Mel Martinez

Melquiades Rafael "Mel" Martinez (born in 1946) is member of the Republican party, senator of Florida to the Congrès of the United States since 2005 and former Secretary of State at the city under the first mandate of George W. Bush. It directs the republican national committee of January 2007 until the October 19th 2007.

Childhood and studies

Born with Cuba the October 23rd 1946, it unloads in 1962 with the the United States at the 15 years age at the time of the operation Peter Pan, a humane program directed by the Church Catholique which supported the escape of more than 14 thousand children of Cuba.

Graduate in right to the University of Florida, it began his career in a firm legal before implying himself in the political life and associative.

Political life

In 1998, it is elected mayor of the county floridien of Orange.

Secretary at the city

In 2001, it is named by George W. Bush with the secretariat at the city.

Senator de Floride

In 2003, it leaves the government to try to charm the following year with the democratic S the seat of senator de Floride, prisoner up to that point by the senator Bob Graham.

A rhetoric homophobe enables him to overcome its republican challenger at the time of the primary educations and the November 2nd 2004, Mel Martinez gains the victory of accuracy against Betty Castor, its democratic adversary.

It becomes, with the senator Ken Salazar of the Colorado, first Cuban-American with being elected with the senate of the United States since 1977.

Political orientation

Politically on the right, it is hostile with the Avortement in general and is opposed to militant secularity. It supports the falls of taxes, the program No Child Left Behind , the Bush doctrines, the State of Israel, the embargo against Cuba, the reform of the social security, the maintenance of the domination of the American military power everywhere in the world, the free exercise of the religion, the right to carry weapons and the constitutional amendment against the Homosexual marriage.

" General Chairman" RNC

In November 2006, Martinez is indicated to succeed Ken Mehlman with the presidency of the republican national committee (RNC) over the period 2007-2008. It must however share its functions with Mike Duncan who is elected with the executive function of the presidency while Martinez becomes " general chairman" (managing director). Disputed within the party for some of its positions moderated concerning illegal immigration and in dissension on their respective prerogatives with Mike Duncan, Mel Martinez resigns of its general position of director of the Republican party the October 19th 2007.

Private life

Father of 3 children and grandfather of 2 small children, Mel Martinez is Catholique practitioner.

See too

List of the senators of the United States of America

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