Martínez, Matthew G. (Matthew Gilbert), 1929-2011

<p>Matthew Gilbert "Marty" Martínez (February 14, 1929 – October 15, 2011) was a Congressional representative who was both a member of the Democratic Party and the Republican Party from California's 30th congressional district from 1982 to 1993 and California's 31st congressional district from 1993 to 2001. Martínez switched parties to become a Republican after being defeated in a 2000 primary.</p>

<p>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.</p>

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

MARTÍNEZ, Matthew G., a Representative from California; born in Walsenburg, Huerfano County, Colo., February 14, 1929; attended Roosevelt High School, Los Angeles, Calif.; received certificate of competence, Los Angeles Trade Technical School, Los Angeles, Calif., 1956; United States Marine Corps, 1947-1950; small businessman; building contractor; Monterey Park, Calif., Planning Committee, 1971-1974; elected to the Monterey Park, Calif., City Council, 1974-1980; mayor of Monterey Park, Calif., 1974 and 1980; member of the California state assembly, 1980-1982; elected as a Democrat to the Ninety-seventh Congress by special election, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of United States Representative George E. Danielson; reelected to the nine succeeding Congresses (July 13, 1982-January 3, 2001); changed from a Democratic to a Republican on July 27, 2000; was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination to the One Hundred Seventh Congress; died on October 15, 2011, in Fredericksburg, Va.

<p>Matthew Martínez, whose career took him from East Los Angeles to Washington, won a special election to the U.S. House and later unseated a longtime incumbent, serving a total of 10 terms in Congress. Along the way, Martínez worked to address the education and labor concerns of his working-class district. “You know, a poor little ghetto kid from East Los Angeles standing in the hallowed halls of Congress—that’s got to be the American Dream,” Martínez said shortly after he was elected to the U.S. House.</p>

<p>One of nine children born to Matthew and Helen Martínez, Matthew Gilbert (Marty) Martínez was born February 14, 1929, in Walsenburg, Colorado. His father was a Texas-born coal miner of Mexican heritage. The family moved to East Los Angeles when Martínez was a year old. He attended local public schools and later told the New York Times he left home at age 12 because his mother beat him. “I ran away from home, hid out, bummed off friends, stole milk and bread, and learned how to survive,” he said. An older brother took him in and convinced him to return to school, and Martínez eventually graduated from Los Angeles’ Roosevelt High School. From 1947 to 1950, he served in the U.S. Marine Corps, attaining the rank of private first class. In 1956, using the GI Bill to study business, he earned a certificate of competence from the Los Angeles Trade Technical School. Martínez married Elvira Yorba, and they raised five children: Matthew, Diane, Susan, Michael, and Carol Ann. He opened a furniture upholstery shop in the 1950s, moving the business from Hollywood to Monterey Park in the Eastern Los Angeles suburbs. He also worked as a building contractor. Later, Martínez and his wife separated for many years, divorcing in the early 2000s. Martínez subsequently married Maxine Grant.</p>

<p>Martínez’s political career began at a Los Angeles hamburger stand, where he gathered with neighbors to discuss issues affecting Monterey Park. He was a member of the local Rotary Club, and during his years as a business owner he switched his political affiliation from Democratic to Republican. From 1971 to 1974, he served on the Monterey Park planning committee and embarked on a career in elective politics. Martínez changed his affiliation back to the Democratic Party shortly after winning a seat on the Monterey Park city council. He served on the council for six consecutive years, two of them (1974–1975) as mayor of Monterey Park. In 1977 he was appointed to the California Solid Waste Management Board.</p>