Iris Martinez
Encyclopedia
Iris Y. Martinez is a Democratic
member of the Illinois Senate
, representing the 20th district since 2003. She is also the Assistant Majority Leader in the State Senate.
and the University of Illinois at Chicago
.
. Martinez targeted Illinois drivers with out of state reckless homicide and DUI convictions with the passage of a new law. This law ensures that convictions received in other states are included in Illinois driving records and subject to state laws regarding further prosecution of these offences. To help protect consumers from becoming victims of identity theft, Martinez helped pass a law that requires all insurance cards be issued without a Social Security number.
In 2004, Martinez was awarded the Hillary Rodham Clinton
Leadership Award presented to an elected official by the Illinois Democratic Women’s organization. Martinez is the Chairperson of the Pensions Committee and Vice Chairperson of the Housing and Community Affairs Committee. She serves as a member of three additional committees: Commerce, Health and Human Services, and Insurance.
In 2006, Martinez received media attention when she bucked the Chicago Democratic Machine
and endorsed Ramon Ocasio III
over machine backed candidate Ed Lechowicz, son of former State Senator Ted Lechowicz. Martinez stated she did so to increase the number of Latinos on the Cook County
judiciary
.
Richard T. Bradley
, who represented half of her district in the House. Bradley had originally announced his intention to seek re-election to the House but decided instead to challenge Martinez when Deb Mell
announced her candidacy for his House seat. Martinez was re-elected, defeating Bradley and another candidate.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
member of the Illinois Senate
Illinois Senate
The Illinois Senate is the upper chamber of the Illinois General Assembly, the legislative branch of the government of the state of Illinois in the United States. The body was created by the first state constitution adopted in 1818. The Illinois Senate is made up of 59 senators elected from...
, representing the 20th district since 2003. She is also the Assistant Majority Leader in the State Senate.
Early life
Martinez is a graduate of Northeastern Illinois UniversityNortheastern Illinois University
Northeastern Illinois University is a public state university located in Chicago, Illinois. The main campus is located in the community area of North Park with three additional campuses in the metropolitan area. Tracing its founding to 1867, it was first established as a separate branch of a...
and the University of Illinois at Chicago
University of Illinois at Chicago
The University of Illinois at Chicago, or UIC, is a state-funded public research university located in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Its campus is in the Near West Side community area, near the Chicago Loop...
.
Senate career
Senator Martinez is the first Latina woman to be elected to the Illinois State Senate. In her first year in Springfield, Martinez ensured that community agencies like the Children’s Place, an agency that works with children and families affected by HIV and AIDS, and Concordia Avondale Community Center, which provides daycare, after-school programs and a center for seniors, received state funding to continue their programming. Martinez was particularly concerned with issues surrounding women’s health. She passed legislation that obligates health insurance companies to provide women with contraceptive coverage. In recognition of this legislation, Martinez received the Profile in Courage Award from Planned ParenthoodPlanned Parenthood
Planned Parenthood Federation of America , commonly shortened to Planned Parenthood, is the U.S. affiliate of the International Planned Parenthood Federation and one of its larger members. PPFA is a non-profit organization providing reproductive health and maternal and child health services. The...
. Martinez targeted Illinois drivers with out of state reckless homicide and DUI convictions with the passage of a new law. This law ensures that convictions received in other states are included in Illinois driving records and subject to state laws regarding further prosecution of these offences. To help protect consumers from becoming victims of identity theft, Martinez helped pass a law that requires all insurance cards be issued without a Social Security number.
In 2004, Martinez was awarded the Hillary Rodham Clinton
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton is the 67th United States Secretary of State, serving in the administration of President Barack Obama. She was a United States Senator for New York from 2001 to 2009. As the wife of the 42nd President of the United States, Bill Clinton, she was the First Lady of the...
Leadership Award presented to an elected official by the Illinois Democratic Women’s organization. Martinez is the Chairperson of the Pensions Committee and Vice Chairperson of the Housing and Community Affairs Committee. She serves as a member of three additional committees: Commerce, Health and Human Services, and Insurance.
In 2006, Martinez received media attention when she bucked the Chicago Democratic Machine
Cook County Democratic Organization
The Cook County Democratic Organization is one of the most powerful political machines in American history. Historically called the "Chicago Democratic machine", or simply the "Chicago Machine", the organization has dominated Chicago politics since the 1930s...
and endorsed Ramon Ocasio III
Ramon Ocasio III
Ramon Ocasio III is judge of the 6th Judicial Subcircuit in Cook County, Illinois. The 6th Judicial Subcircuit is located on Chicago's North Side.-Early life:...
over machine backed candidate Ed Lechowicz, son of former State Senator Ted Lechowicz. Martinez stated she did so to increase the number of Latinos on the Cook County
Cook County, Illinois
Cook County is a county in the U.S. state of Illinois, with its county seat in Chicago. It is the second most populous county in the United States after Los Angeles County. The county has 5,194,675 residents, which is 40.5 percent of all Illinois residents. Cook County's population is larger than...
judiciary
Judiciary
The judiciary is the system of courts that interprets and applies the law in the name of the state. The judiciary also provides a mechanism for the resolution of disputes...
.
2008 re-election campaign
In 2008, Martinez faced a primary challenge from state representativeIllinois House of Representatives
The Illinois House of Representatives is the lower house of the Illinois General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Illinois. The body was created by the first Illinois Constitution adopted in 1818. The state House of Representatives is made of 118 representatives elected from...
Richard T. Bradley
Richard T. Bradley
Richard T. Bradley is a Democratic politician from Chicago who served in the Illinois House of Representatives from 1997 to 2009.-Political career:...
, who represented half of her district in the House. Bradley had originally announced his intention to seek re-election to the House but decided instead to challenge Martinez when Deb Mell
Deb Mell
Deborah L. "Deb" Mell is an American politician from Chicago. She is a Democrat and a member of the Illinois House of Representatives representing the 40th district, elected in 2008 and taking office on January 14, 2009.-Early life, education and career:...
announced her candidacy for his House seat. Martinez was re-elected, defeating Bradley and another candidate.
External links
- Illinois General Assembly - Senator Iris Y. Martinez (D) 20th District official IL Senate website
- Project Vote Smart - Senator Iris Y. Martinez (IL) profile
- Follow the Money - Iris Y Martinez
- Illinois State Senate Democrats - Senator Iris Y. Martinez profile