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Dr. Steve Martinez launches campaign for NC District 117

February 12, 2024

Mills River—Dr. Steve Martinez has announced his candidacy to represent District 117 in the North Carolina House of Representatives, pledging to stay in close contact with constituents and work to find practical solutions to their problems.

District 117 includes Fletcher, Mills River, and other communities in northwestern Henderson County.

Dr. Martinez said he decided to run for office to offer voters a true choice. “For several years, there have been many uncontested races on the ballot, and that isn’t right,” he said. “We need to give the people back their voice. It’s not a democracy if voters don’t have a choice. It’s not a democracy if a small group of officials makes decisions without transparency. It’s not a democracy if our districts are gerrymandered to the point that a few partisan leaders are choosing their voters rather than voters choosing their leaders.”

Priorities for the campaign include planned growth, strong public education, respect for human rights, and affordable housing and healthcare.

Dr. Martinez brings a strong background to his candidacy. He is a scientist and Doctor who has worked for 35 years as an anatomical and surgical pathology consultant across the country. He has practiced or taught at numerous university medical centers and hospitals including Yale, Sloan-Kettering, UCLA, and the Cleveland Clinic.

Originally from Colorado, Dr. Martinez has lived in Henderson County for almost 20 years. He and his family were living in Southern California when they began looking for a less hectic place to raise their children. Because he worked in consulting, they could be anywhere that had a convenient airport, and they fell in love with Mills River. They moved here in 2005 and quickly became involved in church and other community programs. Their children attended and graduated from Henderson County Public Schools.

“This is my home, and I would never consider living anywhere else. Thanks to my job, I’ve travelled to all but two states as well as many other places around the world, and I can tell you there is nowhere more beautiful than these mountains. Our people are friendly. The lifestyle has a nice pace. Everything I treasure is all right here.”

Since retiring from medicine, Dr. Martinez is working to become more involved in efforts to make a positive difference in the political arena. Like many others, he has noticed detrimental effects as corporations use their influence to put exorbitant profits over the wellbeing of the people, and he wants to find ways to change course. “Healthcare is where I notice the trend the most—right now, I’m consulting with a hospital in eastern North Carolina that is overwhelmed due to closures of smaller hospitals--but something similar is happening in many other fields. It’s happening with housing and education, and it’s definitely happening with runaway development that has impacted our land and our tourism-based economy.”

In addition to being a retired Doctor, Steve Martinez is a professional musician who plays trumpet for several jazz bands as well as the orchestras of Biltmore Church and First Baptist Church of Hendersonville. He says his faith plays an important role in guiding his decisions, especially around human rights. “I have a very clear memory from when I was a child and my father worked for Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. One day he drove me out into the middle of nowhere. I couldn’t imagine what we were doing, but finally we came to an encampment. People were living in boxes, which I’d never seen. And they were all glad to see my father because he helped them get jobs so they could provide for their families. I’ll never forget that. This is how scripture tells us to live, to help the less fortunate, not to put people in cages or force a ten-year-old rape victim to give birth.”

When he has free time, Dr. Martinez recharges by riding his motorcycle along the backroads of Appalachia. “The beauty never ends,” he said. “I think we have an obligation to carefully manage growth to preserve our natural resources for our children.”

If elected, Dr. Martinez pledges to be involved in the community and to serve the needs of the people without being partisan.

“The extremist-controlled legislature isn’t working for the people; for example, they vote against expanding Medicaid for years, affecting who knows how many lives. My opponent isn’t involved in the community; she just votes straight along party lines. My vote will be based on thoughtful examination of facts, a clear and sober consciousness, and foresight of consequences related to that vote. If people elect me, I will be a problem solver who can work well with other representatives and represent all the people no matter how they voted

For more information about Dr. Martinez and his campaign, visit his website at SteveMartinezNC117.com.

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