Jim Martin, former State Legislator & DHR Commissioner, kicks off campaign for Lieutenant Governor, July 25

ATLANTA, (July 22) – Jim Martin will formally announce his candidacy for Lieutenant Governor of Georgia at 7 p.m., Monday evening, July 25 at Park Tavern at the corner of 10th Street and Monroe Drive in Atlanta. Martin, who served 18 years in the Georgia General Assembly and then as Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Human Resources under Governors Roy Barnes and Sonny Perdue, registered as a candidate at the end of May.

   In announcing his candidacy for the race, Martin said, “This election is about priorities – whether our political leaders will focus on issues that affect our daily lives, rather than issues that divide us.” 

   Martin added, “For more than 25 years, I have worked both inside and outside of government to bring about meaningful improvements in the lives of Georgians, particularly in the area of healthcare. I have worked successfully with political leaders on both sides of the aisle and from across the state to build consensus on matters of importance and concern to all Georgians and I will continue to do so as Lieutenant Governor.”

   Martin said his campaign will focus on: 
• Developing an improved healthcare system;
• Supporting meaningful improvements in public education;
• Protecting the quality of life in communities, while fostering rational economic development;
• Strengthening crime prevention and law enforcement;
• Working for tax reform and an equitable distribution of state funds; and
• Making government more efficient

   A lifelong Georgian, Jim Martin grew up in a family of six boys. He attended Atlanta public schools, and went on to the University of Georgia, earning his bachelor’s degree and two law degrees. He later earned a business degree from Georgia State University. Interrupted only by two years of service in the Army, including a tour of duty in Vietnam, he has spent his entire life in Georgia. 

   Martin’s professional career began by drafting legislation for the state legislature and advocating for working people and children. In 1983 he was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives, where he served for 18 years. He authored and passed more than 60 major pieces of reform legislation in the areas of healthcare, family law, civil and criminal justice, education, probate, business law, environmental law, labor law and tax policy. He served as chairman of a number of committees, including the Judiciary Committee and the Human Services Subcommittee of the Appropriations Committee. He also served on the Industrial Relations, Special Judiciary and Children and Youth Committees. 

   Because of his legislative success and commitment to healthcare and human services, Governor Roy Barnes appointed Martin Commissioner of Human Resources, overseeing a department that employs over 18,000 people and manages over 100 programs in 1,000 locations in all 159 Georgia counties. His service as Commissioner continued under both Democratic and Republican administrations.

   As a lawyer in private practice for over 20 years, Martin has dedicated his career to ensuring that all Georgians have access to high-quality legal services. In his early career, he served as a staff attorney and legislative advocate for the Legal Aid Society and the Legal Services Program, and most recently as the chief legal officer for the Georgia Indigent Defense Standards Council. His work with the Council was instrumental in the creation of this new state agency - Georgia now has a nationally recognized public defender system that ensures effective and cost-efficient representation of indigent defendants.

   Martin has already raised over a quarter million dollars, with contributions coming from individuals and small businesses, not from political actions committees. The primary will be held on July 18, 2006, with the general election on November 7th.

   For more information about Jim Martin’s campaign for Lieutenant Governor of Georgia, go to www.jimforgeorgia.com .