James Martin seeks state school board District 7 seat

James Martin, a Democrat, is running for Utah State Board of Education District 7 in the Tuesday, Nov. 3 general election. The seat is for the rest of an unexpired term. Republican Erin Longacre is also in the race.

Asked why he is running, Martin said in our questionnaire: "I have been in service to public education for 28 years. I am in my 29th year, this year teaching special education in Granite School District." He added: "It is better to have actual educators on school board who understand schools, classrooms, teachers, families, and student needs from an insider perspective."

Candidate information

Party: "Democrat"

Family: "I take care of my dad who has dementia. He is 89 years old and lives with me. We employ a full-time caregiver to take care of his needs while I am at work. I also have a 22 year-old son who also still lives at home."

Education: "I have a Bachelor of Education from Westminster University in Elementary Education with a theatre minor. I hold endorsements and licenses in English as a Second Language, theatre K-12, secondary language arts, advanced reading, and special education, and I hold an administrative/supervisory credential. I received a Master of Education in 1999 from the University of Utah in teaching and learning and then a Doctorate of Education in Education Leadership and Policy, also from the U. I recently went back to school to get a Master f Fine Arts in theatre from the University of Idaho at Moscow."

Experience and public service

Asked about his work history, Martin said in our questionnaire: "I am currently teaching special education to a class of students with severe disabilities including Autism and Down Syndrome. I was a principal in Salt Lake City School District … I have worked in urban and rural schools, at elementary and secondary levels."

He also said: "I spent two years in school improvement as a Utah State Board education specialist, where I worked with schools struggling to make adequate progress. I teach theatre for Salt Lake Community College at the Utah State Correctional Facility."

Asked about previous office, Martin said: "This is my first time on the ballot! I have served on nonprofit boards including for Wasatch Theatre Company as its Executive Director (since 1997) and the Utah Cultural Alliance."

According to his campaign website, Martin also served as a board member at the Utah Education Association, representing Salt Lake, Tooele and Murray education associations, and as a state director at the National Education Association.

On the issues

Asked what sets him apart, Martin said in our questionnaire: "I also do not support the use of public funds for private schools. We should be focusing on ways to build up our public schools, which are seeing declining enrollment."

He continued: "I also believe that the sensitive materials law supported by the state board is causing more damage than good. I am a proponent of finding local solutions to issues of curriculum and book selection. And finally, I am an artist and would protect budget cuts that affect the arts."

On the Utah Fits All scholarship program, Martin said: "If the Supreme Court uploads the ruling against Utah Fits All, this is a victory for Utah. There is money needed for public schools that is being redirected to the Utah First All program, and the program doesn't have suitable accountability."