Mike Martin (politician)
Encyclopedia
Michael Wayne Martin, known as Mike Martin (born ca. 1951), is a Republican
former member of the Texas House of Representatives
from District 13. At the time, Martin resided in Longview
in Gregg County
. He served from January 1981 until his resignation in April 1982.
In the 1981 House session, Martin offered one bill, which never came to a vote, a proposal to require the teaching of creationism
along with the theory of evolution in public school science classes. He was voted among the "Ten Worst Legislators" by Texas Monthly
magazine.
In the summer of 1981, Martin as a freshman legislator working on redistricting in a special session, was living in a recreational vehicle at a mobile home park in east Austin
. Four shotgun blasts were fired at his vehicle on the night of July 31, and three struck Martin in his left arm. At first he attributed the shooting to a Satanic cult that he had been investigating. Thereafter, Charles Goff, a cousin of Martin's, said that he had fired the shots at Martin's behest to gain political sympathy for the young lawmaker who was contemplating a run for the Texas State Senate in 1982. Goff also said that Martin had offered him a high-paying state job. Authorities located Martin at his mother's farmhouse in northeast Texas hiding in a stereo cabinet. He was charged with perjury
by District Attorney Ronnie Earle
and subsequently resigned from the state House after a protracted legal fight. By 2007, Martin said that the shots were the result of a road rage
incident which he had instigated on South Congress Avenue in Austin.
In the 1980 general election
, Martin, who then listed his occupation as a carpenter, unseated the Democrat
Representative James E. Mankins. In the spring of 1982, Mankins staged a successful comeback to regain the seat in a special election called upon Martin's resignation.
In 2007, Martin, then fifty-five and an electrical engineer for a hospital, was living in Travis County
and ran for town council in Bee Cave
under the name "Wayne Martin."
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
former member of the Texas House of Representatives
Texas House of Representatives
The Texas House of Representatives is the lower house of the Texas Legislature. The House is composed of 150 members elected from single-member districts across the state. The average district has about 150,000 people. Representatives are elected to two-year terms with no term limits...
from District 13. At the time, Martin resided in Longview
Longview, Texas
Longview is a city in Gregg and Harrison Counties in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 80,455. Most of the city is located in Gregg County, of which it is the county seat; only a small part extends into the western part of neighboring Harrison County. It is...
in Gregg County
Gregg County, Texas
There were 42,687 households out of which 33.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.00% were married couples living together, 13.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.50% were non-families. 26.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.50% had...
. He served from January 1981 until his resignation in April 1982.
In the 1981 House session, Martin offered one bill, which never came to a vote, a proposal to require the teaching of creationism
Creationism
Creationism is the religious beliefthat humanity, life, the Earth, and the universe are the creation of a supernatural being, most often referring to the Abrahamic god. As science developed from the 18th century onwards, various views developed which aimed to reconcile science with the Genesis...
along with the theory of evolution in public school science classes. He was voted among the "Ten Worst Legislators" by Texas Monthly
Texas Monthly
Texas Monthly is a monthly American magazine headquartered in Austin, Texas. Texas Monthly is published by Emmis Publishing, L.P. and was founded in 1973 by Michael R. Levy, Texas Monthly chronicles life in contemporary Texas, writing on politics, the environment, industry, and education...
magazine.
In the summer of 1981, Martin as a freshman legislator working on redistricting in a special session, was living in a recreational vehicle at a mobile home park in east Austin
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
. Four shotgun blasts were fired at his vehicle on the night of July 31, and three struck Martin in his left arm. At first he attributed the shooting to a Satanic cult that he had been investigating. Thereafter, Charles Goff, a cousin of Martin's, said that he had fired the shots at Martin's behest to gain political sympathy for the young lawmaker who was contemplating a run for the Texas State Senate in 1982. Goff also said that Martin had offered him a high-paying state job. Authorities located Martin at his mother's farmhouse in northeast Texas hiding in a stereo cabinet. He was charged with perjury
Perjury
Perjury, also known as forswearing, is the willful act of swearing a false oath or affirmation to tell the truth, whether spoken or in writing, concerning matters material to a judicial proceeding. That is, the witness falsely promises to tell the truth about matters which affect the outcome of the...
by District Attorney Ronnie Earle
Ronnie Earle
Ronald Dale "Ronnie" Earle was, until January 2009, the District Attorney for Travis County, Texas. He became nationally known for filing charges against House majority leader Tom DeLay in September 2005 for conspiring to violate Texas' election law and/or to launder money...
and subsequently resigned from the state House after a protracted legal fight. By 2007, Martin said that the shots were the result of a road rage
Road rage
Road rage is an aggressive or angry behavior by a driver of an automobile or other motor vehicle. Such behavior might include rude gestures, verbal insults, deliberately driving in an unsafe or threatening manner, or making threats. Road rage can lead to altercations, assaults, and collisions...
incident which he had instigated on South Congress Avenue in Austin.
In the 1980 general election
General election
In a parliamentary political system, a general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are chosen. The term is usually used to refer to elections held for a nation's primary legislative body, as distinguished from by-elections and local elections.The term...
, Martin, who then listed his occupation as a carpenter, unseated the Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Representative James E. Mankins. In the spring of 1982, Mankins staged a successful comeback to regain the seat in a special election called upon Martin's resignation.
In 2007, Martin, then fifty-five and an electrical engineer for a hospital, was living in Travis County
Travis County, Texas
As of 2009, the U.S. census estimates there were 1,026,158 people, 320,766 households, and 183,798 families residing in the county. The population density was 821 people per square mile . There were 335,881 housing units at an average density of 340 per square mile...
and ran for town council in Bee Cave
Bee Cave, Texas
Bee Cave is a city in Travis County, Texas, United States. The population was 656 at the 2000 census; in the 2004 census estimate it was 1,700.-Geography:Bee Cave is located at...
under the name "Wayne Martin."