Longtime St. Joseph resident, Frederick Martin, runs for seat on City Council
By: Noel Hardin
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) — Frederick Martin, a 39-year-old lifelong resident, has announced his candidacy for the St. Joseph City Council at-large position, positioning himself as a fresh voice focused on practical solutions and community unity.
Martin detailed his motivation, stemming from a desire to transform his longtime concerns about the city’s direction into firm action, even from his childhood in the city.
“Every weekend, I was complaining,” Martin said. “I said, ‘Well, if I’m going to keep on talking about it, I need to do something about it.’”
His platform directly addresses the key issues he hears from residents: a lack of activities, school district concerns, homelessness and crime.
Martin, a former human resources manager, emphasizes his professional experience in conflict resolution and policy writing as assets for the role.
He aims to be a bridge-builder, particularly in fostering a stronger working relationship between the city council and the school board, which he sees as vital to the city’s future.
“If our school district is not presentable for outside people to come here, then they’re not going to move here,” Martin said. “It’s just a domino effect.”
Central to his vision is revitalizing St. Joseph’s core amenities to make the city more attractive and engaging, especially for younger families and the college population.
He pointed to the underused riverfront and parkways as missed opportunities.
“We have a lot of parkway, but we don’t have anything on those parkways,” he noted, advocating for the development of a walkable Downtown with shops and entertainment.
He also sees potential in land east of the city for new businesses and family-friendly attractions, suggesting the community needs indoor recreational options like a Dave & Buster’s to provide year-round activities beyond bars.
“St. Joseph being a college town, there’s nothing for college kids to do,” Martin said. “Not everybody wants to go drinking every weekend.”
On economic growth, Martin believes St. Joseph is business-friendly and highlighted an upcoming apartment complex in the northeast as a positive step for housing and construction jobs.
He approaches the topic of taxes with caution, acknowledging many residents are on fixed incomes and stating that raising taxes is not something he looks to do “at any time in the near future.”
His strategy for addressing homelessness focuses on sustainable support.
“It’s more of a hand up, not a handout,” he said. “We have to get resources to help them get reintroduced to life.”
As one of eight candidates competing for seats in the April 7, 2026, election, Martin insists his campaign is about community progress, not political rivalry.
“My campaign’s not actually about beating anyone. It’s just about moving St. Joseph forward,” he stated.
He has already begun conversations with current city leaders, emphasizing that his goal is improvement, whether he holds office or not. “I just want better for my city.”
A proud local and self-described “big foodie” who frequents establishments like First Ward and Big Daddy’s Barbecue, Martin believes in the community’s inherent strength and pride.
His final appeal to voters centers on accessibility and representation.
“Vote for me because you’re voting for a change, somebody that’s going to listen to you, somebody that you can see out at your kids’ basketball game or football game that you can see in the community every day, and have a voice,” Martin said.
Martin’s campaign can be followed through his Facebook page.
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CITY COUNCIL 2026
