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Martin tabbed by F’ville council

By LEE WILLIAMS
lwilliams@TheCitizenNews.com

The Fayetteville City

Council tapped an outgoing Clayton County solicitor general to serve as its new city solicitor.

During Thursday’s regular meeting, the council unanimously voted to add Keith C. Martin of Hampton to the staff roster.

Martin, a former U.S. Marine, will replace Fayetteville City Solicitor Warren Sellers, who will join Griffin Judicial Circuit District Attorney Scott Ballard’s staff as an assistant district attorney.

Martin, a 56-year-old Dekalb County native, is finishing out a 16-year stint as a Clayton County solicitor. He will officially take the helm in Fayetteville in January.

Fayetteville Public Safety Director and Assistant City Manager Johnny Roberts introduced Martin and highlighted some of Martin’s numerous accomplishments. He urged the council to hire Martin.

“Mr. Martin comes to us with a wealth of knowledge,” Roberts said.

Roberts, a long-time friend and former work associate, said he was personally familiar with Martin’s capabilities. “I highly recommend you to approve this appointment,” Roberts said.

Fayetteville Mayor Kenneth Steele told Martin the council was impressed with Martin’s wealth of knowledge. He said the city is lucky to have him.

Martin was chosen out of a total of three candidates. The former Clayton County police officer and Vietnam War veteran will receive $300 per court session and a $1,000 per month retainer for his services.

Martin has an extensive resume.

He has been a member of the Georgia Bar since 1981. He has supervised the prosecution and personally prosecuted local ordinance violations in the Magistrate and State Courts since 1988. He acted as a State Court Judge in Clayton County from 1984 to 1988, according to city officials.

From 1985 to 1988, he also acted as the municipal judge in the City of Riverdale. From 1988 to 2004, he has served as a special prosecutor in municipal cases. Martin has also served as an Assistant District Attorney for Clayton County. In 1988, Martin was elected the Solicitor General of Clayton County and will serve in this position until the end of this year.

Martin has served as President of the Metro Atlanta Solicitors Association, Vice Chair of the Georgia Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council, President of the Clayton County Bar Association, and President of the Georgia Association of Solicitors General and in 2004, he was named the Georgia Solicitor General of the Year. In addition, Martin has published several articles and manuals on DUI investigation and prosecution.

Martin, who also will serve as city solicitor for Tyrone, said he looking forward to serving the citizens of Fayetteville. He said he is more than capable of handling the task.

“I have worked over 70 hours a week, managed 31 people and managed 50,000 cases for 16 years,” Martin said following his appointment. “I am going to work very hard at this.”