Military service Martin is a lieutenant colonel in the
United States Army Reserve and served in
Afghanistan in 2002 and 2003. Martin defeated
Republican J.H. Ross in the November
2006 and
2008 elections, 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. 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. 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. 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. In 2010, Martin was named "Defender of the Environment" by the League of Conservation Voters of NC. 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. In 2011, Martin was appointed by
Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta to serve on the
Reserve Forces Policy Board. Martin was named a 2014
Aspen Institute Rodel Fellow. 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. ==Personal life==