Meet Lisa Martin, Candidate For Bowie City Council

BOWIE, MD — The office of mayor and six councilmembers for Bowie will be on the ballot Nov. 7. There are at least two or more candidates running for Districts 1-4 and the two at-large seats, including Lisa Martin who is running for District 2A & 2B. Two candidates are vying for the office of mayor.

Martin shared information with Patch about herself and her interest in running for office.

What ways can people contact you with questions?
I can be reached via my email address: contact@Martin4District2.com or my website: http://www.Martin4District2.com

Age as of election day?
I will be 57 years of age.

Place of residence?
City of Bowie, Prince George’s County, Maryland.

Family members?
I am the only girl with three older brothers and 1 younger brother, married to a 23-year veteran and retired Master Sergeant of the United States Army, with one child and three stepchildren.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?
No

Education?
I earned my bachelor of arts in political science from Howard University Class ’89; earned a master of science in counseling from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Nevada; earned a master of arts in teaching: special education from Trinity College, Washington, D.C; and studied education administration and policy studies towards a PhD. from Catholic University, Washington, D.C.

Occupation?
I am a former Nevada State Department of Corrections Correctional Officer, former educator and assistant director for incarcerated youth in the District of Columbia Public School and Baltimore City Public Schools. Currently, I am a crisis interventionist and resource in Prince George’s County Public School System.

Previously held elected or appointed political positions?
No

Why are you running for office?
I believe we need a change in how our representatives must be more responsive to the needs of the people who they represent and not just be reactive. I know that I am that voice of change.

The single most pressing issue facing voters is: having no trust, no consistency or no follow- through by their representative. I will be responsive to the needs of my constituents /citizens and address the concerns and needs of the city. This is what I intend to do about it.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?
The critical differences between myself and the candidates for dity of Bowie Council-District 2 is that I will fight for cooperative, collaborative and responsive representation for the people of the cty of Bowie. I want the residents of my district to know me, and know that I have availed myself to hear their concerns and needs. That is why as a candidate for District 2, I have already implemented free community collaboration forums to actually hear the concerns of the residents. The critical difference, I don’t just talk about a change, I am making the change.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)? As a challenger to the city of Bowie Council-District 2 seat, I have talked to many residents who do not know their current council member's name. He has held this seat for six years. He has failed the District 2 community by not knowing or listening to the concerns of its residents, conduct an inquiry into those concerns, nor collaborate with the entire city of Bowie Council to implement policies that would address those concerns.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform. What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?
The key issues my campaign is focusing on is #1 public safety. I will effectively address crime that is on the rise in the city as a whole and in District 2, and work collaboratively with businesses, that the citizens rely on for their most basic needs, to mitigate the relocation of those businesses to other responsive areas. I will work with the city of Bowie Police Department, which has over 67 full-time police officers to meet the needs of a city with over 58k residents to develop a more efficient utilization of our police department to address the concerns of the residents. I will work together with our police department and public safety to develop a positive and inclusive community engagement to increase a more positive perception and interaction with our city of Bowie Police Department. I will work to reduce the negative perception of policing as a whole, and finally, I will introduce and advocate for updated ordinances as those for which our public safety personnel currently operates is outdated, inconsistent and does not effectively address the concerns of the citizens.

#2. Community Outreach. I will work for accessible mental health and family committed resources and services to address the concerns that our youths and families are facing today. I will advocate for the improvement in our senior services available within our city to meet their current social, emotional and financial needs, and will collaborate to develop a more cooperative and responsive relationship with current and proposed businesses to implement incentives that specifically support our seniors.

Finally, #3, I will work tirelessly to implement a more diverse, inclusive and vibrant community. I will work to develop accessible educational services to introduce and understand the diverse customs and traditions of our residents to promote a more positive and inclusive community. I work with youths and families in crisis everyday to resolve issues and concerns without criticism or judgement. My ability to listen, to understand and to be present to address those issues and concerns without judgement is the core tenet and ethics from which my training in counseling has prepare me to find cooperation, collaboration and compromise. That is what makes me able to handle the responsibility of City Council member.

The best advice ever shared with me was: Being raised in a family of public servants who placed their communities safety over their own, and being a former correctional officer myself, my parents inspired in me to be always be “fair, firm and consistent.”

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions? I want voters to know that I just don’t talk about change I am and will make that change.