening a small business in Orono.
Martin has long been active in Maine politics. He served as chair of the Penobscot County Democratic Committee and was a delegate to the 2004 Democratic National Convention. He first ran for public office in 2008, seeking to succeed Rep. Michael Dunn in the 18th House district. Dunn, a Democrat who had only narrowly been re-elected in 2006 (with 52% of the vote), had decided against running for re-election. Martin did not attract any primary opponents but faced two opponents, a Republican and an Independent, in the general election. Martin won 39% of the vote, beating Independent Thomas Mooney, by only 119 votes (2.5%), with Republican Patrick Joyce finishing third on 24%. He took office in December 2008. He ran for re-election in 2010 but lost to Republican James W. Parker
by 207 votes (6.0%).
Martin is openly gay
; he lives with his partner Scott.
Politics of the United States
The United States is a federal constitutional republic, in which the President of the United States , Congress, and judiciary share powers reserved to the national government, and the federal government shares sovereignty with the state governments.The executive branch is headed by the President...
from the state of Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
. A Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, he served a single term in the Maine House of Representatives
Maine House of Representatives
The Maine House of Representatives is the lower house of the Maine Legislature. The House consists of 151 members representing an equal amount of districts across the state. Each voting member of the House represents around 8,450 citizens of the state...
, representing the 18th district which encompasses his hometown of Orono
Orono, Maine
Orono is a town in Penobscot County, Maine, United States. It was first settled in 1774 and named in honor of Chief Joseph Orono of the Penobscot Nation. It is home to The University of Maine. The population was 10,362 at the 2010 census.- Geography :...
, as well as Veazie
Veazie, Maine
Veazie is a town in Penobscot County, Maine, United States. The population was 1,919 at the 2010 census. The town is named after General Samuel Veazie, an early lumber baron and railroad operator. Originally part of Bangor, Maine, it became a separate town in 1853 because Gen...
and the northeast side of Bangor
Bangor, Maine
Bangor is a city in and the county seat of Penobscot County, Maine, United States, and the major commercial and cultural center for eastern and northern Maine...
.
Born in Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines is the capital and the most populous city in the US state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small portion of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines which was shortened to "Des Moines" in 1857...
, Martin grew up in Missouri. His stepfather served in the armed forces and Martin spent part of his youth at the U.S. Air Force base in Adana
Adana
Adana is a city in southern Turkey and a major agricultural and commercial center. The city is situated on the Seyhan River, 30 kilometres inland from the Mediterranean, in south-central Anatolia...
, Turkey. On leaving high school in 1984, he moved to Maine and, in 1992, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Work from the University of Maine
University of Maine
The University of Maine is a public research university located in Orono, Maine, United States. The university was established in 1865 as a land grant college and is referred to as the flagship university of the University of Maine System...
in Orono. He became a social worker, practicing in Penobscot County
Penobscot County, Maine
Penobscot County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maine. For U.S. Census statistical purposes, it is part of the Bangor, Maine, New England County Metropolitan Area . As of 2010, the population was 153,923...
. More recently, Martin has worked in the IT industry, opening a small business in Orono.
Martin has long been active in Maine politics. He served as chair of the Penobscot County Democratic Committee and was a delegate to the 2004 Democratic National Convention. He first ran for public office in 2008, seeking to succeed Rep. Michael Dunn in the 18th House district. Dunn, a Democrat who had only narrowly been re-elected in 2006 (with 52% of the vote), had decided against running for re-election. Martin did not attract any primary opponents but faced two opponents, a Republican and an Independent, in the general election. Martin won 39% of the vote, beating Independent Thomas Mooney, by only 119 votes (2.5%), with Republican Patrick Joyce finishing third on 24%. He took office in December 2008. He ran for re-election in 2010 but lost to Republican James W. Parker
James W. Parker
James W. Parker was the uncle of Cynthia Ann Parker and the Great-Uncle of Quanah Parker, last chief of the Comanches. A man of Scots-Irish descent, he was a member of the large Parker frontier family that settled in east Texas in the 1830s...
by 207 votes (6.0%).
Martin is openly gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
; he lives with his partner Scott.