AUGUSTA - The Maine Legislature passed a legislative sentiment Monday recognizing Rep. John Martin, D-Eagle Lake, for his 54 years of public service to the people of Maine.
Martin was first elected to the Maine House of Representatives in 1964. He was House minority leader from 1971 to 1974 and speaker of the House from 1975 to 1994, the longest term as speaker in Maine history. He served in the Maine Senate from 2000 to 2008 before returning to the House, where he is currently a member of the Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee and the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Committee.
"For Rep. Martin, doing what's right comes easily, and Maine is better for his decades of service to our government," said Speaker Ryan Fecteau, D-Biddeford. He taught many of us that lawmaking is the art of voicing our values and our willingness to stand up for what we know is right. He has been a mentor, friend and confidant since I entered the Legislature at age 22, which was almost the same age John was when he first took office.
I probably wouldnt be where I am today if it werent for Rep. John Martin, said Senate President Troy Jackson, D-Allagash. His commitment to the St. John Valley and Aroostook County has shown me what it means to fight and deliver for your community. His persistence has taught me that meaningful change takes time and is worth the long haul. Perhaps most importantly, his friendship and ability to work across party lines has shown me the power of bipartisanship and partnering with unlikely allies. Thank you, John, for your friendship, your guidance and your decades of service to the state. Working with and learning from you has truly been the honor of a lifetime.
"Over his long and distinguished career, Rep. John Martin has helped young people go to college, retirees secure benefits, people in trouble navigate their way through the system and people with hope develop new ideas and contribute to the economy, said House Majority Leader Michelle Dunphy, D-Old Town. I believe we all work in the same way to help our constituents but few with the power and fury of John Martin. Any administrator in state government will tell you that when John Martin calls, you really have nothing else to do for the rest of the day other than solve the problem hes brought you. It has been an incredible honor to serve with him."
Martin also served as president of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), chairman of the State-Federal Assembly of NCSL, vice chair of NCSLs Budget, Fiscal and Rules Committee and chair of the Task Force on Reapportionment. Additionally, Martin was a member of the Board of the Foundation for State Legislatures and was vice chair of the Regional Executive Committee of the Democratic State Legislative Leaders Association. He was president of the State Legislative Leaders Foundation from 1979 to 1982 and chairman of the New England Caucus of State Legislatures in 1982 and 1983. In 1990, he was elected chair of the State Democratic Leaders Association and served on both the Democratic National Committee and the Executive Committee of the Democratic National Committee.
Contact:
Jackie Merrill [Martin, Dunphy], c. 812-1111
Jenna Howard [Fecteau], c. 214-3185
Christine Kirby [Jackson], c. 294-2468