Martin to Quit Redondo Council on Nov. 30

Redondo Beach Councilwoman Marcia Martin resigned this week after serving only seven months of her second four-year term.

Martin, who entered the Orange County Sheriff’s Academy March 20, missed more meetings than she attended since her March 3 reelection and often left other meetings early.

“I just don’t have the time to give council meetings the time they deserve and my livelihood must come first,” Martin said in a shaky voice as she announced her resignation at Tuesday’s council meeting. Council members receive $525 a month.

Martin, 36, said she thought she would be able to balance her responsibilities with the Sheriff’s Department and the city, but her work hours as a deputy in Orange County will be too erratic, she said. Her resignation is effective Nov. 30.

Deputy City Clerk Linda Gregory said a special election will be held to fill the vacancy because more than two years remain in Martin’s term. She did not know when the election will be held.

Martin was elected to her first four-year term in 1983. In March, she beat attorney Steve Colin, 30, for the District 3 council seat by only five votes.

Colin, chairman of the city’s Public Improvements Commission, said he was shocked by Martin’s announcement and said he will run again.

Redondo Beach Recreation and Parks Commission Secretary Brad Parton, 27, an investment adviser, said he also will run.

Martin interrupted Tuesday’s council meeting about 10:30 p.m. to read a prepared resignation statement, which was made part of the official record.

After the announcement, which came in the middle of a busy agenda, she left the meeting so she could be at work by 11:30 p.m.

She said in an interview that she realized about two weeks ago that she faced scheduling conflicts that might make it difficult to continue serving in public office. She then discussed the possibility of her resignation with the other council members, she said.

“She told me that evening that she was going to resign,” said Councilman Ronald A. Cawdrey in an interview. “I’m kind of sorry it had to come to that. I’d have liked to see her finish her term, but you got to do what you got to do. . . . The council term was only going to run four years, but (the deputy job) was going to be her livelihood.”

Mayor Barbara J. Doerr said in an interview that she had no idea Martin was going to quit. But, she said, “I’m pleased. I think District 3 deserves representation, and I think Marcia knew they weren’t getting what they deserved.”

District 3 is loosely bordered by Marshall Field Lane, 190th Street, Paulina Avenue and the Torrance and Hermosa Beach city lines.

Times Community Correspondent Joan Villa also contributed to this article.