Mel Martínez

Melquíades Rafael "Mel" Martínez (born October 23, 1946) is a Cuban-American politician and lawyer who served as a United States Senator from Florida from 2005 to 2009. He was the first Cuban-American to serve in the U.S. Senate. Prior to his tenure in the Senate, Martínez served as the United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2003.

Early Life and Education

Martínez was born in Sagua La Grande, Cuba. He immigrated to the United States in 1962 as part of Operation Peter Pan, a program that brought Cuban children to the U.S. to escape the Cuban Revolution. He settled in Orlando, Florida, where he attended high school.

Martínez earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Florida State University in 1969 and a Juris Doctor from the Florida State University College of Law in 1973.

Political Career

Secretary of Housing and Urban Development

In 2001, Martínez was appointed by President George W. Bush as the United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. During his tenure, he focused on increasing homeownership among minorities and low-income families.

United States Senate

In 2004, Martínez ran for the United States Senate seat from Florida. He won the election and served from 2005 to 2009. As a senator, Martínez was known for his work on immigration reform and his support for Cuban-American issues.

Post-Senate Career

After resigning from the Senate in 2009, Martínez joined the private sector, working for JPMorgan Chase as a senior executive. He has also been involved in various civic and charitable organizations.

Personal Life

Martínez is married and has three children. He is a practicing Roman Catholic and has been active in various community and religious organizations.

See Also

• Cuban-American
• United States Senate
• George W. Bush

References

• U.S. Senate Biography
• Mel Martínez at HUD

External Links

• Mel Martínez at JPMorgan Chase