GMU dean seeks 39th District Senate seat

Prince William County, Va. -- Scott Martin, an assistant dean at George Mason University, announced Tuesday his plans to seek a state Senate seat representing part of Prince William County.

Martin, who was born in Dumfries, wants the GOP nomination for the 39th District, which takes in portions of northern Prince William and southern Fairfax County.

That area is currently represented by Sen. George L. Barker, a Democrat. He defeated incumbent Republican J.K. "Jay" O'Brien Jr. in 2007.

Talk about another run by O'Brien has been mentioned on conservative blogs and in GOP circles, but efforts to reach him Tuesday were unsuccessful.

Martin is assistant dean for technology, research and advancement at GMU's College of Visual & Performing Arts. He is also the founder and director of the university's computer game design program and is a tenured associate professor.

The 46-year-old educator, who ran unsuccessfully for a Fairfax County School Board seat in 2003, has detailed several planks of his campaign platform on his Web site, including plans to submit legislation to direct public colleges to preserve more seats for state residents and to cut costs in non-academic programs to help make tuition more affordable.

Martin also indicated that he would propose measures to end the business license tax and to help non-violent offenders start businesses when their prison sentences end.

He would submit legislation that would ban red-light cameras in Virginia and that would develop public-private partnerships aimed at ending gridlock on the bridge on Old Yates Ford Road linking Prince William and Fairfax counties across the Occoquan Reservoir.

He also said Virginia should explore a tiered salary reduction program for state employees.

The proposals Martin laid out seemed very specific considering the election for the Senate is more than a year away.

But the candidate said working in higher education brings a propensity to discuss details.

"I'm an idea guy," he told a reporter.

The General Assembly also will redraw legislative boundaries before the 2011 election. But Martin said he's confident his home will still lie in the 39th District after the wrangling over political lines is done.

"I have lived and worked with people from nearly every walk of life, and I have had to prove myself during every phase of my life as a student in public education, as a student in higher education, and professionally," he said in a prepared statement. "I'm ready to prove myself again to the citizens of the 39th Senate District."

Martin lives in Fairfax Station and has been married to his wife, Vera, for 22 years. The couple has three sons.

Staff writer Jonathan Hunley can be reached at 703-369-5738.