Mayor Martin's journey began during one of the most challenging times for the United States and Port St. Lucie – the aftermath of the Great Recession. Her unwavering dedication became instrumental in the city's remarkable recovery.
Throughout her tenure, Mayor Martin has orchestrated significant accomplishments that have transformed Port St. Lucie into a beacon of fiscal responsibility and prosperity. Demonstrating her strategic acumen, the city achieved successive reductions in debt and the millage (tax) rate for eight consecutive years, underscoring her commitment to lowering taxes and supporting economic growth.
Under Mayor Martin's leadership, Port St. Lucie underwent impressive transformations. She played an integral role in completing crucial projects, including the Crosstown Parkway extension and bridge to US1, the Port St. Lucie Boulevard South widening initiative, and numerous other road improvements.
Her vision and dedication led to the development of the city's Southern Grove jobs corridor, with thriving institutions such as the Cleveland Clinic, Keiser University, TAMCO, Accel, Fed Ex, Cheney Brothers, Amazon Distribution, Oculus Surgical, and many others. The remarkable progress in this corridor defied expectations, reaching near-completion in only six years, contrasting with the 20-year forecast. Mayor Martin eagerly anticipates additional forthcoming economic opportunities that will bring an influx of high-wage jobs to Port St. Lucie, completing the grand vision for the Jobs Corridor.
Championing the Parks & Recreation Department's Ten-year Master Plan, Mayor Martin has been at the forefront of bringing two new neighborhood parks, Woodland Trails Park and Winterlakes Park, to areas in need of recreational spaces. Her instrumental role in the design and concept plan for Pioneer Park, a unique children's playground in the City's Port District, highlights her dedication to fostering a vibrant community for the city's young residents. Her unwavering support for two additional regional parks, Torino & Tradition Regional Parks, further illustrates her commitment to creating exceptional recreational opportunities that enhance the quality of life for all residents.
Mayor Martin's deep-rooted commitment to public safety is evident in her support for the Port St. Lucie Police Department's tireless efforts in keeping crime rates low. Through her tenure, Port St. Lucie has been consistently recognized as the Safest Large City in Florida. To further enhance public safety and community well-being, Mayor Martin actively advocated for the establishment of the District 5 police district for western Port St. Lucie, a reinforced traffic unit, and a Police Training Facility.
With a keen eye on the city's future, Mayor Martin eagerly anticipates the implementation of the City Center Master Plan and the redevelopment of City Center on Port St. Lucie's east side. Her passion for realizing Port St. Lucie's full potential is complemented by her faith in the city's citizen-driven Strategic Plan, which sets the vision for the city's future and prioritizes projects based on citizen input. As Mayor, she remains committed to upholding fiscal responsibility while ensuring the practical allocation of resources to address the city's evolving needs.
Beyond her mayoral duties, Mayor Martin actively engages in various key roles, serving as a member of the St. Lucie Transportation Organization (TPO) to secure future road connectivity and public transportation services for the city's growing population. She also devotes her time as a board member for the St. Lucie County Fire District and as the Chair of the Humane Society of St. Lucie County.
Mayor Martin's love for Port St. Lucie runs deep, having moved to the city with her family in 2006. Beyond her role in public service, she is a paralegal by profession, and her husband, Aaron, proudly serves as a city Police Sergeant. Together, they take immense pride in their two college-aged children – son, Nicholas, and daughter, Jordan.