The N.C. State ROTC Department held a change of command ceremony August 19. Rep. Grier Martin attended the event where Lt. Col. Ken Ratashak turned over command to Lt. Col. Randall Wheeler. Lt. Col. Ratashak has been at N.C. State since 2008 and is retiring from the Army.
Rep. Grier Martin recently addressed a large group of financial executives. The Financial Executives Networking Group (FENG) invited Grier to talk about issues facing government in our state. Grier talked about the increasing influence of money in politics and the growing partisan divide. While promising no certain cure for these ills, Grier noted that public financing of elections and an independent redistricting commission would be effective treatments.
Rep. Grier Martin was one of a select group of legislators to receive Democracy NC’s “Sunshine Award” for campaign finance transparency. Fewer than 15% of North Carolina legislators were honored for submitting campaign finance disclosures that promote openness.
“At a time of intense partisan wrangling, it’s great to see so many legislators across ideological and party lines who respect the public’s right to know how money flows during elections,” said Bob Hall, the executive director of Democracy NC, a nonpartisan organization. “These lawmakers are role models for their colleagues in recognizing that campaigns and elections are public activities, not private affairs.”
For more information, see Democracy NC’s press release here (.pdf). Read the Raleigh News & Observer’s coverage here.
Rep. Martin spoke out
against HB 810, a bill that will allow predatory lenders to charge exorbitant interest rates to citizens. The bill would place a particular burden on our servicemembers and is opposed by the leaders of all North Carolina’s military bases. Our senior citizens would also be harmed and the AARP is opposed to the bill.
You can watch a press conference on WRAL’s website where Rep. Martin was joined by other legislators and military leaders in opposing this harmful bill. Rep. Martin’s talk begins at 2:25.
Grier Martin was the keynote speaker at the Town of Garner’s Veteran’s Day Celebration, Nov. 11, 2010 at at Aversboro Road Baptist Church. Martin spoke of the need to take care of our current generation of returning veterans. 
Martin is an Army veteran of Afghanistan and currently serves in the Army Reserve with an airborne unit at Fort Bragg. He has worked tirelessly in the General Assembly on veterans issues and was named the Legislator of the Year in 2007 by the NC Department of the Disabled American Veterans.
Read more about the Celebration in the Garner News here and here.
The Raleigh News & Observer today endorsed Grier Martin, noting that the district “has been well-represented by this Army veteran of the war in Afghanistan and articulate student of major issues. Martin will be particularly valuable in working on the budget this year, and his work with constituents and their needs is known to be tireless. He has truly earned their support.”
The endorsement is available here. For other endorsements of Grier Martin, click here.
The non-partisan North Carolina Voters for Clean Elections (NCVCE) coalition has released its 2010 legislative scorecard giving Grier Martin a perfect 100% score for his support of reform to our political system. The coalition also rated lawmakers on their lifetime support for reform. Martin was one of only 23% percent of legislators to receive a perfect 100% lifetime rating.
“Our political system lies at the heart of our democracy,” said Martin. “I am honored to be recognized for my efforts to bring badly-needed reform to our system.”
For the full scorecard click here (.pdf).
For more on Grier’s efforts to reform our system click here.
Grier has been endorsed by The Independent weekly newspaper. In in its endorsement, The Independent noted Martin’s “legislative prowess” in contrast with his opponent: “Henion has boasted of his business experience yet has omitted a few details, such as the one-year overdue tax bill he paid the day before he filed to run and the $7,000 he owes to BB&T for a failed business venture in 1999.”
The Independent also praised Martin’s “numerous awards, such as being named 2007 Legislator of the Year by the state chapter of the Disabled American Veterans and given the “Defender of the Environment” distinction from the Conservation Council of N.C. this year and the “Sunshine Award” from Democracy N.C. in 2009.”
For other endorsements of Grier Martin click here
Rep. Martin spoke tonight to a meeting of the Wake/Johnson/Franklin/Granville/Wilson unit of the Independent Garage Owners of North Carolina (IGO). The IGO is a trade organization serving small businesses in the automotive repair, service and collision industry. Grier spoke about the importance of IGO members getting involved in what goes on at the General Assembly.
He cited an example of a time a garage owner came to him with a needed change to legislation. Rep. Martin was able to get the legislation changed quickly as a result of the useful input from the garage owner. Without the garage owner making the effort, the change might not have happened.
Rep. Martin also noted the important role IGO member small businesses play in our state’s economy. They provide jobs that cannot be outsourced to other states or countries and have continued to provide these jobs even in tough economic times.
Rep. Martin Speaks to American Legion Post 116
Rep. Grier Martin addressed the monthly meeting of American Legion Post 116 in Fuquay-Varina. After a well-prepared grilled dinner, Rep. Martin spoke about things the legislature has done to help North Carolina veterans and military families. Post members also expressed several concerns, with jobs and employment at the top of the list.