[3] Martin has a bachelor of arts degree in Cultural Anthropology from Hawaii Pacific University, where he served as Student Body President.
[4] In his role as president, he worked with the city of Honolulu, the county, and the Governor's Office on multiple issues affecting the students at the university.
[7][8] Martin, who is openly gay and Latinx, ran with a progressive platform focusing on affordable housing, environmental reforms, establishing a Police Accountability Review Board, and revitalizing the council.
[4] He was endorsed by Indy Week, Equality NC, Ashley Christensen, and North Carolina Museum of Art director Larry Wheeler.
[12][16][17] Martin, and Raleigh mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin, voted in secrecy on removing the city's nineteen Citizen Advisory Councils, which were formed in 1974.
[21] Martin later tweeted that he would be presenting a plan to the City Council to defund and reallocate police funds, "to truly focus on the safety, wellbeing, and health of our black community.
"[21] Martin resigned from the City Council on June 26, 2020 after allegations of sexual misconduct were made against him by four young male students at North Carolina State University.
[24] The students alleged in The News & Observer that Martin, while working as a graduate teaching assistant in 2018 and 2019, had sexually assaulted them or behaved inappropriately.
[12][25] Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman asked the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation to look into the accusations against Martin.