Martha G. Scott

In 2008, at age 72, Scott entered the Democratic primary race for United States House of Representatives against incumbent U.S. Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick. However, Scott did not live in the 13th Congressional District and came in third behind the favored challenger, former state representative Mary Waters.

As a Michigan Senator, Scott authored Senate Bill 384 of 2005 (Public Act 48), which established the third Saturday of every June as Juneteenth National Freedom Day in Michigan, celebrating the end of slavery in the United States, and which designated November 26 of every year as Sojourner Truth Day, in honor of the Underground Railroad and emancipation leader of the 1800s. She also authored Senate Bill 736 of 2001, which provides for domestic violence training for Friend of the Court employees; Senate Bill 753 of 2003 (Public Act 431), which established the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention and Control Commission; and Senate Bill 1198 of 2006 (Public Act 286), which requires all children enrolled in the WIC supplemental food program to be tested for lead poisoning. Most recent, she authored Senate Bill 1125 of 2006 (Public Act 508), which prohibits imposter groups from performing as established musical groups when there are no original members remaining in the group.

Martha G. Scott is an American politician serving as a member of the Wayne County Commission. She previously served as a Democratic member of the Michigan State Senate from 2001 through 2010, a member of the Michigan House of Representatives from 1994 through 2001. Her senate district included the northeast section of Detroit and the cities of Hamtramck, Highland Park, Harper Woods, and the five Grosse Pointes. She was term limited at the 2010 elections, and ran for the office of Wayne County Commissioner.

In 2000, State Senator Virgil Smith resigned his seat to take a position in the Wayne County Prosecutor's office. Scott ran for and won Smith's former seat in the 2001 special election. She was re-elected in 2002 and 2006. Under the term limits provisions of Michigan's Constitution, Scott is barred from seeking another Senate term in 2010.

In 1994, Scott was elected State Representative of the 6th House District, representing Highland Park, Hamtramck and portions of Detroit. She was re-elected to her second and third House terms in November 1996 and 1998, respectively. During her tenure as State Representative, Scott served on the House Education and Insurance committees and on Task Force committees for Corrections, Education, Higher Education, and Transportation.

Martha G. Scott is a South Carolina native and graduate of Highland Park Public Schools and Highland Park Junior College. In 1990, she received an honorary Doctorate of Law degree from the Urban Bible Institute of Detroit, and an honorary Doctorate of Humanities from the Tennessee School of Religion in 1994. She retired in 1986 from Michigan Bell after 26 years of service.

Scott began her career in 1972 as a Precinct Delegate. In 1977, she was appointed to the Wayne County Board of Commissioners. In 1979, she served as Vice-Chair of the Wayne County Civil Service Commission. From 1984 to 1987, she was President of the Highland Park, Michigan City Council. In 1988, she was elected the first woman Mayor of Highland Park, making her the first African American woman elected mayor of a Michigan city.