Peter F. Martin

Peter F. Martin (born 1941) is an American politician who was a Democratic member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives. He represented the 75th District Newport from January 2009 to January 2015. He primarily served on the House Committees on Judiciary and Veteran’s Affairs. During his earlier terms of office he has served on the House Committees on Small Business, Separation of Powers, Municipal Government, and Government Oversight.

In August 2010, Martin was appointed to a three year term as the Rhode Island Legislative Commissioner on the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission.

During the 2011 legislative session, Martin was successful in obtaining a pardon for John Gordon, an Irish immigrant who was hanged in 1845 for the murder of Amasa Sprague, a Rhode Island mill owner. The pardon was granted and signed by Governor Lincoln Chafee based on a House Judiciary Committee hearing in which conclusive evidence was presented that John Gordon had been given an unfair hearing by a prejudiced court.

In addition to this pardon, Martin was able to get legislation passed to assist the Rhode Island Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force to expedite its investigation of traders of child pornography and other cybercrimes. ^[1]

In June 2011, Martin was awarded the 2011 Legislative of the Year Award by the National Association of Social Workers, Rhode Island Chapter. Martin was chosen for "his consistent work in the legislature for matters of importance to the association and especially for his legislative and personal efforts in the areas of homelessness and mental health issues". A former student at the Boston College Graduate School of Social Work, he served for many years on the board of directors at the Newport County Community Mental Health Center.

In the 2012 legislation session, Martin introduced a bill which would honor military veterans by allowing them to request that their status as an honorably discharged veteran be imprinted on either their operator's license or their state issued identification card. The bill was passed by the House and Senate. It was signed by Chafee and became effective on September 1, 2012. By the end of 2014, 9041 veterans had taken advantage of this opportunity.

In April 2013, Martin was awarded a plaque as the "Legislator of the Year" at the 78th Annual Disabled American Veterans Department Convention in Warwick, Rhode Island. Martin submitted a resolution honoring 2nd Lt. Robert Thorpe, a World War II veteran who was shot down and murdered on May 27, 1944. This lead to Thorpe being posthumously awarded the Rhode Island Star, the highest military honor conveyed by Rhode Island. As a result, Martin was invited to speak at the 2013 Reunion of the 39th Fighter Squardron in October 2013 at San Antonio, Texas. He is currently working with author Ken Dooley on writing a book about Thorpe and the World War II experiences of the 39th Fighter Squadron.

Martin is a member of the board of directors and the webmaster of the Museum of Newport Irish History in Newport, Rhode Island.

Martin ended his six years of service in the Rhode Island House of Representatives in January 2015.

References

External links

• http://stacyhouse.com/ Martin's personal website.