Joaquim "Jack" M. Martins (born June 19, 1967) is an American attorney and politician serving as a member of the New York State Senate for the 7th district. A Republican, he previously served as mayor of Mineola, New York. Early life and education Martins is a first-generation Portuguese American. He was born in Queens, New York, to parents who emigrated to the United States in the 1960s. He has two brothers and two sisters and was raised in Mineola. Upon graduating from Chaminade High School, he received a bachelor's degree in political science from American University in 1988. Additionally, Martins received a Juris Doctor from St. John's University School of Law in 1991. Political career Mayor of Mineola (2004–2010) Martins was elected mayor of the Village of Mineola, New York in 2003. 2008 congressional campaign In 2008, Martins ran for Congress against incumbent Democratic U.S. Representative Carolyn McCarthy (D-Mineola). He was defeated by a wide margin. New York State Senate (2011–2016) Martins won election to the New York State Senate in 2010 as the representative for New York's 7th State Senate district. He defeated incumbent Democratic senator Craig M. Johnson by 451 votes. The election results were not certified until December 4, 2010. Johnson challenged the results and demanded a hand recount, but the New York Court of Appeals rejected his appeal on December 20, 2010. As Senator, Martins voted for the law creating New York State's property tax cap, voted to cut income taxes for middle-class homeowners, voted to repeal the MTA payroll tax for small businesses and schools, and supported repealing the MTA payroll tax in its entirety. He authored laws reducing busing costs for school districts; creating a truss notification system to improve safety for volunteer firefighters; and establishing a new state fund to help homeless veterans. In 2011, Martins voted against allowing same-sex marriage in New York during rollcall for the Marriage Equality Act, which narrowly passed, legalizing it by 33 to 29. Martins was highly critical of the New York State Education Department's implementation of the Common Core standards and called for the resignation of the State's Commissioner of Education for cancelling public forums on the issue with parents and teachers. While in the Senate, Martins repeatedly led Long Island's 31 state legislators in the number of bills sponsored that were ultimately passed by both houses of the State Legislature. In February 2016, Martins and