Saige Martin

Martin was born in foster care to fifteen-year old parents.{{Cite web|url=https://victoryfund.org/candidate/saige-martin/|title=Martin, Saige|website=LGBTQ Victory Fund|access-date=2020-07-16|archive-date=2020-07-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200717215011/https://victoryfund.org/candidate/saige-martin/|url-status=dead}} He is of Puerto Rican descent on his father's side. He was adopted and grew up in Bucks County, Pennsylvania after his mother was forced out of her foster home.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hillsboroughstreet.org/about/board-members/saige-martin|title=Saige Martin|website=www.hillsboroughstreet.org}} He graduated from Pennridge High School.{{cite web|url= https://about.me/saigemartin|title= Saige Martin|website= About.me|access-date= 16 July 2020}}

Martin has a bachelor of arts degree in Cultural Anthropology from Hawaii Pacific University, where he served as Student Body President. In his role as president, he worked with the city of Honolulu, the county, and the Governor's Office on multiple issues affecting the students at the university. Martin has graduate degree in Art and Design from North Carolina State University. While a graduate student, he spent a winter break volunteering with a non-profit organization at the Mexico–United States border.{{Cite web|url=https://grad.ncsu.edu/news/2019/03/designing-for-activism-and-advocacy/|title=Designing for Activism and Advocacy|website=The Graduate School}} In March 2019 he presented a multimedia performance at the CRDM Symposium. Martin worked with the United Nations in Turkey while studying for a semester at Koç University, aiding Syrian refugees fleeing from the Syrian Civil War, and as part of the United Nations Millennium Campaign in New York City. He traveled to fifteen countries on behalf of the United Nations to partake in the U.N. My World Global Survey.{{cite magazine| last = Ammons| first = Jessie| title = Spotlight: Humans of My World| url = https://www.waltermagazine.com/community/people/spotlight-humans-of-my-world/| magazine = Walter Magazine| location = Raleigh, North Carolina| access-date= 16 July 2020}} He worked on President Barack Obama's 2012 presidential campaign in southern Philadelphia and was a communications consultant for Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign.

Martin has worked as a Fund Director, helping pilot new funding models for non-profit organizations. He has served on the boards of The Hope Center at Pullen, the Justice-Love Foundation, and LEAD NC.

In March 2019 Martin announced his campaign for Raleigh City Council, against sitting councilwoman Kay Crowder for District D in Southwest Raleigh.{{Cite web|url=https://indyweek.com/api/content/8d3d1bd2-49c7-11e9-a7ac-12f1225286c6/|title=Raleigh Is a Young City Governed by a Not-So-Young Council. This Year's Election Could Change That.|first=Leigh|last=Tauss|date=March 18, 2019|website=INDY Week}}{{Cite web|url=https://indyweek.com/api/content/9b763f50-ea06-11e9-b60c-12f1225286c6/|title=Saige Martin's Campaign Lodges Board of Elections Complaint Over Anti-Quarry Fliers at the Polls|first=Leigh|last=Tauss|date=October 8, 2019|website=INDY Week}} Martin, who is openly gay and Latinx, ran with a progressive platform focusing on affordable housing, environmental reforms, establishing a Police Accountability Review Board, and revitalizing the council.{{Cite web|url=https://indyweek.com/api/content/bc28d2ca-d977-11e9-b306-12f1225286c6/|title=Candidate Questionnaire: Saige Martin, Raleigh City Council, District D|first=Saige|last=Martin|date=September 18, 2019|website=INDY Week}} He was endorsed by Indy Week, Equality NC, Ashley Christensen, and North Carolina Museum of Art director Larry Wheeler.{{Cite web|url=https://indyweek.com/api/content/3cc6747a-d8c7-11e9-83fd-12f1225286c6/|title=Endorsements 2019: Down With the Raleigh NIMBYs|date=September 18, 2019|website=INDY Week}}{{Cite web|url=https://indyweek.com/api/content/0c6be3ee-ce60-11e9-93d3-12f1225286c6/|title=Here's Where (We Think) Things Stand a Month Out From Raleigh's Elections|first=Jeffrey C.|last=Billman|date=September 3, 2019|website=INDY Week}} On June 25, 2019 Martin spoke publicly, as a candidate for City Council, on the importance of the Stonewall Riots.{{Cite web|url=https://indyweek.com/api/content/6d53c03a-9753-11e9-a4fa-12f1225286c6/|title=50 Years After Stonewall, We Asked Local LGBTQ Leaders What Progress Looks Like|first=James Michael|last=Nichols|date=June 25, 2019|website=INDY Week}} He was elected in October 2019 as the first Latinx person and, alongside Councilman Jonathan Melton who was also elected in 2019 election, one of the first two openly gay men to sit on the City Council.{{Cite web|url=https://indyweek.com/api/content/7230859a-eeb3-11e9-aef4-12f1225286c6/|title=Five Things to Expect From Raleigh's New, Younger, Queerer City Council|first=Leigh|last=Tauss|date=October 15, 2019|website=INDY Week}} Twenty-eight years old at the time of assuming office, Martin is the youngest person to serve on the Raleigh City Council.{{Cite web|url=https://indyweek.com/api/content/11d015c2-ec64-11e9-b592-12f1225286c6/|title=Updated: Raleigh Has Its First Two LGBTQ Council Members. Kay Crowder and Russ Stephenson Will Not Seek Runoffs.|first=Leigh Tauss, Jeffrey C.|last=Billman|date=October 11, 2019|website=INDY Week}}{{Cite web|url=https://abc11.com/6271499/|title=Raleigh City Council member Saige Martin resigns after allegations of sexual misconduct|date=June 26, 2020|website=ABC11 Raleigh-Durham}}

As a member of the City Council, Martin spearheaded the Council's backroom deal to cancel Citizen Advisory Councils and was a vocal advocate for defunding the Raleigh Police Department.{{Cite web|url=https://indyweek.com/api/content/b722e0da-c068-11ea-99b0-1244d5f7c7c6/|title=Who Will Fill Saige Martin's Seat on Raleigh City Council?|first=Leigh|last=Tauss|date=July 8, 2020|website=INDY Week}}{{Cite web|url=https://indyweek.com/api/content/c7dc2a2a-b7d1-11ea-bc8d-1244d5f7c7c6/|title=Raleigh Council Member Saige Martin Just Resigned. What Happens Now?|first=Leigh|last=Tauss|date=June 26, 2020|website=INDY Week}} Martin, and Raleigh mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin, voted in secrecy on removing the city's nineteen Citizen Advisory Councils, which were formed in 1974.{{Cite web|url=https://indyweek.com/api/content/16eadffa-51be-11ea-9da1-1244d5f7c7c6/|title=The Raleigh Council's Decision to Eliminate CACs Sparked an Uproar. What Comes Next?|first=Leigh|last=Tauss|date=February 17, 2020|website=INDY Week}} The only councilman to be left out of the secret vote was David Cox, who opposed the measure.{{Cite web|url=https://indyweek.com/api/content/f43e450a-4786-11ea-bbfc-1244d5f7c7c6/|title=Without Public Input or Notice, the Raleigh City Council Just Killed Citizen Advisory Councils|first=Leigh|last=Tauss|date=February 5, 2020|website=INDY Week}}

In April 2020 Martin, alongside Durham mayor Steve Schewel, Durham County Board of Commissioners chairwoman Wendy Jacobs, Durham County Commissioner Heidi Carter, Durham City Council members Javiera Caballero, Jillian Johnson, Mark-Anthony Middleton, and Charlie Reece, and Raleigh City Council member Nicole Stewart, pledged to take part in the #ShareYourCheck Challenge.{{Cite web|url=https://indyweek.com/api/content/aa11bfda-8326-11ea-a323-1244d5f7c7c6/|title=Triangle Leaders Pledge Their Stimulus Payments to Undocumented Families|first=Thomasi|last=McDonald|date=April 20, 2020|website=INDY Week}} They pledged all or part of their federal stimulus payments, part of an aid package to help Americans through the COVID-19 recession onset by the COVID-19 pandemic, to go to Siembra Solidarity Fund. The fund helps undocumented residents who were shut out of financial assistance due to their immigration status.

In June 2020 Martin defended protesters who were arrested, and victims of police brutality, during the George Floyd Protests in Raleigh, stating "Let’s get one thing straight: we DO NOT arrest peaceful protesters in the City of Raleigh. Both individuals detained this evening are black. Both are queer. One is a minor. This conduct is disgusting" on his Twitter account.{{Cite web|url=https://indyweek.com/api/content/0c68103e-b226-11ea-b063-1244d5f7c7c6/|title=Two Protesters, One a Minor, Arrested By Raleigh Police on the Eve of Juneteenth|first=Leigh|last=Tauss|date=June 19, 2020|website=INDY Week}} Martin later tweeted that he would be presenting a plan to the City Council to defund and reallocate police funds, "to truly focus on the safety, wellbeing, and health of our black community."

Martin resigned from the City Council on June 26, 2020 after allegations of sexual misconduct were made against him by four young male students at North Carolina State University.{{Cite web|url=https://indyweek.com/api/content/fd89f08c-c535-11ea-80e6-1244d5f7c7c6/|title=Wake County DA Won't Press Charges Against Former City Councilor Saige Martin|first=Leigh|last=Tauss|date=July 13, 2020|website=INDY Week}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.wral.com/raleigh-council-now-facing-third-crisis-in-three-months/19170615/|title=Raleigh council now facing third crisis in three months|date=July 1, 2020|website=WRAL.com}} His resignation was accepted by Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin.{{Cite web|url=https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nc/triangle-sandhills/news/2020/06/27/raleigh-councilman-martin-resigns-due-to-sexual-misconduct-allegations|title=Raleigh Councilman Martin Resigns Due to Sexual Misconduct Allegations|website=spectrumlocalnews.com}} The students alleged in The News & Observer that Martin, while working as a graduate teaching assistant in 2018 and 2019, had sexually assaulted them or behaved inappropriately. One of the accusers was seventeen years old at the time of the alleged assault. Martin denied the allegations.{{Cite web|url=https://indyweek.com/api/content/b86952b6-b7c2-11ea-9638-1244d5f7c7c6/|title=Raleigh Council Member Saige Martin Accused of Sexual Assault|first=Leigh|last=Tauss|date=June 26, 2020|website=INDY Week}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.technicianonline.com/news/article_d9153490-b7e9-11ea-ad47-bf02cb11a24f.html|title=Saige Martin resigns from Raleigh City Council, accused of sexual misconduct by students, alumni|author=Staff Report|website=Technician|date=26 June 2020 }} Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman asked the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation to look into the accusations against Martin.{{Cite web|url=https://raleighconvergence.com/2020/06/29/who-will-replace-saige-martin-on-the-raleigh-city-council-whats-next/|title=Who will replace Saige Martin on the Raleigh City Council? What's next, updated.|date=June 29, 2020|website=Raleigh Convergence}} In July 2020 Freeman announced that charges would not be pressed against Martin due to a lack of sufficient evidence.{{Cite web|url=https://indyweek.com/api/content/0c4d242a-c5f1-11ea-ba8b-1244d5f7c7c6/|title=Backtalk: Falls from Grace|date=July 15, 2020|website=INDY Week}} Juni Cuevas, the only accuser who agreed to be publicly identified, maintained he didn't want to pursue a criminal case.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wral.com/former-raleigh-councilman-won-t-face-criminal-charges-in-alleged-sex-assault/19186558/?fbclid=IwAR2cbtQUTnkroyg-MfUZ2kxiMc25D-KUkrBjJ5XYcISapXb5h3IlodEYnQI|title=Former Raleigh councilman won't face criminal charges in alleged sex assault|date=July 13, 2020|website=WRAL.com}} Martin's vacant seat was filled by Stormie Forte on July 14, 2020.{{Cite web|url=https://indyweek.com/api/content/fd119ef2-c60c-11ea-a08c-1244d5f7c7c6/|title=Stormie Forte Appointed to Replace Saige Martin as Raleigh's District D Representative|first=Leigh|last=Tauss|date=July 14, 2020|website=INDY Week}}

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Category:Living people

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Category:Year of birth missing (living people)