Mark Martin (politician)
Mark Martin | |
|---|---|
| 33rd Secretary of State of Arkansas | |
| In office January 2011 – January 15, 2019 | |
| Governor | Mike Beebe Asa Hutchinson |
| Preceded by | Charlie Daniels |
| Succeeded by | John Thurston |
| Member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from the 87th district | |
| In office January 2005 – January 11, 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Sarah Agee |
| Succeeded by | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Mark Russell Martin February 18, 1968 Kansas City, Kansas, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Sharon Tilley |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | University of Arkansas (BS) |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service |  United States Navy |
Mark Russell Martin (born February 18, 1968) is an American politician who served as the secretary of state of Arkansas from January 2011 to January 2019. He is a former three-term member of the Arkansas House of Representatives for District 87 in Washington County in Northwest Arkansas.
Early life and education[]
A native of Kansas City, Kansas, Martin was raised in the Mississippi River delta region of eastern Arkansas. He graduated from Hughes High School in Hughes in St. Francis County. In 1998, he received a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from the University of Arkansas.[1]
Career[]
While serving in the United States Navy, Martin was a technician in a nuclear engineering laboratory. He since held numerous technology-oriented positions in private industry prior to the launching of his political career.[2]
Arkansas House of Representatives[]
Martin was first elected to the Arkansas House in 2004, when he defeated the Democrat Lloyd D. Keck of West Fork in Washington County, 5,738 (55.2 percent) to 4,667 (44.8 percent).[3] As a legislator, Martin served on the Budget, Insurance & Commerce, Education, and Advanced Communication & Information Technology committees and was the chairman of the Economic & Tax Policy Committee.[1] He was one of the first legislative bloggers in Arkansas, writing about his experience through a blog he called "Off the Marble".[4]
In May 2006, Martin made his first foray into foreign policy, joining a U.S. delegation to Pakistan to support the war on terror. During the visit, Martin was joined by Massachusetts State Senator Brian A. Joyce and New Mexico Attorney General Hector H. Balderas on a top Pakistani talk show to discuss Afghanistan.[5]
Secretary of state of Arkansas[]
In the 2010 general election, Martin defeated the Democrat Pat O'Brien, 392,468 (51.3 percent) to 372,123 (48.7 percent), to win the secretary of state's position vacated by Charlie Daniels, a term-limited Arkansas Democrat.[6] Martin was the first Republican elected to that post since 1872. Reelected in 2014, he defeated former State Election Commissioner Susan Inman of Little Rock with almost 64 percent of the vote.
As Secretary of State, Martin was the chairman of the Arkansas Board of Election Commissioners and the Capitol Arts and Grounds Commission. He was a member of the Arkansas Board of Apportionment. A past board member of several engineering organizations, he also holds membership in the National Rifle Association and the American Legion. He is a member of the Association of Christian Design Professionals.[1]
Personal life[]
Martin and his wife, the former Sharon Marie Tilley (also born 1968), have two daughters and one son. The family attends Legacy Baptist Church of Northwest Arkansas in Rogers. The Martins reside in Prairie Grove in Washington County though his duties often keep him in the capital city of Little Rock.[1]
Electoral history[]
| Arkansas House of Representatives 87th District Republican Primary Election, 2004 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Mark Martin | 553 | 71.08 |
| Republican | Leonard Frederick | 225 | 28.92 |
| Arkansas House of Representatives 87th District Election, 2004 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Mark Martin | 5,738 | 55.15 |
| Democratic | Lloyd Keck | 4,667 | 44.85 |
| Arkansas House of Representatives 87th District Election, 2006 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Mark Martin (inc.) | 4,715 | 61.32 |
| Independent | Jimmie Johnson | 2,974 | 38.68 |
| Arkansas House of Representatives 87th District Election, 2008 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Mark Martin (inc.) | 6,441 | 58.82 |
| Democratic | Earl Hunton | 4,510 | 41.18 |
| Arkansas Secretary of State Election, 2010 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Mark Martin | 392,468 | 51.33 |
| Democratic | Pat O'Brien | 372,123 | 48.67 |
| Arkansas Secretary of State Election, 2014 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Mark Martin (inc.) | 506,384 | 60.61 |
| Democratic | Susan Inman | 292,878 | 35.06 |
| Libertarian | Jacob Holloway | 36,159 | 4.33 |
References[]
- ^ a b c d "Mark Martin Biography". sos.arkansas.gov. Archived from the original on September 22, 2013. Retrieved December 10, 2013.
- ^ "Mark Martin". ballotpedia.org. Retrieved December 10, 2013.
- ^ "State Representative District 087 - Certified, November 2, 2004". sos.arkansas.gov. Retrieved December 10, 2013.
- ^ "Lost his marbles". Arkansas Times. Retrieved August 6, 2014.
- ^ Quraishi, Ahmed (May 2006). "Three Young American Politicians in Pakistan". PTV Network. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
- ^ "Secretary of State - Certified, November 2010". sos.arkansas.gov. Retrieved December 10, 2013.
- 1968 births
- Living people
- 21st-century American politicians
- 21st-century American engineers
- Arkansas Republicans
- Baptists from Arkansas
- Members of the Arkansas House of Representatives
- People from Prairie Grove, Arkansas
- People from St. Francis County, Arkansas
- Politicians from Kansas City, Kansas
- Secretaries of State of Arkansas
- United States Navy sailors
- University of Arkansas alumni