FAIRHOPE – Fairhope’s newest City Council member is looking forward to going into office on Nov. 2 and said he hopes that circumstances around his election are a sign that the new term will bring cooperation in municipal government.
Corey Martin was one of two candidates who filed to run for the Place 1 seat being vacated by Jay Robinson, who did not run for re-election. Ben Smith III also registered to run for the position.
Smith withdrew, however, when he learned that Martin was running for the position. He said in a statement that he felt his opponent would better serve Fairhope.
“I believe Corey serving on the City Council will help Fairhope take a step forward. He will work to protect Fairhope while building towards the future. He is passionate about protecting our Mobile Bay for his kids, my grandkids, and for everyone in Fairhope,” Smith said.
“It was a difficult decision, especially given the significant commitments to fund and work on the campaign from so many people. I guess it is good to know that my friends were able to raise $50K in a few days and line up all this support within a week, but this is about doing good not feeling good,” Smith said.
Martin said he was flattered by Smith’s comments and action.
“I believe in the service, leadership role,” Martin said. “I’m not really a politician. Everybody wants to make the municipality a political thing, but it’s really about service and I think that Ben just saw that I had a service heart and I think he really believed that we believe in the same things and that the city was in good hands -- quote, unquote, with me.”
Martin said he and the returning four council members as well as the new mayor, Sherry Sullivan, will face challenges, including the need to improve recreation facilities and utility infrastructure.
I think Sherry’s going to do a good job. The people that we have on the council are going to be able to work together to get some things done going forward and I’m excited about it,” Martin said. “There’s so many things. Particularly continue to move forward with the infrastructure. The previous council did a good job and the mayor of getting things moving forward and we’ve got to carry that forward,”
Martin said the city needs both vision and a willingness to act in order to move forward.
“It’s time for us to have a vision and have action with that,” he said. “Vision without action is merely a daydream. Action without vision is just passing time. With vision and action, you can conquer the world.”
Martin will also be the first black City Council member in Fairhope. About 4.8 percent of the city’s residents are African American, according to US Census reports. Martin said he does not feel race is an issue in city government.
“With all the divisiveness that’s going on in the world today, I believe a person is a person,” he said. “I was never raised to see a person’s skin color. I was always raised to see a person by their character. We do see color, of course. I’m darker than you and you’re lighter than me. But I believe in one human race and I believe God made one human race and we’re all just a little different. So I love everybody and I hope everybody loves me, no matter if you’re black, white green or blue.”
Martin and his wife, Monetia, and their three children have lived in Fairhope for eight years. A nurse anesthetist by profession, Martin has also been active in sports, arts and community service programs.
