Jim Martin (Georgia politician)
Encyclopedia
James Francis "Jim" Martin (born August 22, 1945) is an American politician and former member of the Georgia General Assembly
. He is a Democrat
. Martin opposed incumbent U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss
in the 2008 election
. In the general election, no candidate received more than 50% of the vote, forcing a run-off election on December 2, 2008, which Martin subsequently lost.
In 1963, after graduating from Atlanta's public school system, he enrolled at the University of Georgia
, where he was elected freshman class president. He was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity at the University of Georgia as was his political opponent Senator Saxby Chambliss. After earning his bachelor's and J.D. degrees at Georgia, he entered the U.S. Army and completed a tour of duty in Vietnam
.
After his return from the war, Martin re-enrolled at the University of Georgia and earned an LL.M. degree. Later in his career, he earned an M.B.A. from Georgia State University
.
in 1983. He was re-elected in 1984, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998 and 2000. During his tenure in the House, Martin served as Chairman of several committees, including the Judiciary Committee and the Human Services Subcommittee of the Appropriations Committee. He also served as an active member of the Industrial Relations, Special Judiciary and Children and Youth Committees.
In September 2001, he relinquished his House seat and was appointed Commissioner of Human Resources by Governor Roy Barnes
. On September 19, 2003 he resigned from his position as Commissioner.
From 2004 to 2005, he was the Chief Legal Officer of the Georgia Public Defender Standards Council.
in 2006. He received the endorsement of former Governor Roy Barnes
, but was defeated by Republican
candidate Casey Cagle
.
From 2007 to 2008, he was an Executive Fellow at the Georgia State University
Andrew Young School of Policy Studies
.
senator Saxby Chambliss
. He came in second to Vernon Jones
in the Democratic primary election
and advanced to a run-off election
. On August 5, 2008, Martin defeated Jones in the run-off, and prepared to face Chambliss in the general election in November.
For most of the year, incumbent Senator Saxby Chambliss held a comfortable lead in the polls, but the race tightened closer to the election. In the general election on November 4, 2008, Chambliss fell .2% shy of the simple majority
needed to win the election and Martin finished about 3% behind. As no candidate received a majority of the vote, a run-off election was held on December 2, 2008 between Martin and Chambliss. Chambliss went on to win the run-off with 57% of the vote to Martin's 43%.—
Georgia General Assembly
The Georgia General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is bicameral, being composed of the Georgia House of Representatives and the Georgia Senate....
. He is 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...
. Martin opposed incumbent U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss
Saxby Chambliss
Clarence Saxby Chambliss, Jr. is the senior United States Senator from Georgia. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as a U.S. Representative ....
in the 2008 election
United States Senate elections, 2008
Elections for the United States Senate were held on November 4, 2008, with 35 of the 100 seats in the Senate being contested. Thirty-three seats were regular elections; the winners were eligible to serve six-year terms from January 3, 2009, to January 3, 2015, as members of Senate Class II...
. In the general election, no candidate received more than 50% of the vote, forcing a run-off election on December 2, 2008, which Martin subsequently lost.
Early life, education, and military service
Martin was born in Atlanta, Georgia and grew up in a family of six boys. As a child he contracted polio.In 1963, after graduating from Atlanta's public school system, he enrolled at the University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
, where he was elected freshman class president. He was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity at the University of Georgia as was his political opponent Senator Saxby Chambliss. After earning his bachelor's and J.D. degrees at Georgia, he entered the U.S. Army and completed a tour of duty in Vietnam
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
.
After his return from the war, Martin re-enrolled at the University of Georgia and earned an LL.M. degree. Later in his career, he earned an M.B.A. from Georgia State University
Georgia State University
Georgia State University is a research university in downtown Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Founded in 1913, it serves about 30,000 students and is one of the University System of Georgia's four research universities...
.
Georgia House of Representatives
Martin won a special election to the Georgia House of RepresentativesGeorgia House of Representatives
The Georgia House of Representatives is the lower house of the Georgia General Assembly of the U.S. state of Georgia.-Composition:...
in 1983. He was re-elected in 1984, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998 and 2000. During his tenure in the House, Martin served as Chairman of several committees, including the Judiciary Committee and the Human Services Subcommittee of the Appropriations Committee. He also served as an active member of the Industrial Relations, Special Judiciary and Children and Youth Committees.
In September 2001, he relinquished his House seat and was appointed Commissioner of Human Resources by Governor Roy Barnes
Roy Barnes
Roy Eugene Barnes served as the 80th Governor of Georgia from January 1999 until January 2003. Barnes was also a candidate for Governor of Georgia in the 2010 election....
. On September 19, 2003 he resigned from his position as Commissioner.
From 2004 to 2005, he was the Chief Legal Officer of the Georgia Public Defender Standards Council.
2006 Georgia Lieutenant Governor election
Martin was the Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor of GeorgiaLieutenant Governor of Georgia
The Lieutenant Governor of Georgia is a constitutional officer of the state, elected to a 4-year term by popular vote. Unlike some states, the lieutenant governor is elected on a separate ticket from the state Governor....
in 2006. He received the endorsement of former Governor Roy Barnes
Roy Barnes
Roy Eugene Barnes served as the 80th Governor of Georgia from January 1999 until January 2003. Barnes was also a candidate for Governor of Georgia in the 2010 election....
, but was defeated by Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
candidate Casey Cagle
Casey Cagle
Lowell S. "Casey" Cagle is an American politician currently serving as the 11th Lieutenant Governor of Georgia. He is a member of the Republican Party, a conservative, and a former member of the General Assembly in the U.S. state of Georgia. In 2006, Cagle defeated political activist Ralph...
.
From 2007 to 2008, he was an Executive Fellow at the Georgia State University
Georgia State University
Georgia State University is a research university in downtown Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Founded in 1913, it serves about 30,000 students and is one of the University System of Georgia's four research universities...
Andrew Young School of Policy Studies
Andrew Young School of Policy Studies
The Andrew Young School of Policy Studies is located within Georgia State University. The school houses the Criminal Justice, Economics, Social Work and Public Management and Policy divisions of the second largest school in the state of Georgia.In 2008, U.S...
.
2008 United States Senate election
On March 19, 2008, Martin launched his campaign for U.S. Senate against incumbent RepublicanRepublican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
senator Saxby Chambliss
Saxby Chambliss
Clarence Saxby Chambliss, Jr. is the senior United States Senator from Georgia. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as a U.S. Representative ....
. He came in second to Vernon Jones
Vernon Jones
Vernon Jones is an American Democratic politician from Georgia who served as chief executive officer of Dekalb County, Georgia, from 2001 until 2009.-Early life and business career:...
in the Democratic primary election
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
and advanced to a run-off election
Two-round system
The two-round system is a voting system used to elect a single winner where the voter casts a single vote for their chosen candidate...
. On August 5, 2008, Martin defeated Jones in the run-off, and prepared to face Chambliss in the general election in November.
For most of the year, incumbent Senator Saxby Chambliss held a comfortable lead in the polls, but the race tightened closer to the election. In the general election on November 4, 2008, Chambliss fell .2% shy of the simple majority
Majority
A majority is a subset of a group consisting of more than half of its members. This can be compared to a plurality, which is a subset larger than any other subset; i.e. a plurality is not necessarily a majority as the largest subset may consist of less than half the group's population...
needed to win the election and Martin finished about 3% behind. As no candidate received a majority of the vote, a run-off election was held on December 2, 2008 between Martin and Chambliss. Chambliss went on to win the run-off with 57% of the vote to Martin's 43%.—
Personal life
Jim Martin has been married to Joan Martin since 1970 and has four children and three grandchildren. He is also an elder at Atlanta's Morningside Presbyterian Church (Presbyterian Church USA).External links
- Campaign contributions at OpenSecrets.org
- Follow the Money – Jim F Martin