With political values rooted in history, the constitution, and his faith, West Texas-native Martin Stringer has devoted countless hours to connecting fellow conservatives and volunteering for the cause of liberty.
Stringer describes his political values as being defined by his “original 1802 Johnson’s Dictionary and closely paralleled in Webster’s Encyclopedia Unabridged: The science of government, the art or practice of administering public affairs.” More specifically, he states that he sees legitimate government as being “very limited in scope and power with the best system yet devised by man as our constitutional Republican form of government.”
These values have motivated him to serve in multiple political roles including Republican Precinct Chairman, member of the Resolution Committee for the Republican County Convention, delegate to the Republican State Convention, and alternate to the Republican National Convention. He has also served in law enforcement as an elected county constable.
Outside of any formal political roles, Stringer and several colleagues took the initiative to start a local organization now called the West Texas Discussion Group (WTDG). It began in 2015 as an informal lunch group of roughly 13 friends who gathered once a month to discuss topics ranging from politics to theology and constitutional history. Through time and word of mouth, the group’s size has, at a minimum, quadrupled and has hosted speakers from a variety of organizations such as Gun Owners of America, the Texas Public Policy Foundation, and the Texas Railroad Commission.
Aside from educating attendees on everything from gun rights to local ballot initiatives, the group has served as a platform for the exchange of ideas and networking of residents looking to get more engaged in the community.
On a daily basis you can find Stringer crafting masterpieces and talking with clients at Diamonds, the Midland-based jewelry store owned and operated by the Stringer family. In his office at the store his love for history can be seen, quite literally, in his large collection of historical documents and photos relating to Texas and the South, the Mexican Revolution, and U.S. Border Patrol.
His role at Diamonds also goes hand-in-hand with his second profession as an auctioneer. Stringer says he’s been able to utilize his auctioneer license by volunteering at fundraising events for charities such as the Museum of the Big Bend, Rape Crisis Center, and Need to Read.
Outside of politics, diamonds, and auctioneering, Stringer enjoys spending time with his wife, Sherrie, and three sons, Jacob, Benjamin, and Matthew. He also enjoys hunting, spending time in the Texas hill country, and traveling to the Davis Mountains.
When asked what advice he’d give others involved in political activism he says to, “Trust in God and keep your powder dry, in case his timing is different than ours.”
