Bob Martinez

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bob Martinez

Robert "Bob" Martinez (born December 25, 1934 in Tampa , Florida ) is an American politician . He served as the 40th governor of the state of Florida from 1987 to 1991 .

Early years and political advancement

Bob Martinez attended the University of Florida until 1957 . He then studied at the University of Illinois . The focus of this course was on the relationships between employees and employers in the industrial sector. In the late 1960s he was the head of a teachers' union in Tampa. In this capacity he led a teachers' strike against the city. In 1979 he was elected mayor of Tampa himself. He held this office until his election to governor in 1986. Three years earlier he had resigned from the Democratic Party and joined the Republicans . His new party nominated him for the 1986 gubernatorial election. Martinez won these elections with 54.6% of the vote against the Democrat Steve Pajcic .

Florida governor

Martinez was the first and so far only Florida governor of Latin American descent. His four-year term began on January 6, 1987. As governor, he continued the environmental policy of his predecessor Bob Graham . He was particularly successful in the field of water protection. Special laws against pollution of all kinds have been enacted for the many lakes and rivers in the state. He also campaigned for the protection of endangered species. Waste laws were also passed and the governor led a fight against drug abuse in the country.

At times Martinez was considered a new rising star in the Republican Party. But his popularity suffered a drastic setback when he tried to impose a tax on services. This was very unpopular in Florida and had to be taken back again. Two years later he campaigned for stricter laws against abortion, which again met with strong opposition in Florida. His poll numbers dropped to 24%. So it was not surprising that he lost the 1990 election to his Democratic challenger Lawton Chiles .

Further career

After his tenure ended, Martinez was appointed head of the Office of National Drug Control Policy by US President George Bush . He held this position of cabinet rank until the end of Bush's term in January 1993. Today Martinez is a political advisor to a renowned law firm; he comments on political events for a local television station and is a curator at the University of Florida. He also holds some honorary positions in some schools. Bob Martinez is married and has two children.

Web links