William F. Martin, Jr. is a lifelong resident of Lowell, born and raised in Sacred Heart Parish. Martin and his wife, Martha (Doherty) have three children.  Martha is a schoolteacher.

Councilor Martin is a graduate of the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester and Boston College Law School (Magna Cum Laude). Martin clerked at the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court and was an associate at the Boston law firm Hale and Dorr. He is presently a partner in the Lowell law firm Eno, Boulay, Martin & Donahue, LLP.

Councilor Martin was first elected to the city council in 1999 and was sworn in as the 33rd mayor in January 2006.

Councilor Martin has served on numerous subcommittees including City/University Partnership, Judicial Center, Julianne Steele Housing Project, Bridge Construction, and School Building Program.

In 2006, while Mayor, Martin was chosen to serve on the Deval Patrick - Tim Murray Transition Team after they were elected Governor and Lt. Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Councilor Martin has served the Lowell community at the Lowell Conservation Commission, D'Youville Senior Care, Community Teamwork, Inc., Common Ground Development Corporation, Saint Joseph Cemetery, Sacred Heart Parish Council, and as a youth baseball and basketball coach.