Editor’s Note: The Santa Rosa Press Gazette will feature Milton City Council candidates running in the Nov. 8 election. We continue this multi-part series with Henry G. Martin, who is running against Jeff Snow for Seat 1 in Ward III.
Tell us a little about yourself.
I came to this beautiful city as a member of the United States Navy. I received and accepted orders for duty at Whiting Field Naval Air Station, Milton, FL in 1990 because I thought this small community would give me an opportunity to spend valuable parenting time with my family, and it did.
Four years before coming to Milton I did three years of sea duty with deployment on board the USS Ranger in the Pacific Far East and one year at Naval Air Technical Training Center in Millington, Tenn.
Upon arrival, I sought to extend myself, beyond just family activities, by volunteering as coordinator for the Chief of Naval Operations COMPACT program for Santa Rosa County students at risk for dropping out of high school. This mentorship program involved recruiting other sailors to act as mentors for at-risk students and coordinating with local businesses to facilitate students’ interests in business and methodology. As a result of my work in the COMPACT program, I received a citation from Vice Admiral John H. Fetterman, Jr., chief of Naval Education and Training.
After 20 years of service, I retired from the United States Navy in January 1996. I have a Bachelor of Science degree in Technical Management and an Associate of Science degree in Manufacturing Technology.
In the Milton community, I have served as president of R. Hobbs Middle School, School Advisory Council board member for Habitat for Humanity, and the Alcohol and Chemical Treatment Series Program sponsored by my church, First Apostolic Church of Milton. I spent 11 years at Solutia Inc. as an engineering technician, and am currently employed as a resource adviser for CareerSource Escarosa serving Santa Rosa and Escambia County citizens.
Why are you running for Milton City Council?
Martin: There are basically two reasons for my pursuit of a seat in Milton City Council. First, I have raised and educated seven children in Milton and have always been involved in many community matters and affairs.
Some of my children, once educated, moved on to other cities to find comparable job opportunities. I’ve often wondered what I could have done to help them find appropriate jobs in this community in order for me to enjoy theirs and my grandchildren’s presence. This is a problem and a concern many others in our community have mentioned to me; there aren’t enough jobs in our community, along with that, jobs don’t have competitive salaries that make people want to stay here to raise a family.
Second, the city of Milton has been a blessing because of my church, and the safe environment this community afforded my family. I want to work together with other members of the council to see this community grow and change while keeping its core values intact.
Together we can rebuild Milton while preserving our historic sights and help its economy development to better stimulate small business growth and lower Milton’s unemployment rate.
If elected, what would you like to see accomplished in Milton?
Martin: I have spent the last few weeks canvassing different neighborhoods and listening to the citizen concerns and ideas. It has been such an honor, and I just want the people to know their words haven’t fallen on deaf ears. It has been and would be my pleasure to help this community grow.
As I’ve stated in a previous advertisement, “I’m a conservative who is committed to preserving Milton’s core values such as safety, family, integrity, growth and support.” I’m also aware that the citizens are growing anxious for the right changes, and I’m right there with them. This city can grow without losing what makes Milton so unique.
Our community is delighted with the partnerships of our police department and the community, under the leadership of Tony Tindell, resulting in one of the safest communities in Florida. Our fire department, under the leadership of Chief John E. Reble, is modern and efficient while seeking continual growth to meet all the needs of our growing community.
Finally, I’m committed to addressing incentives necessary to attract adequate numbers of industries to our community industrial park that will provide adequate-paying jobs for our families. I’m concerned and will address the opportunities and obstacles for small business growth in our community. I am committed to the growth of Milton’s downtown area, riverfront and infrastructure with primary consideration for preserving the historical beauty of our community while addressing deficiencies in the southern portion of our city. Through proper design and engineering, I believe our community will be the apple of the Gulf Coast’s Eye.
Milton is a great place to live and raise a family. We have great schools and institutions available to properly educate and prepare our children for life. We must be mindful of the necessary services in our community that will aid in our children’s development and recreation while upholding the core values of our community.
I will be seeking opportunities to better provide for those needs, along with services, that will help our citizens retrain if they unfortunately lose a job as technology and economic conditions change; together we can move mountains.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Martin: Milton needs more high-paying jobs