“It was my privilege to represent the people of District 34 for 8 years. After being double bunked with my friend Rep. Ross in abusive redistricting, I made the decision to step aside.  I had no doubt District 34 would be well served by Rep. Ross, and it has been.  She will be an outstanding addition to the Triangle Transit Authority,” Martin said.

“Today I am announcing I will seek to serve the people of the 34^th District again, and I’m honored to have the support of Rep. Ross.  I look forward to speaking with members of the Wake County Democratic Party Executive Committee, and all interested constituents about how we can continue to make our community the best place to live and work in America,” Martin concluded.

The Young Democrats of North Carolina named former state representative Grier Martin their “Legislator of the Year”.  YDNC President Sam Spencer presented Martin with the award at a ceremony where new YDNC officers were also sworn in.  The YDs selected Martin for the award “for a career of service to both the United States and the State of North Carolina.”

For further voting statistics, read Cohen’s blog post “NC Absentee voting success rate way up in 2012″.

IGO President John Hill & Rep. Martin

The Independent Garage Owners of North Carolina (IGONC) named Rep. Grier Martin their “Legislator of the Year” at their annual Automotive and Service Technology Expo in October.  The award was presented in recognition of Martin’s “outstanding leadership and support of the North Carolina automotive aftermarket industry”.

IGONC is the largest organization in the state that represents independent automotive repair and service businesses.  Martin worked with IGONC on several legislative items.  ”I am proud to have partnered with IGONC to meet the needs of their many members who operate small businesses throughout North Carolina,” Martin said.

The new law will make it easier for military spouses with another state’s professional license to obtain a comparable license in North Carolina.  The law will also help servicemembers leaving active duty to have their experience help them get a professional license in North Carolina.

Read more about the bill signing here.

“The abusive redistricting plan enacted this year did many things. It seeks to racially re-segregate the state. It splits a stunning number of precincts, sowing confusion and putting up barriers to voting. And, it targets female legislators. One way the plan targets women is by “double-bunking” them into districts with other incumbent legislators. That is the situation my good friend and colleague Rep. Deborah Ross find ourselves in.

Certainly, this is a tactic not unique to either party. But, it is important to note that the last time a Democratic controlled legislature engaged in redistricting was the recent Pender-New Hanover court-ordered redistricting. I chaired the committee that drew those districts. There, Rep. Danny McComas, a GOP incumbent lived a mere few hundred yards from the edge of his district. With an easy stroke of a pen, he could have been double-bunked with his fellow Republican Rep. Carolyn Justice. But, we chose to move beyond those kinds of games. We recognized that this sort of thing is a disservice to the voters who have elected those legislators to serve them in the General Assembly. We left Rep. McComas’ district unchanged. Both he and Rep. Justice were rehired by their constituents.

I wish the folks that drew the current district had moved further down the path we charted with Pender-New Hanover. But, they’ve gone back to the bad old days and beyond. In targeting female legislators, in particular, they’ve hit a new low. And, they’ve tried to make me part of that plan by double-bunking me with Rep. Ross. But, I’m not going to play along with their game. So, I have decided not to run for a 5th term in the House.

In making this decision, I am mindful that our service in the legislature is not centered around we legislators, but, instead is rooted in serving our constituents. I am confident that my current constituents in the current HD34 who are in the new HD34 will be extremely well-served by Deborah Ross, one of the most capable, ethical, and hard-working legislators ever to serve.”

Rep. Joe Hackney, House Minority Leader and former Speaker, issued this statement on retirement of Rep. Grier Martin:

“Rep. Martin has been one of the hardest working legislators in the General Assembly during his four terms in office. His ongoing military service allowed him to quickly establish himself as an expert in legislation to protect and serve the fighting men and women who protect and serve us. At the same time, he was a progressive voice in efforts to protect our environment, women’s rights and to keep North Carolina a state that leads instead of follows. The people of Wake County will lose a great representative, but we are hopeful that Grier will find a way soon to return to public service.”

Read WRAL-TV’s coverage here.

Grier visited Harp’s Mill Creative School in North Raleigh yesterday.  In addition to hearing about the great support Smart Start provides to schools in North Carolina, Grier got a chance to read to a preschool class.  The book was “I Am Small” about a baby penguin in a big world.

“These ‘environmental heroes’ showed that protecting the state’s air, water, and open spaces is still a top priority for North Carolinians in districts all across the state,” said Margaret Hartzell, Policy Advocate with Environment North Carolina.

While several legislators received a 100% rating, over half of the General Assembly received a score of  0%.

In addition to his 100% ranking this year, Martin has a lifetime voting record of 98% from Environment NC and 95% from  the NC League of Conservation Voters. He received the League of Conservation Voters’ “Defender of the Environment Award” in 2010.

For more information, visit Environment NC’s website.

The 20-member board serves as an independent advisor directly to the Secretary of Defense on strategies, policies and practices intended to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of military reserve forces from all branches. The board is comprised of both military and civilian members and is chaired by retired Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Arnold L. Punaro. Other newly appointed members of the board include Gary E. (Gene) Taylor, former member of Congress; Retired Vice Adm. John G. Cotton, former chief of the Navy Reserve; Paulette M. Mason, Delaware chair, Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve; John Nagl, president of the Center for a New American Security; Sergio A. Pecori, president & chief executive officer of Hanson Professional Services Inc.; Maj. Gen. Glenn K. Rieth, adjutant general of New Jersey; retired Maj. Gen. Leo V. Williams III, former deputy commanding general, Marine Corps Combat Development Command; Maria J. Vorel, disaster operations coordinator, Federal Emergency Management Agency; retired Gen. John W. Handy, former commander of U.S. Transportation Command and Air Mobility Command.

“I am honored to receive this opportunity to help strengthen the work of the nation’s military reserves,” Rep. Martin said. “Reservists play a critical role in our nation’s defense and it is important that we constantly look for ways to improve their effectiveness.”

Martin has served in the Army Reserve since 1991 and deployed to Afghanistan in 2002 while on active duty.

In the General Assembly, he founded the bipartisan Military Veterans Caucus and is a past chairman of the House Homeland Security, Military, and Veterans Affairs Committee. He has been honored by the Disabled American Veterans, the National Guard Association of the United States and the Brain Injury Association of North Carolina for his work on legislation on behalf of service members and veterans.

Martin is a lawyer who has served in the General Assembly since 2004. His district covers central Wake County.  As he serves on the Reserve Forces Policy Board, he will continue to serve in the House of Representatives.

The Department of Defense press release is available here.  The Reserve Forces Policy Board website is here.