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Susana Martinez

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Susana Martinez
31st Governor of New Mexico
Assumed office
January 1, 2011
LieutenantJohn Sanchez
Preceded byBill Richardson
Personal details
Born (1959-07-14) July 14, 1959 (age 65)
El Paso, Texas, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic Party (Before 1995)
Republican Party (1995–present)
SpouseChuck Franco
ChildrenCarlo
ResidenceGovernor's Mansion
Alma materUniversity of Texas, El Paso
University of Oklahoma
Signature
WebsiteOfficial website

Susana Martinez (born July 14, 1959) is the 31st and current Governor of New Mexico.[1][2] Martinez, a Republican since 1995, is the first female governor of New Mexico[3] and the first female Hispanic governor in the United States.[4][5][6][7] Martinez was the Assistant District Attorney for the 3rd Judicial District, serving Doña Ana County, New Mexico from 1986 to 1992. She served 14 years as District Attorney, from 1997 to 2011.[8]

She is considered a potential pick for Vice President on the Republican presidential ticket in 2012, but has stated numerous times she would not run.[9][10][11]

Early life and education

Susana was born and raised in El Paso, Texas. She moved to Las Cruces, New Mexico, in the mid 1980s. Martínez comes from a middle class background. Her father was an amateur boxer who won three straight Golden Gloves titles in the 1950s. He was a deputy sheriff for El Paso County, Texas.[12]

On September 9, 2011, Martinez stated that she did not know whether her paternal grandparents immigrated to the country illegally.[13] On more thorough research it turned out that they appeared to follow the rules at the time and that she is a descendant of Mexican Revolutionary General Toribio Ortega.[14]

Susana graduated as one of the top students in her class at Riverside High School of El Paso, Texas in 1977. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at El Paso in 1980 and later earned her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Oklahoma College of Law in 1982.[15]

Personal life

Martínez's husband, Chuck Franco, has been a law enforcement officer for more than 30 years and served as the Doña Ana County Undersheriff. Susana has one stepson, Carlo, who served in the United States Navy.[16]

Family conflicts of interest

While District Attorney, Franco's relationship with Martinez was twice raised as a concern "when she had to decide whether officer-involved shootings were justified."[17] In 1992, Martinez was fired by then-district attorney Greg Valdez. Valdez stated that Martinez brought in a case that Franco was working on.[18] "A potential conflict of interest between Martinez and Franco was an issue in the late 1990s, when she first became district attorney. Franco was a magistrate judge, and some cases being prosecuted by the district attorney’s office were assigned to him. Franco was running for re-election in 1996, the same year Martinez first ran for DA. His Democratic opponent and others said there would be a conflict if both were elected. But Franco and Martinez said Franco would recuse himself from all cases involving the DA’s office."[19]

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 Nov. 14, 1910 against a decades-long dictator."[20]

Political positions

In 1995, Martinez changed her membership from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party.[21][22][23]

Economy

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.[24]

Pro–life, Pro–death penalty

Martinez is pro-life and is opposed to elective abortion.[25]However, Martinez says she is in favor of reinstating the death penalty in New Mexico, which was abolished in the Richardson administration.[26]

Same–sex marriage

Martinez stated numerous times throughout her campaign and recently, she has always been opposed to same-sex marriage and civil unions, in late 2011 a hair stylist for Martinez refused to cut her hair due to the issue.[27]

Medical cannabis

Martinez opposes New Mexico's medical marijuana program, but has indicated that repealing New Mexico's existing law is not a priority.[28]

District Attorney era

Assistant District Attorney

Martinez was the Assistant District Attorney for the 3rd Judicial District, serving Doña Ana County, New Mexico from 1986 to 1992.[29] She was fired in 1992.[30]

Dismissal

In 1992, Martinez was fired by then-district attorney Greg Valdez shortly after his election in 1992. Martinez said she was fired the day she was subpoenaed to a hearing for an investigator whom Valdez had fired. She asked if her dismissal was related to the subpoena. She said Valdez wouldn't tell her either way. Valdez in a recent interview confirmed that he didn't give her a reason at the time. But he said he let her go for two reasons. On one case she handled, she had missed some key timelines, Valdez said. On another, she brought a case into the office on which her husband, Chuck Franco, was working.[31]

Return as District Attorney

Martinez was first elected district attorney in the 3rd Judicial District in 1996 with nearly 60% of the vote.[32] She was re-elected three times since.[33] As a prosecutor, Martínez focused on cases involving public corruption and child abuse.[34] While District Attorney, Martinez’s relationship with Chuck Franco was raised twice as a concern "when she had to decide whether officer-involved shootings were justified."[35]

Martinez supervised a budget of $6.3 million for 2008-09. During this time, the office had 80 employees. "It was the third-largest office in the state in terms of number of employees and cases prosecuted that year."[36]

In 2008, Heart Magazine named Martinez “Woman of the Year” for her dedication to children’s advocacy and her efforts to keep children safe.[33] In March 2010, Martinez was named New Mexico's "Prosecutor of the Year" by the Prosecutors Section of the State Bar of New Mexico.[37][38]

2010 gubernatorial election

Main article: New Mexico gubernatorial election, 2010

Primary

Susana Martínez won the Republican nomination for Governor of New Mexico in the primary election on June 1, 2010; she won 51% of the vote in a five-way contest. Martinez defeated PR firm owner Doug Turner, State Representative Janice Arnold-Jones, Pete Domenici, Jr. (son of the former U.S. Senator from New Mexico Pete Domenici), and former Republican Party state chairman Allen Weh.[39] During the primary election campaign, Martínez was endorsed by former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin.[40]

General

Martínez defeated Diane Denish in the general election in November 2010. One element of her platform was to secure the United States - Mexico border from illegal immigrants. The Martínez vs. Denish race and the simultaneous Mary Fallin vs. Jari Askins race in Oklahoma were the third and fourth cases of woman vs. woman gubernatorial races in U.S. history (after the elections of Kay Orr in Nebraska in 1986 and Linda Lingle in Hawaii in 2002).[41]

</ref>}}
New Mexico gubernatorial election, 2010
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Susana Martinez - John Sanchez 321,219 53.29% +22.10%
Democratic Diane Denish - Brian Colon 280,614 46.55% −22.27%
Republican Kenneth Gomez (write-in) 994 0.16%
Majority 40,605 6.74% −30.90%
Turnout 602,827
Republican gain from Democratic

Governor of New Mexico (2011–Present)

Susana Martinez has maintained a approval rating above 60% since taking office[42][43]

Budget

Since Susana Martinez has taken office, she has set out a budget proposal for fiscal year 2012[44] It did not require raising taxes.[45]

Executive orders

Martinez established a moratorium on all state vehicle purchases until 2012.[46] Martinez has also prohibited all state agencies from hiring lobbyists, limiting the claim of executive privilege to help promote a more transparent government, and has created a small business friendly task force.[46][47]

Fight against illegal immigration

On January 31, 2011 Governor Martinez signed an executive order rescinding sanctuary status for illegal immigrants who commit crimes in New Mexico while protecting victims and witnesses of criminal acts.[48] Martinez campaigned on a promise to revoke drivers licences for illegal immigrants who abuse them, in the past two years the state legislature has failed to compromise on repealing the law that does in fact provide any undocumented immigrants to obtain licences in New Mexico.[49] Martinez said she won't stop until the law is overturned.[50]

Legislature

Martinez's counts among her legislative victories: capping film 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.[51] In addition, Martinez also 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.[52] Both the state house, and state senate are controlled by democrats, although many have praised Martinez for her ability to work across party lines.[53]

Spaceport

Martinez has pushed for an increase in private investment to complete the US$212 million state-funded[54] Spaceport America project. In order to drive the new effort, Gov. Martinez appointed an entirely new board of directors to oversee the Spaceport Authority.[55]

Battle with supreme court

In 2011, the Supreme Court of New Mexico ruled against actions by Martinez twice. "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."[56]

Vice presidential speculation

Martinez is considered a potential pick for Vice President on the Republican presidential ticket in 2012, but has stated numerous times she would not run.[57]

2012 fire season

On May 15, 2012, 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."[58][59] 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.[60]

Election history

References

  1. ^ Memoli, Mike. NM Gov: Martinez Wins GOP Nod, Real Clear Politics, June 2, 2010.
  2. ^ Davis, Susan. Political Trivia: New Mexico Marks a Milestone,Wall Street Journal, June 2, 2010.
  3. ^ "New Mexico elects nation's 1st Hispanic female governor". Associated Press. Houston Chronicle. November 3, 2010. Retrieved September 19, 2011. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  4. ^ Mariela Rosario (November 3, 2010). "New Mexico's Susana Martinez Elected the First Latina Governor in the U.S". Latina. Retrieved September 19, 2011. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  5. ^ Noreen Malone (November 3, 2010). "Susana Martinez, First Latina Governor, Will Be Tough on Border Security". Slate. Retrieved September 19, 2011. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  6. ^ Sharyl Stockstill (November 3, 2010). "New Mexico elects Susana Martinez, first female Hispanic governor". Yahoo! News. Retrieved September 19, 2011. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  7. ^ "Nation's first female Hispanic governor elected". MSNBC. November 2, 2010. Retrieved September 19, 2011.
  8. ^ Susana Martinez - Governor of the State of New Mexico
  9. ^ "Gov. on VP: No means No". Albuquerque Journal. April 8, 2012. Retrieved April 17, 2012.
  10. ^ http://dailycaller.com/2012/04/09/new-mexico-gov-martinez-says-no-to-vp-speculation/
  11. ^ http://www.lcsun-news.com/new_mexico-news/ci_20313673
  12. ^ http://www.santafenewmexican.com/local%20news/Tough-talking-prosecutor--GOP-upstart-works-to-prove-she-s-read/
  13. ^ "New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez Confirms that Grandparents Were Undocumented". Fox News Latino. September 9, 2011. Retrieved 9 September 2011.
  14. ^ Johnson, Luke (November 14, 2011). "Susana Martinez, New Mexico Governor, Releases Evidence On Her Grandparents' Immigration Status". Huffington Post.
  15. ^ Ramón Rentería (October 24, 2010). "'Bossy' El Paso girl Susana Martinez a born leader". El Paso Times. Retrieved September 19, 2011. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  16. ^ http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/united-states/new-mexico-elects-states-first-woman-governor-48498.html
  17. ^ Martinez’s marriage to cop has led to conflict allegations
  18. ^ Susana Martinez works to prove she's ready for state's top job
  19. ^ Martinez’s marriage to cop has led to conflict allegations
  20. ^ Susana Martinez, New Mexico Governor, Releases Evidence On Her Grandparents' Immigration Status
  21. ^ A rising GOP star in Santa Fe
  22. ^ How to grab them
  23. ^ Doña Ana County undersheriff to blaze new trail as governor-elect's sidekick
  24. ^ http://www.issues2000.org/governor/Susana_Martinez_Budget_+_Economy.htm
  25. ^ http://www.issues2000.org/governor/Susana_Martinez_Abortion.htm
  26. ^ http://www.abqjournal.com/news/state/apgovdeathpenalty201-31-11.htm
  27. ^ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/27/governor-susana-martinez-hairstylist_n_1305009.html
  28. ^ Milan Simonich (January 7, 2011). "New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez to ignore marijuana law". El Paso Times. Retrieved September 19, 2011. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  29. ^ Susana Martinez works to prove she's ready for state's top job
  30. ^ Susana Martinez works to prove she's ready for state's top job
  31. ^ Susana Martinez works to prove she's ready for state's top job
  32. ^ http://nmpolitics.net/Uploads/SMBioFinal.pdf
  33. ^ a b "Our Candidates: Susana Martinez". Free & Strong America PAC. Retrieved 20 August 2010. [dead link]
  34. ^ http://www.governor.state.nm.us/Meet_Governor_Martinez.aspx
  35. ^ Martinez’s marriage to cop has led to conflict allegations
  36. ^ Tough As Nails
  37. ^ "In Case Your Missed it! Martínez Named Prosecutor of the Year". Susana Martinez for Governor. March 4, 2010. Retrieved 20 August 2010.[dead link]
  38. ^ "Meet the Governor." New Mexico Office of the Governor Susana Martinez. 2012-01-29.
  39. ^ Massey, Barry (June 2, 2010). "Martinez wins GOP gubernatorial primary". Clovis News Journal. Retrieved 20 August 2010.
  40. ^ Miller, Sean J. Palin helps New Mexico Republican win primary, The Hill, June 1, 2010.
  41. ^ http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/2010_Elections/mexico-governors-race-milestone-women-test-anti-incumbent/story?id=11738732#.T59kMsRYvG4
  42. ^ http://www.rollcall.com/news/susana_martinez_has_conservative_cred_high_approval_ratings-211269-1.html
  43. ^ http://www.capitolreportnewmexico.com/?p=8993
  44. ^ http://budget.nmdfa.state.nm.us/content.asp?CustComKey=201583&CategoryKey=201584&pn=Page&DomName=budget.nmdfa.state.nm.us
  45. ^ http://newmexico.watchdog.org/5398/gov-martinez-and-her-balanced-budget-proposal-no-new-taxes-plenty-of-cuts/
  46. ^ a b http://www.governor.state.nm.us/uploads/FileLinks/1e77a5621a1544e28318ba93fcd47d49/EO-2011-008.pdf
  47. ^ http://www.governor.state.nm.us/uploads/FileLinks/1e77a5621a1544e28318ba93fcd47d49/EO-2011-004.pdf
  48. ^ http://www.governor.state.nm.us/uploads/FileLinks/20e5f2e740f34a2297a940e2bacdfcce/110131_1.pdf
  49. ^ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/25/new-mexico-license-data-point-to-fraud_n_1232024.html
  50. ^ http://www.alamogordonews.com/ci_19490924
  51. ^ Martinez touts gains, undaunted by setbacks
  52. ^ Martinez touts gains, undaunted by setbacks
  53. ^ http://www.santafenewmexican.com/localnews/Martinez-vows-more-communication--but-after-bumpy-first-year--s
  54. ^ "New era draws closer: Spaceport dedicates runway on New Mexico ranch". El Paso Times. 2010-10-23. Retrieved 2011-02-16. two-thirds of the $212 million required to build the spaceport came from the state of New Mexico... The rest came from construction bonds backed by a tax approved by voters in Doña Ana and Sierra counties.
  55. ^ "Martinez pushes private funds for spaceport". Cibola Beacon. 2011-02-14. Retrieved 2011-02-16. Martinez said ... "New Mexico's taxpayers have made a significant investment in the Spaceport project. It's time to see the project through to completion by bringing in private funding."
  56. ^ Court rules against Martinez in labor case
  57. ^ "Gov. on VP: No means No". Albuquerque Journal. April 8, 2012. Retrieved April 17, 2012.
  58. ^ "Martinez issues drought declaration". American City Business Journals. May 17, 2012. Retrieved June 7, 2012.
  59. ^ "Record-setting NM fire expected to burn for weeks". Kansas City Star. June 1, 2012. Retrieved June 6, 2012.
  60. ^ "Fire-impacted small businesses urged to seek SBA loans". American City Business Journals. May 29, 2012. Retrieved June 7, 2012.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Susana Martinez.
Political offices
Preceded by Governor of New Mexico
2011–present 		Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded byas Vice President Order of Precedence of the United States
Within New Mexico 		Succeeded by
Mayor of city
in which event is held
Succeeded by
Preceded byas Governor of Oklahoma Order of Precedence of the United States
Outside New Mexico 		Succeeded byas Governor of Arizona

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