Sarai “Ray” Martin

COMMISSIONER SARAI “RAY” MARTIN

It is my honor to represent the City of Lauderhill as your Commissioner. Residents of Lauderhill, thank you for electing me. Thank you for placing your faith in me. I may be new to politics, but the concept of service and servant leadership is a cornerstone of my foundation and identity.

I joined the Army at 17 years old. During my 22 years in the military, I served both here in the United States and internationally in Germany, Bosnia, Hungary and Iraq. In 2015, I retired as a

Major after my 22 years of service, and I thought to myself, “How else can I be of service to my community after retirement?” And

I found my answer, right here as your Commissioner. Even as the

CEO of Extreme Government Solutions, I’ve been fortunate to have found my most complementary work-community service balance. I am the President of Kiwanis Club of Central Broward.

I’ve served as Chairman of the Lauderhill Community Budget and Advisory Board; was elected to be the Vice Chairman of the

Board of Commissioners for the Lauderhill Housing Authority; volunteered to mentor with the Kids and the Power of Work organization (KAPOW), where I mentored a 4th grade class at Castle Hill Elementary; assisted veterans as a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW Post 8195); volunteered with Men of Action, a volunteer organization that cleans up our beautiful community; supported the Pride Center in Wilton Manors to increase awareness and decrease AIDS; and more. I truly believe community service is the proverbial rent we pay to coexist with others in our society, and my goal is to use every opportunity to pay that “rent” in full.

The Commissioner role is only an extension of my duty to give back to the very community I grew up in. I recognize that I’ve entered this role during the pandemic, which has impacted not only Lauderhill, but every one of us in the world. My experience in the military instilled my commitment to serve others and protect the most vulnerable, especially during this challenging time.

My dedication to being a servant leader has only deepened, and

I know that I am not alone. I want to take a moment to recognize and thank the everyday heroes in this community because not all heroes wear capes and not all heroes wear medals. Some heroes serve as health care workers, drive delivery trucks, and work at post offices and grocery stores. They teach us, feed us and disinfect our buildings. And because we have eco-therapy programs specifically for veterans and first responders who have experienced PTSD at Extreme Government Solutions, I understand first hand how important it is to advocate for the mental and physical health of those who risk their lives to serve others.

Frontline workers, I salute you. You are a beacon of light at this time. You inspire me every day to serve our community and play an active role in being a part of the solutions to the challenges we are facing today.

I’ve spent my first weeks in office reviewing feedback on current issues that have deeply affected the community and learning about all the resources available to Lauderhill residents to solve them. I’ve listened to many of your concerns. Although this is not a complete list, some that will be a focus of during my term are: • increasing safety and security in Lauderhill • business development • home ownership • youth empowerment • mental health programming and advocacy, especially during the pandemic.

Lauderhill residents, I hear you and your valid concerns: There’s a lot of work to be done in our community. Lauderhill, my sleeves are rolled up, and I’m ready to be of service. Please know that I’m always a phone call or message away. You can reach me at rmartin@lauderhill-fl.gov or (954) 730-2976. My doors are always open.

Email: rmartin@lauderhill-fl.gov Contact Numbers Office: 954-730-2976 Fax: 954-730-3062