Grier Martin
{{Short description|American politician from North Carolina}}
{{use mdy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| image = Grier Martin.jpg
| image_size=180px
| birthname = David Grier Martin III
| name = Grier Martin
| caption =
| state_house=North Carolina
| state=North Carolina
| district = 34th
| term_start = June 1, 2013
| term_end = July 8, 2022
| predecessor = Deborah Ross
| successor = Jack Nichols
| term_start2 = January 26, 2005
| term_end2 = January 9, 2013
| predecessor2 = Don Munford
| successor2 = Deborah Ross
| constituency =
| majority =
| office3 = Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manpower and Reserve Affairs (acting){{cite web | url=https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3684823/deputy-secretary-of-defense-kathleen-hicks-and-dod-senior-leaders-attend-28th-c/ | title=Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks and DoD Senior Leaders Attend 28th Council of G }}
| president3 = Joe Biden
| term_start3 = April 1, 2023
| term_end3 = March 13, 2024
| preceded3 = Thomas A. Constable (acting)
| succeeded3 = Ronald Keohane
| office4 = Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Military and Veterans Affairs{{cite web | url=https://governor.nc.gov/news/press-releases/2024/03/28/governor-cooper-appoints-grier-martin-new-secretary-department-military-veterans-affairs | title=Governor Cooper Appoints Grier Martin New Secretary for Department of Military & Veterans Affairs | NC Gov. Cooper }}
| president4 =
| term_start4 = April 1, 2024
| term_end4 =
| preceded4 = Walter E. Gaskin
| succeeded4 =
| party = Democratic
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1968|10|21}}
| birth_place = Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| spouse =
| relations = D. G. Martin (father)
David Grier Martin (grandfather)
| education = Davidson College (BA)
University of North Carolina (JD)
Judge Advocate General's Legal Center and School (LLM)
| profession = Attorney
| residence = Raleigh, North Carolina
| website =
}}
David Grier Martin III (born October 21, 1968) is an American politician and attorney. He served several terms as a Democratic member of the North Carolina General Assembly, representing the state's 34th district.{{Cite web|url=https://indyweek.com/api/content/9ce826cf-d70f-5b16-93b2-8053a954d65a/|title=Grier Martin|date=September 22, 2010|website=INDY Week}} His district included the northern part of Raleigh in Wake County.
He resigned in 2023 to serve as Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manpower and Reserve Affairs.{{cite web | url=https://prhome.defense.gov/Home/Leaders/Martin/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230422002557/https://prhome.defense.gov/Home/Leaders/Martin/ | url-status=dead | archive-date=April 22, 2023 | title=Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel & Readiness }}
In 2024, Martin was appointed Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Military and Veterans Affairs by Governor Roy Cooper.[https://governor.nc.gov/news/press-releases/2024/03/28/governor-cooper-appoints-grier-martin-new-secretary-department-military-veterans-affairs Press release: Governor Cooper appoints Grier Martin new Secretary for Department of Military & Veterans Affairs]
Early life and education
Born in Charlotte, North Carolina, Martin is the son of D. G. Martin, a lawyer, political candidate, and college administrator. Martin's grandfather, David Grier Martin, served as the 13th president of Davidson College.
Martin graduated from Davidson College and the University of North Carolina School of Law, where he served as a Note Editor of the North Carolina Law Review.[http://projects.newsobserver.com/profiles/grier_martin The News & Observer] He also has a LL.M degree in Military Law (International and Operational Law concentration) from the Judge Advocate General's School.
Career
= Military service =
Martin is a lieutenant colonel in the United States Army Reserve and served in Afghanistan in 2002 and 2003. He is a graduate of the Army's Airborne School, Air Assault School, and the Field Artillery Officer Basic Course.
= Politics =
Martin was first elected to the North Carolina House of Representatives in 2004, after defeating incumbent Republican Don Munford.{{cite news | title = Democrats Regain Majority In N.C. House, Strengthen Grip In Senate | date = 2004-11-03 | url = http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/1090714/ | work = WRAL}} Martin defeated Republican J.H. Ross in the November 2006 and 2008 elections,{{Cite web|url=http://www.ncleg.net/DocumentSites/HouseDocuments/Election%20Documents/Official%20Listing%20General%20Election%20Results%20for%202007.pdf|title=General Assembly Election Results}} and Republican Steve Henion in 2010. He chose not to run for re-election in 2012 after redistricting placed him in the same district with fellow Democratic Rep. Deborah Ross.{{cite news |title=Democrats Won't Be Pitted Against Each Other |publisher=The News & Observer |date=February 29, 2012 |page=B3}} But in 2013, Ross resigned from the legislature, and with her endorsement, local Democrats selected Martin to take her place for the remainder of the term.{{cite news |title=Under the Dome: Martin to Replace Ross |publisher=News & Observer |date=May 29, 2013 |page=B3}} He was unopposed for a full term in 2014, and was easily reelected in 2016, 2018, and 2020. Martin serves as the House Democratic Conference Co-Chair.
During his first tenure in the House, Martin at one point co-chaired the Transportation Subcommittee of the Appropriations Committee and chaired the Homeland Security, Military, and Veterans Affairs Committee.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ncleg.gov/Committees/CommitteeInfo/House+Standing/94|title=Homeland Security, Military, and Veterans Affairs House Standing Committee - North Carolina General Assembly|website=www.ncleg.gov}}
He received the Disabled American Veterans of North Carolina "Legislator of the Year" award, the Pesticide Education Project (now Toxic Free NC) "Legislative Leadership" award, the National Guard Association of the United States' Charles Dick Medal of Merit, the Brain Injury of North Carolina's "Our Hero Award," and was named a "Freshman of the Year" by the Conservation Council of North Carolina.{{citation needed|date=February 2021}} In 2010, Martin was named "Defender of the Environment" by the League of Conservation Voters of NC.{{Cite web |url=http://nclcv.org/what/honoring/green_tie_2010/ |title=League of Conservation Voters of NC page |access-date=2011-12-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160122184451/http://nclcv.org/what/honoring/green_tie_2010/ |archive-date=2016-01-22 |url-status=dead }}
National and state Democrats recruited Martin to run for the United States Senate against incumbent Republican Elizabeth Dole in the 2008 election, but he declined in order to spend time with his family.{{cite news |last1=Christensen |first1=Rob |title=The News & Observer |date=October 13, 2007 |page=B1}} In 2011, Martin was appointed by Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta to serve on the Reserve Forces Policy Board.{{cite news | first = Rob | last = Christensen | title = Grier Martin gets Defense board post | date = 2011-10-18 | work = News & Observer}} Martin was named a 2014 Aspen Institute Rodel Fellow.{{Cite news|url=https://www.aspeninstitute.org/programs/rodel-fellowships-public-leadership/|title=Rodel Fellowships in Public Leadership|website=The Aspen Institute}}
On June 2, 2022, Martin announced that he would be resigning his seat in the NC House to take a job at the Pentagon as Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manpower and Reserve Affairs.
Martin had been planning to run for re-election in 2022, but his name will be replaced on the general election ballot by another candidate chosen by the Wake County Democratic Party. His last day would be July 8.{{cite news |last1=Fain |first1=Travis |title=Surprise retirement in NC House: Wake County lawmaker leaving |url=https://www.wral.com/surprise-retirement-in-nc-house-wake-county-lawmaker-leaving/20311720/ |access-date=2 June 2022 |work=WRAL.com |date=2 June 2022 |language=en}}
Personal life
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.legislature.state.nc.us/gascripts/members/viewMember.pl?sChamber=House&nUserID=487 North Carolina General Assembly - Representative Grier Martin] official NC House website
- [http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=41120 Project Vote Smart - Representative Grier Martin (NC)] profile
- Follow the Money - Grier Martin
- [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=99473 2008] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=79597 2006] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=67991 2004] campaign contributions
- [http://www.griermartin.com/ Grier Martin] official campaign site
- [http://projects.newsobserver.com/profiles/grier_martin News & Observer profile]
{{s-start}}
{{s-par|us-nc-hs}}
{{s-bef|before=Don Munford}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of the North Carolina House of Representatives
from the 34th district|years=2005-2013}}
{{s-aft|after=Deborah Ross}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=Deborah Ross}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of the North Carolina House of Representatives
from the 34th district|years=2013-2022}}
{{s-aft|after=Jack Nichols}}
{{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Martin, Grier}}
Category:Democratic Party members of the North Carolina House of Representatives
Category:United States Army personnel of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)
Category:Davidson College alumni
Category:Politicians from Charlotte, North Carolina
Category:Lawyers from Charlotte, North Carolina
Category:United States Army officers
Category:United States Army reservists
Category:The Judge Advocate General's Legal Center and School alumni
Category:State cabinet secretaries of North Carolina
Category:21st-century members of the North Carolina General Assembly