Henri Martin is a Republican member of the Connecticut State Senate. First elected to the Senate in 2014, he has represented Connecticut's 31st State Senate district since 2015.
Henri Martin | |
---|---|
Member of the Connecticut State Senate from the 31st district | |
Assumed office January 12, 2015 | |
Preceded by | Jason Welch |
Constituency | represents Bristol, Harwinton (part), Plainville (part), Plymouth, and Thomaston |
Personal details | |
Political party | Republican |
Residence | Bristol |
Martin graduated from Bristol Central High School in 1974 and received a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Saint Anselm College in 1978.[1] He is a real estate broker.[1] He owns Henri Martin Real Estate and Broad Street Self Storage.[2]
From 2011 to 2013,[1] Martin was a member of the Bristol City Council.[3]
He won election to the Senate seat for the 31st district in 2014, in the open seat being vacated by Republican Jason Welch, who decided not to run for reelection.[3] Martin defeated Democratic nominee Robert Michalik, the town attorney for Plainville.[3] In addition to Bristol and Plainville, the 31st district includes Harwinton, Plymouth, and Thomaston.[3] The legislature's addition of Thomaston to the 31st district in 2012 (during the redistricting process) gave the district more Republican-leaning voters, helping Martin to prevail in 2014.[3] In the 2016 election, Martin defeated Democratic nominee Michael Nicastro, who previously led the Central Connecticut Chamber of Commerce.[2][3] Martin was reelected in the 2018 election, defeating Democratic nominee Christopher Wright, a former state representative.[4] Martin won reelection in the 2020 election, defeating Bristol City Councilwoman Mary Fortier, the Democratic candidate.[5][6] In 2022, Martin won a fifth term, defeating Democratic nominee Greg Hahn, a Bristol city councilman.[7][8]
Martin opposes legalization of marijuana in Connecticut,[9] and has been an outspoken opponent of proposals to introduce highway tolls in the state.[10][11][12]
In 2017, Martin voted in favor of a gambling expansion bill to allow the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan tribes to develop a casino in East Windsor.[13] In 2020, Martin opposed Governor Ned Lamont's proposal to join the Transportation and Climate Initiative to reduce carbon emissions; like other Republicans, Martin arguing that the proposal would increase energy prices.[14] In 2022, Martin voted against an abortion safe-harbor bill.[15]
Martin was one of two ranking Republican members of the Transportation Committee in 2019,[16] and in 2023 he was the ranking Republican member of the Finance Revenue and Bonding Committee (which considers tax measures in Connecticut).[17][18] He is also a member of the State Bond Commission; in that role, he has criticized the Connecticut Port Authority over its oversight of a long-troubled project to redevelop the New London-based State Pier.[19][20][21]