ALLENTOWN, PA — Victor Martinez, owner of the Spanish-language radio station La Mega 101.7 FM and co-host of its popular morning show, is running for an at-large seat on the Lehigh County Board of Commissioners.
Martinez, a Democrat, has worked behind the scenes for several years in local politics, helping Latino candidates organize their campaigns and speaking about politics on the air.
But after struggling to find candidates this year, he said in an interview Monday he wants to get his own name on the ballot this spring.
- Victor Martinez, owner of La Mega 101.7 FM, is running for Lehigh County commissioner
- Martinez, co-host of the station's popular morning show, has worked behind the scenes in local politics for years
- Four at-large seats are up for grabs this year, with only incumbent Dan Hartzell seeking re-election
"A lot of people don't want to get involved in the politics that we're living in today," Martinez said. "They see how politics is so divisive these days and how people get treated or attacked.
"I said, you know what, I talk the talk, now it's time to walk the the walk."
According to census data, Latinos make up about 28% of Lehigh County's population and more than half of Allentown's.
But Latino politicians haven't yet found success in races at the county level or higher.
Martinez publicly mused about suing the state after redrawn district maps cut Latino candidates off from their bases.
Martinez said he's running to make sure Latino voices are heard on county matters.
County officials, he said, have not done enough to bridge the divide between local government and the Latino community. He said they have not asked to appear on any of his radio stations to speak with his audience and haven't encouraged Latino-focused organizations to apply for grants, he said.
"I want to be able to make a statement. I want to walk in there and say, 'I have my base, I have my community.' " <br/>Victor Martinez, Democratic candidate for Lehigh County commissioner
"I'm hoping with all my heart that I could be that bridge," Martinez said.
Martinez, a former co-host of PBS39's weekly show "Es Tiempo," said he's collected about 500 signatures in a week — double the amount needed to get onto the Democratic primary ballot.
He said he hopes to collect more than 1,000 by the time he turns in his petitions, which are due next week.
"I want to be able to make a statement," he said. "I want to walk in there and say, 'I have my base, I have my community.' "
Four of the nine seats on the board of commissioners are up for re-election this year, all of them at-large. Commissioner Dan Hartzell, a retired Morning Call reporter, is the only incumbent seeking re-election.
Democrats currently hold a 6-3 majority on the board — a historical rarity. Before 2019, the board had been controlled by Republicans since the 1980s. Republicans would need to win two of the at-large seats this year to reclaim control.
