Martinez, Mel (1946-…), a Republican, represented Florida in the United States Senate from 2005 to 2009. . He was the first Cuban American to join the Senate. Before he was elected to the Senate, Martinez served as the U.S. secretary of housing and urban development. From January to October 2007, Martinez served as general chairman of the Republican National Committee. During this time, he kept his responsibilities in the Senate.
Melquiades Rafael Martinez was born on Oct. 23, 1946, in Sagua la Grande, in northern Cuba. In 1962, when he was 15, Martinez left his Communist homeland with thousands of other youngsters in an evacuation organized by the Roman Catholic Church. He eventually was placed with a foster family in Orlando, Florida. His Cuban family joined him in the United States in 1966.
Martinez earned a bachelor’s degree from Florida State University in 1969. In 1973, he graduated from Florida State University College of Law. He then began to practice law in Orlando and became a successful trial lawyer. He also became active in civic affairs. He headed the Orlando Housing Authority from 1984 to 1986 and the Orlando Utilities Commission from 1994 to 1997.
In 1998, Martinez was elected chairman of Florida’s Orange County, a position similar to that of mayor. He held that post until 2001, when he became secretary of housing and urban development in President George W. Bush’s Cabinet. Martinez resigned from his Cabinet post in 2003 to run for a seat in the U.S. Senate. He won election to the Senate in 2004. In December 2008, Martinez announced he would not seek reelection in 2010. In September 2009, Martinez resigned from his Senate seat. Florida Governor Charlie Crist named George LeMieux as Martinez’s replacement. Martinez later worked as a lobbyist and as a bank executive.
