Matthew G. Martínez

Martínez's family moved to Los Angeles, California, when he was young, and he attended public schools in Los Angeles. In 1949 he graduated from Roosevelt High School. From 1947 to 1950 he served in the U.S. Marine Corps, achieving the rank of private first class. In 1956 he received a certificate of competence from the Los Angeles Trade-Technical College.[2]

For the next fifteen years he owned and operated a custom furniture upholstery company and worked as a building contractor.

He began his political career in 1971 when he became a member of the Monterey Park Planning Commission, and served until 1974 when he was elected to the Monterey Park City Council. He served until 1980, including two terms as mayor in 1974 and 1980.

In 1980, Martínez defeated incumbent Jack R. Fenton in the Democratic primary election in California's 59th State Assembly district. He was elected to the California State Assembly with no major-party opponent.[3]

In 1982 George E. Danielson left the U.S. House of Representatives to take the bench. Martínez won the special election to succeed him, and was reelected nine times by varying margins.

In his first term in Congress he was assigned to the Education and Labor Committee. In the 99th Congress (1985–87) he chaired the Subcommittee on Employment Opportunities. In 1991, he became the Chairman of the Human Resources Subcommittee. In 1992, Martínez was named to the Foreign Affairs Committee, and served on the Subcommittee on International Security, International Organizations and Human Rights.

In 2000, Martínez was defeated in the Democratic primary by liberal State Senator Hilda Solis 62% to 29%. She charged that he was out of touch with his district when he voted to ban partial-birth abortion and opposed gun control. (He was both Roman Catholic and a member of the National Rifle Association.)[2] While he had been a reliably Democratic vote on most issues throughout his congressional career, after his primary loss Martínez began to vote overwhelmingly with Republicans. On July 27, 2000, Martínez switched to the Republican Party, arguing that the Democrats had abandoned him. There was no Republican candidate on the ballot in the district for the 2000 election, and Martínez declined to attempt a write-in candidacy, though he remained critical of Solis and promised to stay active in the Republican party.[4] His term in Congress ended on January 3, 2001, at the end of the 106th Congress.

Martínez was married to Elvira Yorba Martinez, with whom he had five children: Matthew Adrian, Michael Gilbert, Diane, Susan, and Carol Ann. His daughter, Diane Martínez, served in the State Assembly from 1992 to 1998.

On October 15, 2011, Martínez died at his home in Fredericksburg, Virginia.[5][6][7] He had suffered from congestive heart failure.[8]

• San Gabriel Valley YMCA board of directors
• Hispanic American Democrats
• National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials
• Communications Workers of America
• Veterans of Foreign Wars
• American Legion
• Latin Business Association
• Monterey Park Chamber of Commerce
• Navy League (director)
• Rotary International[9]

• List of American politicians who switched parties in office
• List of Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States Congress
• List of United States representatives who switched parties

• United States Congress. "Matthew G. Martínez (id: M000206)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• Biography from the Library of Congress
• Appearances on C-SPAN
• Matthew G. Martínez at Find a Grave
• Join California Matthew G. Martinez