Boulder Weekly sent candidate questionnaires to all state primary candidates. These are their written responses, edited for length and clarity. Find a full list of candidates and questionnaires here
Office: Boulder County Coroner (incumbent)
Campaign website: jeffmartinforcoroner.com
Experience
Appointed coroner, January-present
Chief deputy coroner, 2021-2024
Chief Operating Officer, District 1 Medical Examiner, 2004-2021
Chief Forensic Investigator, District 1 Medical Examiner, 2004-2021
Investigator, State Inspector General, 2002-2004
Medicolegal Investigator, State Medical Examiner’s Office, 2000-2002
Deputy Sheriff, 1991-2000
Priorities
- Community engagement (via tours, visibility, outreach, prevention and education)
- Creating a workplace environment of diversity, equity and inclusion for staff.
- Streamlining process within the office to reduce costs and increase efficiency.
What steps are you taking to change the culture of the coroner’s office after the departure of Emma Hall?
I have created specialized duty assignments within the office so that each employee is able to feel like they are contributing equally.
I have formed a policy review team made up of staff from each division/unit within the office so that policies and procedures are being created by those who perform the work daily in order to reduce barriers that keep them from performing their work effectively and efficiently.
I have changed the way the office approaches training and professional development so that there is more equity and opportunity for staff.
I am promoting an environment to enable staff to have a voice in almost every aspect of the operation as the office moves forward through our transition.
Are there any trends in local deaths that concern you? If so, what tools would you use to address them?
Suicide and drug-related deaths concern me. In an attempt to prevent these types of deaths, I have met with key stakeholders in prevention and harm reduction to discuss the trends we are seeing in Boulder County. Our Family Assistance Unit participates in local community prevention efforts by engaging with the public, and I am looking at ways to create suicide and drug intoxication death review teams within the County.
Do you believe the coroner’s office can and should play a bigger role in addressing the homelessness crisis? If so, what tools would you use to do so?
We are currently partnering with law enforcement, public health and other community agencies to help them better understand trends related to the unhoused population as it relates to causes and manners of death.
Do you believe the coroner’s office can and should play a bigger role in addressing regional substance abuse crises (alcohol, opioids, meth, etc.)? If so, what tools would you use to do so?
This is one of my major focus points. The Coroner’s Office holds critical data that can provide law enforcement and public health with more real-time data which overall increases the prevention, health and public safety efforts of these partner agencies. Identifying drug trends early and sharing those trends ultimately creates a safer and healthier Boulder County.
What efforts do you make in your daily life to consider and understand people with different lived experiences from your own?
I feel like you never stop growing. Even after 32 years in public service, I see the landscape of public service and community engagement as ever changing. It is my responsibility as the head of an agency to ensure I am equipped and prepared to perform at my best at all times. I am constantly reading books and articles, listening to podcasts and engaging in personal conversations with staff, the county and the community in order to provide the best in public service.
When’s the last time you changed your mind about something, and what was it?
It is difficult to provide a single example of this. If there is one thing staff would say that I am, it is open minded. I don’t believe my way is always the right way. I am not one to make knee-jerk decisions. I like to gather data, have conversations, gain perspectives and then apply the most logical decision.
