Paso Robles Mayor Steve Martin dies after ‘hard-fought’ illness: ‘The ultimate public servant’

Paso Robles Mayor Steve Martin died on Monday at the age of 71 after a “hard-fought” illness, the city announced in a news release on Tuesday.

Martin had stepped back from his public duties in February after sharing word he was battling a serious but undisclosed health condition, which has since been confirmed to be an aggressive form of cancer.

“Mayor Martin’s passing leaves a void throughout the community, as he leaves behind a legacy of over two decades of tireless public service and unwavering commitment to the betterment of Paso Robles and San Luis Obispo County,” the city said in the release.

Martin, who was elected to his fourth term as Mayor of Paso Robles in November 2022, is survived by his wife Jennifer, two daughters, Nora and Jamie and four grandchildren.

“Steve was a trusted colleague, a good friend, a thoughtful leader, and the ultimate public servant,” Mayor Pro Tempore John Hamon said in a news release. “It has been an honor to serve with him these many years. His passing is a great loss for the City Council, our community, and most especially his family. Our prayers are with his wife Jennifer, daughters, grandchildren, and extended family.”

Hamon will fulfill mayoral duties for the city until the position is filled, which will be determined at a future City Council meeting.

Martin, who was born in Atascadero and lived in Paso Robles since 1973, devoted himself to civil service in the North County city as a journalist and politician beginning in 1987.

He was elected mayor of Paso Robles three times, in 2014, 2018 and 2022 and was appointed mayor by his peers on the council in 1988. Martin also was elected as a councilmember in 2012 before serving as mayor.

Martin was unaware of cancer prior to election

Martin wrote a letter that was read by his longtime friend and former Atascadero Mayor Tom O’Malley during the Tuesday Paso Robles City Council meeting.

In the letter, Martin shared he was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer shortly after being elected to the mayoral seat.

“Initial analysis indicated that surgery within a couple of months would probably cure me,” Martin said in the letter. “Unfortunately, complications intervened, giving the cancer the opportunity to spread and become incurable.”

Martin said he was unaware of the cancer prior to campaigning for office.

“If that was the case, I would never have run or would have dropped out of the race. I have made every effort to do my job as mayor while fighting this disease, attending meetings virtually, receiving updates from staff, etc.,” Martin wrote.

Martin led Paso Robles in becoming destination for wine

Martin was invested in the economic development of Paso Robles as both a wine tourist destination and most recently as a future technology corridor with the efforts to transform the municipal airport into a spaceport.

The city noted his role promoting development of the city’s downtown area and the creation of the Paso Robles Wine Festival, as well as being a strong supporter of schools and parks.

“Mayor Martin’s impact extended far beyond his role in local government,” City Manager Ty Lewis said in the release. “He was deeply involved in numerous civic organizations and philanthropic efforts, always striving to uplift the less fortunate and address social challenges. His compassion and dedication to public service made a lasting difference in the lives of countless individuals, leaving an indelible mark on the fabric of our community,”

Martin contributed to Paso Robles homelessness and diversity initiatives

Martin was also committed to improving affordable housing options in Paso Robles.

In 2017, Martin sent a letter to San Luis Obispo County Supervisor John Peschong asking for the county to allocate money to Paso Robles to build more affordable housing options.

In 2016, Martin identified improving homelessness services as a top priority for Paso Robles and was passionate about serving the unhoused.

At one point, Martin served on the board for the El Camino Homelessness Organization (ECHO) and was a liaison for the San Luis Obispo County Homeless Services Oversight Committee, according to his personal website.

“It has become obvious that a lot of people who are homeless are far away from the services they need,” Martin told The Tribune in 2016. “The council is clear that we hope to work cooperatively with other public agencies and private groups to determine how to best leverage resources and supplement existing successful programs to resolve this potential threat to human health and safety.”

Martin also started the Paso Robles Diversity Panel with the mission to “to embrace diversity, promote education, support racial healing and engage with our city, school district and service organizations to achieve substantial, measurable, positive change in our community,” according to the Paso Diversity website.

Despite these accomplishments, Martin told the community in a letter read after his death that he is sad to be leaving so much unfinished in Paso Robles.

“I face the future with regrets about all I leave unfinished: spaceport, solutions for homelessness, serving as a board member for League of California Cities, Community Hospital Board, broadband access, and all the projects with our city’s partners, committees, and community service organizations,” Martin wrote in the letter.

Local SLO County leaders remember Martin

San Luis Obispo County Supervisor Debbie Arnold reflected on how Martin’s local roots informed his political efforts.

“What I appreciated most about Steve is that he did have a history here. We watched this county grow decade after decade,” Arnold said. Arnold said Martin’s experience in San Luis Obispo County, from growing up and going to school in the area to working as a journalist, made him an excellent mayor and policymaker. “All these years he really loved this county,” Arnold said.

County Supervisor Bruce Gibson said that Martin could “talk with just about anybody” — a skill that served him well as mayor.

“He’s just always very thoughtful and able to convene groups of people to work on issues that were going to benefit communities,” Gibson said. “You can’t ask for anything more than that in a public servant.”

County Supervisor John Peschong and Martin met for breakfast once a month for more than six years to discuss how they could collaborate to serve North County, the supervisor said.

“He was a person who truly cared about his community, and he would fight for it,” Peschong said.

According to Peschong, Martin’s work was critical to transforming the Paso Robles Airport into a spaceport — from attracting businesses that would support the spaceport to engaging his constituents in the process.

“He was out there passionately promoting it, getting people interested in being able to do launches from the Paso Airport,” Peschong said.

Martin and Peschong competed for the District 1 Board of Supervisors seat in 2016, which Peschong remembers as a good-natured election season.

“He was a really nice person. He was fun to debate — we debated I think 12 times. We had just a great experience out on the campaign trail,” Peschong said. “Maybe we disagree on some issues and ideas, but he’s a good person — he truly cares about his community.”

Assemblymember Dawn Addis issued a statement on Martin’s death.

“The Central Coast has lost a tireless and effective leader with the passing of Paso Robles Mayor Steve Martin,” Addis said. “Mayor Martin’s vision and dedication to the city of Paso Robles and our region are an example for all of us. I have always been inspired by the way Mayor Martin served with true love for the Central Coast and I will miss him deeply. My heart is with Mayor Martin’s wife Jennifer and their children, grandchildren and loved ones during this difficult time.”

Born and raised in North SLO County, the mayor was committed to Paso Robles.

“Mayor Martin’s visionary approach and dedication to the community’s welfare earned him the respect and admiration of his colleagues, constituents, and all those who had the privilege of working alongside him,” the city said in its release.

“The passing of the mayor of Paso Robles is a big loss to the Latino community,” Latino Outreach Council President C.R. Lara said. “Any time we asked for anything that we needed of him or the City of Paso Robles, he always said yes. Whether it was the activities of the Mexican Consulate, the agricultural workers and hospitality workers, he was always supportive.”

Not only did Martin support the activities of the council, but Lara said he was “a wonderful human being.”

Paso Robles mayor invested decades to community as journalist, politician

Martin entered local politics in August 1987 after being appointed to the Paso Robles City Council at age 35.

Not long after his appointment to the council, Martin was named mayor by his peers. He was favored over other councilmembers and the previous mayor, all with more political experience.

While serving as mayor in November 1989, Martin took a job as the communications director for Twin Cities Community Hospital in Templeton.

In 1992, Martin helped organize the North County AIDS Information Council at a time when HIV/AIDS was highly stigmatized.

Martin spoke openly about the illness, noting that Paso Robles is a midway point between San Francisco and Los Angeles, two population centers with high case numbers.

Before serving the community as councilmember and mayor, Martin worked in local media. He served as a news director for the Paso Robles radio station KPRL and co-owner and managing editor of the weekly newspaper, The Country News.

“Over the years I have bitten my lip many times at meetings. ... Now I want to unbite my lip,” Martin told The Telegram-Tribune in August 1987 about his decision to run for council.

Paso Robles mayor was also a playwright

Outside of politics and his work in marketing and communications, Martin was a playwright.

In 1989, Martin debuted his first musical, “Karma! A Cosmic Playing Card,” at the San Luis Obispo Little Theater. The play was set in a junkyard and represented the struggle between good and evil, according to a review of the play in The Telegram-Tribune.

“Everything you do in life adds up,” Martin told The Telegram-Tribune in 1989, “sort of like a cosmic credit card.”

Martin will be remembered for his dry wit and pragmatism, often serving as a swing vote on many council items.