Susana Martinez

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
(Redirected from Susana Martínez)
Jump to: navigation, search
Susana Martinez
Governor NewMexico.jpg
31st Governor of New Mexico
Assumed office
January 1, 2011
Lieutenant John Sánchez
Preceded by Bill Richardson
Personal details
Born (1959-07-14) July 14, 1959 (age 64)
El Paso, Texas, U.S.
Political party Democratic (Before 1995)
Republican (1995–present)
Spouse(s) Chuck Franco (1991–present)
Children Carlo (Stepson)
Alma mater University of Texas, El Paso
University of Oklahoma
Religion Catholic
Signature
Website Government website

Susana Martinez (born July 14, 1959) is an American politician who is the 31st Governor of New Mexico and chairwoman of the Republican Governors Association.[1][2] A Republican, Martinez was elected governor on November 2, 2010, and was sworn into office on January 1, 2011, becoming the first Hispanic female governor in the United States.[3]

Born in El Paso, Texas, Martinez is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma College of Law. After graduating from college and being admitted to the State Bar of New Mexico, she began her career as an assistant district attorney for New Mexico's 3rd Judicial District in Las Cruces in 1986, before being appointed deputy district attorney in 1992. She then ran for District Attorney for the 3rd Judicial District in Doña Ana County, New Mexico, in 1996 after joining the Republican Party and defeating her former boss; she served three terms as district attorney from 1997 to 2011.

After incumbent Governor Bill Richardson was term limited, Martinez declared her candidacy for the governorship. She won in a five-candidate Republican primary and went on to defeat the former Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico Diane Denish with 53% of the vote in the general election. Four years later, she was reelected in a landslide against Attorney General Gary King. She is the first woman to be elected governor of New Mexico and the first Hispanic female governor in the United States.[4][5][6] In 2013, she was named one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people in the world.[7]

Early life, education, and early career

Martinez was born on July 14, 1959, in El Paso, Texas. She was brought up in a middle-class family of Mexican descent. Her father, Jacobo Martinez, was a boxer for the U.S. Marines during the Korean War, and won three straight Golden Gloves titles in the 1950s. He was a deputy sheriff for El Paso County.[8] Her mother, Paula Aguirre, worked in various offices. Susana Martinez has two siblings, a sister and a brother.[8][9] Martinez is the legal guardian and caretaker of her older sister, Lettie, who has cerebral palsy and is developmentally disabled.[10]

Martinez attended Riverside High School in El Paso where she was student body president.[8] An honors student, she graduated in 1977. She earned her bachelor's degree in criminal justice from the University of Texas at El Paso. While at UTEP, she worked for her father's security guard company. Martinez patrolled a parking lot of a Catholic bingo hall and has said she carried a Smith & Wesson .357 Magnum while on the job.[11] In 1981, Martinez pursued her J.D. degree from the University of Oklahoma College of Law and graduated in 1986.[12]

District Attorney's office

Assistant and deputy

Martinez was Assistant District Attorney for the 3rd Judicial District, serving Doña Ana County, New Mexico, from 1986 to 1992.[13] As Assistant District Attorney, she specialized in child and domestic abuse. The district attorney for whom she worked, Doug Driggers, promoted her to Deputy District Attorney.[8]

Martinez was dismissed, but later returned and was again appointed as Deputy District Attorney. She helped campaign for Driggers as he was running for a third term as District Attorney. Driggers lost the Democratic primary election to Gregory Valdez, a defense attorney. Martinez was fired by Valdez shortly after his victory in the general election. Valdez claims that he fired Martinez because of a specific case she handled, she had missed key timelines.[14] Martinez filed a wrongful termination lawsuit against Valdez and was awarded an out-of-court settlement of $100,000 to $120,000.[15] She later twice defeated Valdez in the general election for District Attorney with approximate 18-point and 20-point wins respectively.[8]

Martinez was first elected district attorney in the 3rd Judicial District in 1996 with nearly 60% of the vote.[16] She was re-elected three more times.

As a prosecutor, Martinez focused on cases involving public corruption and child abuse.[17] She worked to pass legislation that would expand Katie's Law. This would "require a DNA sample for all felony arrests". During her first term as governor, she signed the expansion bill into law in April 2011.[18]

2010 gubernatorial election

<templatestyles src="Module:Hatnote/styles.css"></templatestyles>

Main article: New Mexico gubernatorial election, 2010

In June 2010, Martinez won a five-way Republican primary with 51% of the vote. During the primary campaign, Martinez was endorsed by former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin.[19]

On November 2, 2010, Martinez defeated then-current lieutenant governor Diane Denish with 53% of the vote, 321,219 votes to 280,614. The Martinez v. Denish race, and the simultaneous Mary Fallin v. Jari Askins race in Oklahoma, were the third and fourth cases of woman vs. woman gubernatorial races in U.S. history (since the elections of Kay Orr in Nebraska in 1986 and Linda Lingle in Hawaii in 2002).[20]

Governor of New Mexico (2011–present)

Martinez speaking at the Medal of Honor recipient Leroy Petry's statue unveiling, June 24, 2013

When Martinez took office she set out a budget proposal for fiscal year 2012 and 2013, as well as establishing a moratorium on all state vehicle purchases until 2012.[21] She barred all state agencies from hiring lobbyists.[21][22]

On January 31, 2011, Martinez signed an executive order rescinding sanctuary status for illegal immigrants who commit crimes in New Mexico.[23]

Martinez counts among her legislative victories: "the cap on film [tax] credits; a bill that would exempt locomotive fuel from state gross-receipts tax; and an expansion of Katie's Law, which will require law-enforcement officials to obtain DNA samples from all suspects booked on felony charges". She supported and signed a bill that will "assign schools the grades of A to F based on student achievement and other factors, such as high-school graduation rates. Martinez described her push for education reforms as 'a hard-fought battle against those who continued to defend the status quo'". In April 2011, Martinez signed the expansion bill on Katie's Law.[18]

In 2011, the Supreme Court of New Mexico ruled twice against actions by Martinez. "In January, the court unanimously decided that Martinez acted improperly when she requested the state's records administrator delay publishing greenhouse-gas emissions rules that the state Environmental Improvement Board approved shortly before she took office." In addition, a unanimous court ruled on April 13, 2011, that "Gov. Susana Martinez lacked authority to arbitrarily remove two members of the state Public Employee Labor Relations Board."[24] During 2011, Martinez attended her first "Tribal-State Summit," as required by New Mexico in which the governor meets with the 22 recognized tribes annually. The topics of discussion for 2011 were tribal economic development and infrastructure; health care; natural resources,; water, and education.[25]

Martinez has pushed for an increase in private investment to complete the US$212 million state-funded[26] Spaceport America project. In order to drive the new effort, Gov. Martinez appointed an entirely new board of directors to oversee the Spaceport Authority.[27] In 2012, Martinez sold the state's luxury jet, which she called "the ultimate symbol of waste and excess"; it sold for $2.51 million.[28]

As a result of the Las Conchas Fire, the second largest wildfire in state history, Martinez issued a state of emergency with regard to the use of fireworks.[29] After the Las Conchas Fire burned to within miles of Los Alamos National Laboratory, Martinez made the removal of radioactive waste a top priority.[30] As the fire contributed significantly to the flooding that followed, Martinez asked the Obama administration for federal relief funding.[31]

The chief medical officer for the New Mexico Department of Health, and the deputy secretary, both resigned in 2012. The individuals allege that Martinez ordered their termination for promoting birth control to the public.[32] Martinez, and the New Mexico Department of Health, denied any connection between the resignations, and an interview concerning condom use.[33]

Many Republicans speculated as to whether Martinez would be Vice President on the Republican presidential ticket in 2012, but she stated numerous times that she would not run.[34]

On May 15, 2012, as a result of the Whitewater-Baldy Complex Fire, Martinez declared the entire state of New Mexico to be in a drought. Martinez issued the formal drought declaration to help farmers, ranchers, and others secure federal drought funding. Martinez stated that in addition to "the work we’re doing at the state level to assist communities facing serious drought conditions, I’m hopeful this declaration will assist them in securing any available federal funding as well."[35][36] Martinez stated that "As a result of this fire, small businesses are unquestionably feeling the impact." As a result, she encouraged them to apply for SBA loans.[37] On June 8, Martinez declared Catron County, New Mexico, to be in a state of emergency. The declaration made funds available for both state and local response to the fire, and for community needs.[38] At the 2012 Tribal-State Summit, Martinez discussed water rights, natural resources, education, and tribal economic development and infrastructure.[39] In the presence of Navajo President Ben Shelly, as well as several members of the Navajo Nation Council, Martinez announced that Central Consolidated School District will remain intact.[40]

On Friday March 29, Governor Martinez vetoed a raise in the state minimum wage, citing that the raise was higher than neighboring states.[41] The minimum wage in Albuquerque is already the amount proposed for the remainder of the state.[42]

As of May 2014, job losses in New Mexico had accelerated during the previous 12 months, making it just one of two states to lose jobs. For the 12 months ending in April 2014, the state reported a net loss of 4,400 jobs, according to the state's Department of Workforce Solutions. The state has been impacted by the reduction in spending and employment by the federal government. The sector lost 1,100 jobs during the period. New Mexico was 50th in job growth since Martinez took office.[43] Martinez has said that tax cuts enacted during her tenure make the state more competitive in attracting manufacturing jobs. The state was among the finalists for a new Tesla battery plant. She also says that infrastructure investments at the entry port of Santa Teresa will generate transportation and manufacturing jobs.[43]

Controversy During Governorship

On November 7, 2015, The Santa Fe New Mexican revealed that the FBI was conducting an investigation into Martinez’s fundraising activities going back to her first run for governor, focusing on Martinez's chief political consultants Jay McCleskey[44] On March 4, 2016, The Associated Press reported that the investigation was terminated and no charges were forthcoming.[45][46]

Martinez was in the El Dorado Hotel in Santa Fe when police were called at 1:30am on December 13, 2015, concerning a noisy party thrown by the Governor and her staff. After police arrived, Governor Martinez repeatedly inquired about who made the complaint and told the police dispatcher that officers were not needed. There is some suspicion that the Governor was intoxicated while talking to dispatchers.[47] Nine days later, a recording was brought forward by the police department which featured Martinez stating she knew that there was a person in the hotel causing a disturbance, diverging somewhat from her official statement.[48][49]

Polling and opinion

During her Governorship, Martinez has maintained consistently high approval ratings, being declared at one point to be one of the most popular Governor's in the country [50] [51]

In May 2013, Martinez had an approval rating of 66%,[52][53] with more than 44% of New Mexico's Democrats stating they approve of her.[54]

A January 2014 poll conducted by Research and Polling Inc., an Albuquerque-based pollster, on behalf of Common Cause New Mexico pegged Martinez's approval rating at 55 percent.[55]

In May 2016, a poll conducted by NM Political Report put her approval rating at 47% [56]

2014 gubernatorial election

<templatestyles src="Module:Hatnote/styles.css"></templatestyles>

Main article: New Mexico gubernatorial election, 2014

On October 15, 2013, Martinez declared she would run for re-election. At the time of her announcement, she had already raised over $2.2 million in campaign contributions, nearly five times the amount of any of her challengers in the gubernatorial Democratic Primary.[57] She faced no primary opposition.

On November 4, 2014, Martinez defeated then Attorney General of New Mexico Gary King to win re-election with 57% of the vote.

Political positions

Martinez had grown up as a Democrat, but became a Republican in 1995.[58][59]

On August 29, 2012, Martinez gave a speech to the Republican National Convention, where she spoke right before vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan, and described her decision to switch parties. She told the story that she was taken to lunch by Republican friends who wanted her to switch parties. She stated that she was going just to be polite, but when she left the luncheon with her husband, she had changed her mind. She told the convention, "When we left that lunch, we got in the car and I looked over at Chuck and said, 'I'll be damned – we're Republicans.'"[60]

Martinez supports a balanced budget and lower government spending. She favors putting taxpayer money into a rainy day fund, and refunding taxpayers to attempt to stimulate growth.[61] Martinez is pro-life and is opposed to elective abortion.[62] Martinez is personally opposed to same-sex marriage, but she accepted the New Mexico Supreme Court's opinion in Griego v. Oliver, which legalized same-sex marriage in New Mexico. She has no record on civil unions.[63] Martinez opposes New Mexico's medical marijuana program, but has indicated that repealing the existing law is not a priority.[64] Martinez opposes portions of the Affordable Care Act, such as the individual mandate, but does not support repeal of the law in its entirety.[65][66] She also supports Common Core education standards.[67]

In November 2015, Martinez said she opposes the Obama administration's plans to admit 10,000 Syrian refugees to the U.S. until clear plans for background-checking and relocating the refugees are developed.[68]

Personal life

Martinez met her first husband in Norman, Oklahoma, where they were both attending law school. The couple moved to Las Cruces, New Mexico, in the mid-1980s, but divorced three years later. She met her current husband, Chuck Franco, in Las Cruces. He has been a law enforcement officer for more than 30 years and served as the Doña Ana County Undersheriff. Martinez has one stepson, Carlo, who served in the United States Navy.[69]

On September 9, 2011, Martinez stated she did know that her paternal grandparents Adolfo Martinez and Francisca Ortega "arrived without documents."[70] Thorough research revealed that they appeared to have followed the rules at the time and that she is a great-granddaughter of Mexican Revolutionary General Toribio Ortega.[71] On November 14, 2011, Martinez visited Cuchillo Parado, Mexico, for a celebration in honor of her great grandfather, "a revolutionary general who led a band of supporters credited as being the first to take up arms on November 14, 1910, against a decades-long dictator".[71]

Awards

Election history

Election Political result Candidate Party Votes %
New Mexico gubernatorial election, 2014
Turnout: 503,185		 Republican win
Majority: 73,913 (14.68%)		 Susana Martinez Republican 288,549 57%
Gary King Democratic 214,636 43%
New Mexico gubernatorial primary election, 2014 Republican
Majority: 67,127 (100%)		 Susana Martinez Republican unopposed
New Mexico gubernatorial election, 2010
Turnout: 602,827		 Republican win (gain)
Majority: 40,605 (6%)		 Susana Martinez Republican 321,219 53%
Diane Denish Democratic 280,614 46%
New Mexico gubernatorial primary election, 2010
Turnout: 122,269		 Republican
Majority: 28,279 (23%)		 Susana Martinez Republican 62,006 51%
Allen Weh Republican 33,727 28%
Doug Turner Republican 14,166 11%
Pete Domenici, Jr. Republican 8,630 7%
Janice Arnold–Jones Republican 3,740 3%
3rd Judicial District General Election, 2008 Republican hold
Majority: 45,098 (100%)		 Susana Martinez Republican unopposed
[74]
Turnout: 60,451		 Republican hold
Majority: 9,225 (20%)		 Susana Martinez Republican 34,838 60%
Gregory Valdez Democratic 25,613 40%
[75]
Turnout: 29,714		 Republican hold
Majority: 1972 (4%)		 Susana Martinez Republican 15,843 52%
Kent E. Yalkut Democratic 13,871 48%
[76]
Turnout: 41,839		 Republican win (new seat)
Majority: 7,505 (18%)		 Susana Martinez Republican 24,672 59%
Gregory Valdez Democratic 17,167 41%

References

  1. ↑ Davis, Susan. Political Trivia: New Mexico Marks a Milestone,Wall Street Journal, June 2, 2010.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 Heild, Colleen. "Tough As Nails", Albuquerque Journal, September 10, 2010.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ Miller, Sean J. Palin helps New Mexico Republican win primary, The Hill, June 1, 2010.
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. ↑ [1][dead link]
  25. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  27. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  28. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  30. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  31. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  32. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  33. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  34. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  35. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  36. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  37. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  38. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  39. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  40. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  41. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  42. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  43. ↑ 43.0 43.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  44. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  45. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  46. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  47. ↑ {{cite web|url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/recording-suggests-mexico-governor-inebriated-party-192341284--election.html?ref=gs/ |accessdate=December 20, 2016 |deadurl=no
  48. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  49. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  50. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  51. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  52. ↑ Martinez still enjoying high approval ratings, Newmexico.watchdog.org. Retrieved November 5, 2015.
  53. ↑ Martinez still popular, Sfreporter.com. Retrieved November 5, 2014.
  54. ↑ Approval ratings soar for Susana Martinez, Gop12.thehill.com, September 2012. Retrieved November 5, 2014.
  55. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  56. ↑ [2]
  57. ↑ "Susana Martinez raises $2 million for re-election", Albuquerque Journal, Associated Press, October 15, 2013. Retrieved November 5, 2014.
  58. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  59. ↑ How to grab them, Susana Martinez shows how Republicans might one day woo Latinos, The Economist, December 17, 2011.
  60. ↑ Coleman, Michael. Martinez Earns Kudos for Convention Speech, Albuquerque Journal, August 31, 2012.
  61. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  62. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  63. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  64. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  65. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  66. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  67. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  68. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  69. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  70. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  71. ↑ 71.0 71.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  72. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  73. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  74. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  75. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  76. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

Party political offices
Preceded by Republican nominee for Governor of New Mexico
2010, 2014		 Most recent
Preceded by Chairperson of the Republican Governors Association
2016–present		 Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by Governor of New Mexico
2011–present		 Incumbent
United States order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by as Vice President Order of Precedence of the United States
Within New Mexico		 Succeeded by
Mayor of city
in which event is held
Succeeded by
Otherwise Paul Ryan
as Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by as Governor of Oklahoma Order of Precedence of the United States
Outside New Mexico		 Succeeded by
Doug Ducey
as Governor of Arizona
Retrieved from "https://infogalactic.com/w/index.php?title=Susana_Martinez&oldid=723283284"