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Open Letter to the Constituents of Senate District 3

Posted Aug 15 at 3 PM
Bud Martin submitted the following letter to the newspapers of Senate District 3 on August 14, 2008.

August 14, 2008

Dear Constituents,

I’m Bud Martin, and I would like to introduce myself as a candidate for the New Hampshire State Senate, District 3.

As you may know, there are only 24 Senate seats in our state legislature, three of which cover all of the North Country and nearly half the entire area of our state. District 3, the Eastern Lakes and Mountain region, includes 17 towns – Brookfield, Chatham, Conway, Eaton, Effingham, Farmington, Freedom, Madison, Middleton, Milton, Moultonborough, Ossipee, Tamworth, Sandwich, Tuftonboro, Wakefield and Wolfeboro.

As a recently retired District Court and Family Division judge, I can tell you that my 35 years on the bench have given me a deep appreciation of the wisdom and independence of the people of this state, and also of the great difficulties many families and the elderly are now experiencing in times of soaring fuel and food costs and a stagnating economy.

As a business man, I care very much about fiscal responsibility. But I am not one of those who think the tremendous problems we face today have simple answers, starting with “No.”

I do not believe government is our enemy. How could it be? We are the government. It’s up to us to make it work. But only by working together can we get the job done.

Regardless of our party affiliation, it is up to us to find workable solutions for the crushing fuel prices we face this winter and in the years ahead, to strengthen the economies of our local communities, to find a rational way to pay for schools and ease the growing property tax burden in New Hampshire. It is going to take a bipartisan approach to do this.

As chairman of the Sandwich Planning Board, I also care very much about protecting the great natural resources in District 3, including New Hampshire’s largest aquifer, a water supply that must serve generations in the future. I’m a strong advocate of communities talking to each other about shared challenges like this.

This election, in fact, is all about the community—making it economically strong and caring. I ask for your help in continuing to serve the people of New Hampshire.

Sincerely,

Willard “Bud” Martin, Jr.
"Daylilies and Democrats" a Big Success

Posted Jul 28 at 12 PM
Granite State News, Wolfeboro

July 24, 2008

BROOKFIELD — The

weather gods must have been smiling on the Moose Mountain Area Democrats on Saturday, July 19, during their annual Daylilies and Democrats garden party as the rain held off for everyone to be able to enjoy the party. The event was held at Martha Pike’s beautiful daylily gardens and attended by more than 50 area people eager to see the flowers, eat delicious food and to meet local candidates running for office.

The candidates all took a few minutes to introduce themselves and say a few words about their campaigns. Jeff Ballard, Tom Lavender, Larry Brown, and Tom Buco, all of whom are running for state representative, were there speak and meet the guests. Dorothy Solomon, Henry Spencer and Chip Albee explained their positions on the county issues as they are running for County Commissioner. Ruth Hall, running for Register of Probate for Carroll County, introduced herself and explained what the job entails for the this position and how she feels she would be able to modernize and bring more
efficiency to the office. Mike Cauble, running for Executive
Council, explained the importance of the Executive Council and how it helps the government run smoothly in Concord. Bud Martin, running for state senate District Three, spoke with the group and reminded everyone that government is “us” and we need to take responsibility for our government and ensure that it is doing the job of helping the people of this state with issues from health care, to infrastructure and education. There is a lot that needs to be done and we must work together to move forward to accomplish these goals.

The special guest of honor was Carol Shea-Porter, United States Congresswoman from District 1. She explained the work she has been doing in Washington on behalf of the people of New Hampshire with special attention given to the legislation she introduced to continue and raise the appropriations for helping those who qualify, to pay for their home heating costs this winter. She reminded those present that a civilization is judged by the way it helps its elderly and
less fortunate. With the cost of heating oil being as shocking
as it appears to be for this winter there will be a lot of people out in the cold if they don’t receive some help. Shea-Porter’s slogan is that she will, “work for the rest of us,” who are not able to be in Washington. She has done an exemplary job of being sure that the ordinary citizens, especially veterans from New Hampshire, receive the attention and care that they need. Particpants were delighted that she took time from her busy schedule to come and visit with the Moose Mountain Area Democrats.

For more information concerning the activities of Moose Mountain Area Democrats please contact them by email at moosemtdems@yahoo.com or visit the Carroll County web page for links to the group and the other Democratic groups in Carroll County. The website is www.ccnhdemocrats.org. From now until the election in November there is a Democratic office in the Hodsdon Farm building in Ossipee on Route 16. The hours are Monday through Saturday 1 - 4:15 p.m. Stop by for a visit and to pick up campaign information about all
of the Democrats running for office.
Bud Speaks at Special Education Administrators Training

Posted Apr 23 at 3 PM
April 17 - Judge Bud Martin spoke at NH Special Education Administrators Training in Concord, stressing the need for collaboration and community engagement in helping children succeed.
Retiring from the Bench: Judge Martin Served 35 Years

Posted Apr 16 at 11 AM
Bar News - March 21, 2008

By: Erin Plummer

Hon. Willard “Bud” Martin
Willard "Bud" Martin was sworn in as a judge on his 35th birthday and for the past 35 years he has been an advocate for youths involved in the legal system.
After 35 years, this community advocate has retired from the bench with plans to take his work to the State House.
"I was sworn in on my birthday in 1972," Martin said. "I was 35."
Martin is now 70 and is required by the state to retire from the bench. He will continue his law practice at Martin, Lord & Osman in Laconia as well as continuing with other projects, including a potential run for state senate.
A native of Boston, Martin moved to Laconia in 1941 after his father took a job as a personnel manager for Scott and Williams through his grandfather’s business connections with the company. He lived in Laconia for many years before moving to Gilford and settling in Sandwich, where he lives today.
Martin has worked at his current law practice for 47 years, starting as a clerk.
For the past 35 years he has been a judge for the Laconia District Court and the Ossipee Family Division.
In the 35 years Martin has served as a judge, the most significant development he has seen is the change in how juveniles are managed in the justice system. Martin said the system now favors diversionary and restorative justice "as opposed to adversarial, prosecutorial."
"It really needs to be community-centered legislation (to) move the system from an adversarial, confrontational aspect of finding a kid to be delinquent," he said, "not to judge. That gets in the way of what you really need to do and get the support."
The changes in the juvenile justice system include youths signing a contract of restoration which includes requirements for community services to restore to the community what was taken away when the youths got into trouble. Child and family services also become involved if the youth offender is a victim of abuse or neglect.
Martin said the development of Court Appointed Special Advocates has also helped give a "concept of permanency."
"Every child who was found to be neglected or abused would be guaranteed a permanent plan within 12 months: (either) reintegration with the family or adoption," he said.
The state taking full responsibility for juvenile diversionary and restorative justice has also been a triumph, as the state used to share responsibility with the county. There is also a substance abuse oversight group [in] Belknap and Carroll Counties.
Martin is also a judicial fellow with Reclaiming Futures, an initiative of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation that helps juveniles who are involved with the justice system and have substance abuse issues. The program emphasizes the importance of substance abuse treatment and has set up fellowships of justice officials, such as probation officers, judges, community project directors and others.
Judges from 10 different states gathered in Meredith in October for a two-day curriculum co-organized by Martin for the best ways to treat and manage juvenile offenders with substance abuse issues. He recently took part in a meeting in Chicago to further refine the curriculum. The next session will take place in North Carolina, and [there will be a session] in Ohio after that.
"Martin said the aim of the program is for judges to be "problem-solving judges."
"Problem-solving judges need to be marshaling the community to make sure the restorations are there," Martin said, such as making sure treatment options are available if a drug court is established in the state. "In the past judges said, ‘I can’t talk to anybody; I might compromise my neutrality.’ With children and families you can’t think that way."
Additionally, he has been involved in the renovation of the Busiel Mill at One Mill Plaza where his office is located, as well as in plans to renovate the Laconia parking garage, as well as taken part in other projects in Gilford and Belmont.
After his retirement as a judge, Martin will continue his law practice. Additionally, he plans to run for state senate in District 3.
"I feel like an adolescent," he said. "Suddenly you have all these life choices you’ve got to make."
In the meantime, Martin is looking forward to maple sugaring at his home in Sandwich. His syrup won a blue ribbon at the 2007 Sandwich Fair and placed third for the state’s Carlisle Awards.
Retirement also includes spending more time with his family, including his wife Margaret Demos, and his 14-year-old daughter Gayla.
"I try to make every basketball game on the Inter-Lakes JV team," he said.
Editor’s Note: This article was reprinted with permission from the Laconia Citizen newspaper of Feb. 1, 2008. You can find more articles at www.citizen.com.