Marty Martinez, a 2001 graduate of Tufts' Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, is hoping to make it through a preliminary election today for a vacant alderman at large seat.
After earning his bachelor's degree in political science from Nebraska Wesleyan University, Martinez came to Somerville and attained a master's degree in public policy from Tufts.
Currently the director of program services at the Mass Mentoring Partnership, he also is involved with a variety of local organizations including the Somerville Community Corporation, which is dedicated to advocating for affordable housing and helping citizens with financial needs, and the Somerville Cares about Prevention Coalition, which aims to reduce substance abuse.
Though he has previously run for alderman in 2003 and 2005, losing to current Board of Aldermen President Robert Trane and Alderman at Large Bruce Desmond, respectively, Martinez said that today's election is fundamentally different.
"This is a special election; in the past I was running against an incumbent," Martinez said. In this race, there is not an incumbent, however, because Denise Provost vacated her seat to pursue her responsibilities as a state representative. Previously, she had been juggling the positions of alderman at large and the 27th Middlesex District's representative to the state's General Court.
But Martinez will still encounter opposition from former Alderman John Connolly and Robert Daut, a local attorney. The two candidates that get the most votes today will vie for the seat in a May 15 runoff.
"Tomorrow is the first step," Martinez said.
In his campaign, Martinez has gotten support from students involved with the Tufts Democrats.
Although the Dems have a strict policy against explicitly endorsing candidates, Norris said that members try to support Tufts alumni because of a sense of shared values.
"It's a priority for our club to support Tufts alums because we know often, being a product of a Tufts education, candidates have similar values," she said.
These values are manifested in three of Martinez's campaign goals.
One of these goals is to help Somerville's youth population. As the city's youth director, he worked to mitigate gang violence, foster Somerville's youth services and after school programs, and help resuscitate its teen center.
"We need to bring more resources to create more opportunities for youth in our community," Martinez said.
Secondly, if elected, Martinez intends to make Somerville a more affordable place in which to reside because the current costs of living in the area are "outrageous."
"It continues to be more expensive for people who want to stay in Somerville," he said.
A third plank of Martinez's platform involves increasing community participation in local government. "We need to make sure that local government is accessible to everyone," he said.
This goal is reflected in an organization that Martinez co-founded, called the Progressive Democrats of Somerville. "What we do there is get people engaged and involved in local government," he said.
Provost, who set the stage for the election by vacating her seat, has formally endorsed Martinez's candidacy.
She worked with Martinez during his tenure as youth director and lauded his strength of character and the programs that he promoted.
"Marty is energetic and hard working and a person of high standards, and he will bring tremendous energy and dedication to the job," Provost said.
She expressed no reservations about his capability to handle the issues facing Somerville.
"His understanding of issues like education, housing and youth services is very sophisticated," she said.
Martinez has also won the support of a broad range of interest groups and political figures, including state Senator Pat Jehlen (D-Somerville), the Greater Boston National Organization for Women, the Massachusetts Sierra Club and Progressive Democrats of Somerville.
