City of MantecaCandidate for City Council

I was born and raised in Orlando, Florida. I’m a US Military Veteran; formerly US Army, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. I currently live in Manteca, CA, with my best friend, my wife, the love of my life, Suzette. We were Blessed with 5 children. Two of them are married to outstanding men of honor and three of them are still at home.  

I hold a Bachelor’s Science Degree in Administration of Justice from the University of Phoenix and an MBA Graduate of Southern New Hampshire University. I am knowledgeable to understand complex issues, business protocol and financial policies and procedures. 

As a United States Army veteran, I served my country and I am committed to the Constitution of the US and the safety and security of our citizens. I was prepared to fight to protect our land and I have the necessary training, discipline, and skills, needed to secure positive and effective outcomes. 

As Youth Coach for Lathrop Lions Football Academy and the Lathrop and Manteca Parks & Recreation programs, I have built long lasting relationships within my community’s youth population. I have earned their respect, by listening to their words, equipping them with positive options of creating a better self and developing pathways towards individual sustainability and accountability. 

As a former Co-Chair of a non-profit organization, which focus was educating underserved community for students with disabilities, I understand the need for inclusivity. Serving our most vulnerable populations and being inclusive of every citizen, essential to the well-being and stabilization of our community. 

As a current Executive Board Member for a non-profit organization providing Education, Technology, Trade, Arts, financial literacy, and community resources, I understand the needs of the office I seek.  (In my current role as Director of Trade for a local non-profit, I am committed and dedicated in seeking solutions to ensure that our Manteca homeless are equipped and prepared to enter the job force and become successful in employment retention.  

I enjoy ministry, Politics, Madden, and tennis. My philosophy and guiding principles in life are Faith, Family, and Friends and in that order. I also believe, like the great author: Alex Haley- "Find the good and celebrate it!"  

David Martin Sr.

I am running because our youth needs a voice to counter the “Defund Police” narrative. I am advocating for the creation a new class in every classroom in the city of Manteca (hopefully the country one day) which is similar to the JROTC (Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps) class that is currently offered in high school. This new class will be the JPCFC (Junior Police & Community Foundation Corps). The JPCFC’s purpose is to expose/introduce the youth of our community to the police in their community. I believe this will encourage Police & Community see each other in a positive light through mentor-ship, citizenship, leadership, vocational training, and recreation programs we provide positive alternatives. With the help of civic groups, members of the community and concerned corporations I am determined to save our communities, one child at a time. This program can be staffed by Police Officers, Police Department staff members, and concerned and dedicated members of our community. All of staff members can volunteer their time and efforts which would allow the Foundation to dedicate 100% of all funds raised directly to programs that benefit at risk youth. We have a choice to make; invest in our youth now or we can pay for their incarceration later.

I am also running for office to restore fiscal accountability and transparency at City Hall. I do not believe we need to put a 1% sales tax on the ballot to pay for 12 City Management staff in excess of $2.5 million dollars on an annual basis when we have homelessness on the rise with people living under highway bridges and an unemployment rate above 4.5% and 15.9% in San Joaquin County. We need more diversity at City Hall and a Federal Affirmative Action plan that also seeks to recruit/hire from within the City of Manteca.

I believe we need to partner closer with Manteca’s Community Resource Officer, Mike Kelley and allow him to do the good job he and his team have already been doing with our Homeless Crisis. Let’s couple his efforts with an investment into Manteca’s very first Resource Center whose mission will be to serve people with an emphasis on education, financial literacy, mental health, community resources, empowerment and simply providing hope to those who are in need.

The Resource Center will have a broad scope of focus with hopes of building sustainability of the people in need. The mission will focus on teaching independence and interdependence through a balanced lifestyle to encourage the start of new, positive habits. The program will be structured to provide an array of services which will create an opportunity to equip the whole person. This will ultimately produce an effective change of perspective of a greater self-image.

The Resource Center will be built upon a community model with a collaborative effort of community partners who share the same goals: Teach the homeless to be fishermen of life, keep the homeless productive, setting goals for themselves, and thinking positive about their future. This collective work will enable the Resource Center to develop an organic and individualized approach in assessing the needs of the individual. The individualized approach affords an opportunity to provide a “leg-up” and not a “hand out” mind set, equipping people with customized tools necessary in their personal development. Additionally, this methodology will inspire and empower people in maintaining an independent and productive life. 

We need things to change. We don't need to be popular; we just need to be true to ourselves, our values, and our standards. We need bold and principled leadership for Manteca.  As a council member, I will always put doing the right thing for all Mantecans first and I would appreciate your support.

David Martin Sr.