| An
amazing transformation |
|
A
former high school baseball standout turns
his attention to politics and opens a lobbying
firm
|
|
BY
MATT MONAGHAN
Statesman Journal
|
| In
1987, Justin Martin was a star athlete at McKay
High School with visions of major-league glory.
The last things on his mind were his education,
or Native American politics. |
| But
17 years later, Martin is on the cutting edge
of tribal affairs in Oregon government. He has
been nationally recognized for his lobbying
work with the Confederated Tribes of the Grand
Ronde. |
| In
between, Martin went from self-proclaimed jock
to Harvard-educated lobbyist - a journey he
never imagined. |
| "I
thought I was going to go on and play ball,"
Martin says. "I never gave much thought
about my heritage or my studies." |
| The
intersection of Justin Martin 's two lives began
on a baseball field in Arizona in the spring
of 1992. |
| After
four years of riding buses through the Midwest,
pitching in the minor leagues for the California
Angels, Martin was given his release, the equivalent
of a baseball pink-slip. |
| Three
days later he was back in Salem, and not long
after that, riding his bike to a job in Brooks
where he made plastic baseballs. |
| Without
a college education, Martin enrolled at Chemeketa
Community College, then went on to Western Oregon
University where he earned a degree in Public
Policy and Public Administration. |
| While
at Western Oregon, Martin began to take an interest
in his Native American heritage, seeing opportunities
to link government and his member tribe, Grand
Ronde. |
| In
1995, State Representative Terry Thompson came
to the tribe looking for someone to work during
the 1995 Oregon legislative session. Immediately,
he liked Martin 's personality. |
| "I
just thought he was so sharp and was super-talented,"
Thompson recalls. "I knew within a short
time that he was a self-motivated person and
was going to be successful in whatever he did."
|
| That
experience with the state legislature furthered
Martin 's interest in politics. |
| By
1997 he was working for Grand Ronde as the director
of Intergovernmental Affairs, a department he
helped create to raise public awareness and
create coalitions at the state and federal levels
of government. |
| The
department was so innovative that the tribe
was honored with an award by the John F. Kennedy
School of Government at Harvard University.
|
When
Harvard officials met Martin , they saw what
Thompson liked and invited Martin to come to
Massachusetts and earn a master's degree from
the prestigious university.
Martin was awestruck by the offer. |
| "I
never really buckled down or thought I was a
student," said Martin . "At first
I was like, `What, are you kidding me? Harvard?'
" |
| In
the summer of 2003, Martin packed his bags and
moved east, leaving behind his wife for 12 months
of study. |
| When
he returned to Salem in June 2004, he immediately
set up his own consulting firm, Perseverance
Strategies, which he runs with his assistant,
Nichoel Holmes. |
| Though
Martin plans to continue representing Grand
Ronde, he would like to expand his lobbying
services to other tribes in Oregon and across
the United States. |
| Among
his broad goals for the Native American political
movement, Martin says he wants to build better
understanding between the tribes and elected
officials. |
| He
also wants to develop legislative programs that
would address healthcare and education issues
in the Indian community. |
| "Enhancing
relationships and government lobbying - it isn't
rocket science," Martin says. "It's
rolling up your sleeves and letting people know
you want to be at the table and getting your
point across. You create a lot of bridges when
you get out and meet people." |
| As
for his other career, baseball, Martin is happy
to leave the game behind with fond memories
. |
| "I
loved playing baseball, but that feels like
my past. My future is doing what I am now,"
says Martin . |
| |
