By Nikki Blankenship 12/14/19 6:58 pm
5th Ward applicant Edwin Martell (pictured with wife Jennifer Burnside, daughter Marissa Soto, Xavier Williams) wants great things for the future of the City in which he chose to raise his family.
There are many ways to measure success, but for Edwin Martell, of Portsmouth, success is measured in the ways a person reaches out a helping hand to others.
Martell is one of five Portsmouth residents competing for the 5th Ward Council seat, a position available after the resignation of Councilman Gene Meadows. If chosen for the position, Martell hopes to be a beacon of hope, not only for the citizens of Portsmouth, but more specifically for the children of the 5th Ward.
“I would like to give a voice to those that don’t have one,” Martell stated.
Growing up, Martell had a home-life not too different from that of many Portsmouth children. Originally from the Cleveland area, Martell explained that he grew up around drug addiction, poverty and loss. Five years ago, he and his wife Jennifer Burnside move their family to Portsmouth.
“It was a breath of fresh air,” Martell explained as he talked about the hospitality he was met with when he arrived in Portsmouth. “This place could be a great place to raise our kids.”
This decision was one he could not be more proud of as he has fallen in love with the people of the area. Still, he saw an incredible potential for improvement and found a need to help lessen the problems facing the city.
“I have a very clear understanding of what it is like to grow up with that adversity,” he commented as he went on to explain that he had addiction in his family and experienced the loss of loved ones due to violent crime.
At a young age, Martell made the decision to do things differently. He chose to leave his family, not for loss of love but out of a determination to not become another statistic. He had to work hard to become something different than what he was seeing in his environment. Still, he says that it was through the compassion and guidance of others that he was able to overcome. Now, he works to share that compassion and guidance by serving those facing dark times in their lives.
“I think my story is probably quite different from the other applicants,” he commented. “I came from nothing, but through hard work, I have become a success story.”
Though employed at Tim Short Chrysler Dealership in Portsmouth, Martell also works on a volunteer basis with various community organizations. Through his background and experiences, he aims to show area children that they can grow up to become whatever they hope, no matter where they come from or how difficult their living conditions may be. In that effort, Martell has taken part in various mentoring programs, assisted with Challenge Day (a program designed to help individuals “learn to connect through powerful, life-changing programs in their schools, businesses, communities and families”), and worked with the 14th Street Community Center.
While children are his focus, his passion does not end there. Martell has also dedicated his time helping community improvement efforts including work with groups such as the Friends of Portsmouth and Mainstreet Portsmouth on such programs as the town ambassador program and Winterfest.
“Coming from an outside perspective, I see the potential that this community has to be so much better,” Martell commented. “It’s on such a great path right now and has so much momentum, that when I saw that this position was available I thought what better way to continue this momentum.”
Martell explained that he is continually inspired by the people of Portsmouth as they continue to be resilient and do all they can to lift up one another.
“The pure definition of ‘community’ is Portsmouth, OH,” he stressed.
If appointed to the 5th Ward, he wants to build upon that by inspiring others but also by getting everyone working together on common goals.
“I see so many different organizations that are all doing great things for our community, and one of the things that really interests me is learning how we can all work together to accomplish even more and do better and greater things,” he stated.
It is because of his background and compassion that Martell feels he would be able to bring a different perspective to City Council.
The City of Portsmouth started taking applications for the 5th Ward Council position after Councilman Meadows announced he would be leaving the position last month. Meadow’s resignation will take effect Monday, Dec. 16. The individual appointed to fill the position will serve the remainder of Meadow’s term, up for reelection in two years. Martell is applying alongside Barbara Biggs, Attorney George Davis IV, Will Mault and Rob Black.
City Clerk Diana Ratliff explained that the deadline to apply for the position was Thursday, and Council is expected to interview applicants towards the end of Monday night’s meeting set for 6 p.m. in Council Chambers located on the second floor of the municipal building on Second St. in Portsmouth.
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