This year's Austin mayoral race is highlighted by a combination of new and familiar faces, including two-term Councilman Mike Martinez.

Martinez toured all 10 of Austin's newly drawn council districts in April before officially launching his mayor campaign May 13. The former Austin firefighter said he has taken a nontraditional path to entering politics.

"My mom taught me you have to stand up for yourself and others who cannot stand up for themselves," said Martinez, who levied his experience as the president of the Austin Firefighters Association to win the 2006 council election without a runoff. "My eight years on council prepared me and helped me find out what voices need help."

He emphasizes the need for more affordable market-rate housing and better living-wage jobs—both of which would help reduce the homeless population, he said.

The husband and father of two said family life has helped him stay focused on his core values. Those values prompted Martinez to pursue a study that examines Austin's $11 per hour minimum wage. Seattle, for example, recently increased its minimum hourly wage to $15, while Austin's minimum wage has not changed in 11 years, he said.

"There needs to be prosperity for everyone—not just a select few," Martinez said.

Since relocating to Austin in 1988, the Texas native has adopted the city as his own—"I got here as soon as I could," he said. If elected mayor, Martinez said he will work to maintain existing iconic businesses and attempt to keep Austin's character in the midst of rapid growth.

"There's a phrase coined that says most Austinites hate growth the day after they move here," he said. "Whether you moved here in 1969 or 2009, the realities of that are no different. We're rapidly changing, but we need to maintain focus to make sure our successes don't become our failures."

He supports bringing the focus back on small businesses, which Martinez said are not doing so well due to rising property values. He recommends shifting economic incentives to benefit more small, existing businesses. One downtown business retention and enhancement program has already proven successful, he said.

"That program can be expanded citywide, and it should be," Martinez said.

Martinez said he is confident he will be able to find common ground with the new batch of council members that will emerge from Austin's new 10-district council system. Transportation and public safety will likely bond the new group together, Martinez said.

"Residents need to understand the critical nature of this election and attend and watch the forums," he said.

Martinez will be among the candidates participating in the Central Texas Democratic Mayoral Candidate Forum at 11:45 June 20 at the Austin Bar Association, 816 Congress Ave., Ste. 700.