We’ve all witnessed what has taken place in the federal government over the past few years, which has caused many of us concern. Even though these issues are serious, our state leaders continue to take a business as usual approach. I can no longer stand on the sidelines, but feel compelled to take action. Our problems can be solved with common sense solutions. We all deserve a better future.

Richard Martin was born in 1953, raised in Houston, Texas, and moved to Utah in 1998. Author and businessman, he is owner and president of one of the largest financial groups of its type in the nation. He has written 33 books, including a history of the Thomas Jefferson family, from which he descends.

When in his teens he converted to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint and served as a missionary from 1973 to 1975 in the California Los Angeles Mission. He worked his way through school, earning a BS degree in Business from the University of Houston. After teaching business in high school for two years, he began his career as a financial broker. His business grew rapidly and soon he was acknowledged as one of the top brokers in his field, receiving a number of national awards. His clients have never lost money in a financial investment that he has personally advised; a rare distinction in the business world.

He has served as president of various organizations, coached youth basketball and baseball, and is an avid tennis player.

He has traveled extensively, having been to all fifty states and forty countries. While in Europe he visited the battlefields where his father fought as a tank commander during World War II.

Richard Martin has been married for 33 years to Karen Piquet and they are the parents of four children.