Greg Martin is no politician.
And that may be one of the best reasons the 50-year-old Weatherford man can give voters to elect him as the next president of the United States."It's high time someone steps out who is not a politician," said Martin, a self-employed Republican whose occupations have ranged from professional golf to filmmaking. "I feel like I'm better qualified than a lot of the politicians, especially the career politicians."Martin has filed federal paperwork to start his bid for the White House, which makes him at least the 17th Texan to formally throw his hat into the race for president next year.Gov. Rick Perry has drawn the most attention with his bid, climbing the polls and claiming front-runner status. Martin and U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Lake Jackson also are among the eight Texas Republicans in the race. There also are four independents, two Libertarians, one Eco-Green Party candidate and one Madisonian Federalist in the race. One Texas Democrat is in the presidential race so far.Martin, who grew up in Fort Worth, has been involved in several careers -- from creating and running start-up businesses to helping create Mancuso-Martin Entertainment, a filmmaking business with actor Nick Mancuso. Martin and his wife, Elaine, who have six children and seven grandchildren, moved to Weatherford in 2010 after living in Pennsylvania for 17 years.Martin said he considered running for president in 2008 but shied away from it because the timing didn't seem right. "With the way the country is now, I wish I had run," he said.If elected, Martin said he's ready to make some changes, among them creating the first Emergency Economic Summit of World Leaders to discuss ways to "avert a total global finance meltdown" and directing military advisers and leaders "to act swiftly and decisively to bring those operations to a successful conclusion and then bring our troops home."This is his first bid for public office."Like a lot of Americans, I am fed up with the beltway politics and pork-barrel spending that has driven this country into a deep, downward spiral," Martin said. "It is time to move away from politics as usual in Washington, D.C. America needs a candidate with integrity and strong leadership who truly understands the issues and challenges that we face as a nation. I am running for president because I am that candidate."Mancuso said he believes his business partner is the right man for the job."Greg Martin is a leader and fully understands why America is in serious trouble," he said. "He is a man who cares about people. I support him and will do anything I can to see he is elected."Texas Republicans other than Perry, Paul and Martin who are running are Jared Blankenship of Hereford, Timothy T. Day of Galveston, Harold Heard of Frisco, Gabriel Jimenez of El Paso and Vern Wuensche of Houston. The Democrat is Willie Felix Carter of Fort Worth, who is making his seventh bid.The independents are Jeffrey "Jeff" Barea of Denton, Michael David Elder of Dallas, John Hoelzel Jr. of Ivanhoe and Scott Andrew Cain of Garland. The Libertarians are Roger Gary of San Antonio and R. Lee Wrights of Burnet. The Eco-Green Party candidate is John "Green" Ferguson of Azle, and the Madisonian Federalist candidate is Thaddaus Hill of New Ulm.Online: www.gregmartin2012.comAnna M. Tinsley,817-390-7610Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
