You Ask the Candidates: P.K. Martin IV

Recently, Lawrenceville Patch reached out to the community for questions they wanted to ask the . All this week, we will be featuring the candidates' responses to your inquiries.

P.K. Martin IV lives in Forest Hills with his wife Amanda and their two children. Martin manages his family run Hood Insurance Agency. He is the incumbent in Post 4 and has served on the City Council for the past six years.

How important do you think the  is to the overall prosperity and quality of life in Lawrenceville?

Martin: Every city needs to have a vibrant commercial district. Lawrenceville is blessed with an “ideal town square." This is not common, and in fact the only representation of such in the county. The square also provides a place for our community to gather, share festivals together, and it also provides Lawrenceville with an identity all its own. Six years ago, I saw the potential of our downtown district and realized that it could also drive good development outwards if it became successful. Today we are working on building the connections from our downtown toward two commercial and job centers, Gwinnett Medical Center and Georgia Gwinnett College and we are working on completing a walking connection to Rhodes Jordan Park.

Would you change anything about Lawrenceville's current ? If so, what would you change? If not, why?

Martin: Any ordinance should be looked at regularly to make sure it is still serving its purpose and is still efficient in the way that it does so. We are currently looking at the alcohol ordinance to do just that. To continue to improve our city and what it has to offer, we must ensure we are attracting upscale restaurants and retail businesses that the people of Lawrenceville tell me they want, this change will allow us to do that and remain competitive with other cities in Gwinnett and throughout the region. 

Do you think ? Why or why not?

Martin: I do not think we should allow scheduled commercial service to Briscoe Field, but I believe that a general aviation airport can be a huge asset to a community. I have no problem with Gwinnett County considering privatization as long as commercial service is off the table. Through better management and marketing our airport can bring more business and revenue both to the county and Lawrenceville, and I am all for better management. I have fought during this whole process for the Gwinnett County Commission to listen to the voice of the people of Lawrenceville, and I know it has made a difference.

What, if anything, would you do to develop the economy within the city limits of Lawrenceville to continue the revitalization efforts?

Martin: We have to make use of every tool that the state law makes available. We will be giving college corridor and Pike Street TAD districts final approval at our November meeting, pending review of bond attorneys. These projects moved slower than we wanted, but with our new Mayor and Council they will become great assets. We also just hired a consultant to help conduct a study of our college corridor project, which will better connect our city with all the development that will continue to happen around Georgia Gwinnett College.  The Gwinnett Medical Center expansion is also another great engine of growth. Jobs and consumers are being created by both the college and hospital system. We have to take hold of our current opportunities so that we can be ready when the economy turns, and be ahead of the pack. I do not believe it is okay to be near the rear of the pack, as we have been for the past couple of years. We believe that our current mayor and council have a vision for a better Lawrenceville that is a leader, not just in Gwinnett and our immediate region, but an example for the whole State of Georgia.

Are  important within a city and specifically within a downtown district? Why or why not.

Martin: Green space offers our citizens a place to gather, relax, play and unwind. It also adds to the overall aesthetic of the city. A large park downtown will add both a place for larger festivals, become an amenity to our business district, attract young families and young professionals to live in our city, and become an engine for economic development.