Monica Martinez

Monica R. Martinez (born August 13, 1977) is a Salvadoran-American educator and politician from the state of New York. A Democrat, she is a member of the New York State Senate representing the 3rd district. She formerly served in the Suffolk County Legislature, representing the 9th district. Former Assistant Principal at East Middle School in Brentwood, NY.

Monica Martinez
Member of the New York Senate
from the 3rd district
Assumed office
January 2, 2019
Preceded byThomas Croci
Member of the Suffolk County Legislature from the 9th district
In office
January 2, 2014 – December 31, 2018
Preceded byRicardo Montano
Succeeded bySamuel Gonzalez
Personal details
Born (1977-08-13) August 13, 1977
El Salvador
Political partyDemocratic
ResidenceBrentwood, New York
Alma materStony Brook University
New York University
Binghamton University
ProfessionEducator

Early life and career

Martinez was born in El Salvador and moved to the United States at the age of 3.[1][2] She received her bachelor's degree from Binghamton University, and subsequently a masters and administrative degree from New York University and Stony Brook University respectively.[3] Martinez worked as a social studies teacher at Brentwood High School for 10 years before becoming the assistant principal of Brentwood's East Middle School.[4]

In 2013, Martinez defeated incumbent Suffolk County Legislator Ricardo Montano in the Democratic primary and was subsequently elected to represent Suffolk County's 9th Legislative District.[5][6] As a legislator, Martinez was known for taking legislative action on the issues of woman's equality and animal rights.[7][8] Martinez was appointed Chairwoman to the Public Safety Committee and pledged to help eradicate the Long Island gang violence epidemic through collaboration with local law enforcement officials.[9]

Martinez resides in Brentwood, New York. She is the younger sister of the Town of Babylon, New York councilman Antonio Martinez.[10]

New York Senate

On June 5, 2018 Martinez announced her intention to seek the New York State Senate seat being vacated by Thomas Croci.[11] On November 6, 2018 Martinez defeated Assemblyman Dean Murray by more than 2,500 votes,[12] flipping a seat held by the Republican Party for more than a decade.[13]

Martinez was named Chair for the Committee on Domestic Animal Welfare.[14]

Controversy

Martinez was among the seven Democratic senators that opposed the Driver's License Access and Privacy Act. The other six were: James Skoufis, Kevin Thomas, Todd Kaminsky, John E. Brooks, Anna M. Kaplan, and Jim Gaughran.[15] Of all Senators voting against the bill, Senator Martinez faced the most criticism, as she had previously been a supporter of the effort to restore access to drivers licenses for undocumented immigrants, but changed her position after becoming a New York State Senator.[16] Martinez has faced protest[17] and has been accused of flip-flopping on the issue and of betraying her own community of origin.[18][19]

References
  1. Rohrbacker, Glenn (October 10, 2018). "Monica-Martinez-(D): People over parties". Long Island Advance. Retrieved January 8, 2019.
  2. Cortés, Zaira (August 15, 2014). "Salvadorans: the Largest Minority on Long Island". Voices of NY. Retrieved January 8, 2019.
  3. "Suffolk County Legislator Monica R. Martinez '08". Stony Brook University News. September 1, 2017. Retrieved January 8, 2019.
  4. "About Monica Martinez". New York State Senate. Retrieved January 8, 2019.
  5. Brand, Rick (September 11, 2013). "Monica Martinez defeats Suffolk Legis. Rick Montano". Newsday. Retrieved January 8, 2019.
  6. Larocco, Paul (November 6, 2013). "Democrats retain control of Suffolk Legislature". Newsday. Retrieved January 8, 2019.
  7. Redding, Kevin (February 15, 2018). "Suffolk legislators pass sexual harassment laws". TBR Newsmedia. Retrieved January 8, 2019.
  8. Mahoney, Joe (January 5, 2019). "Proposed law would bar pet stores from selling commercially-bred dogs and cats". Niagara Gazette. Retrieved January 8, 2019.
  9. Drier, Hannah (September 28, 2018). "Challenged by Long Island Lawmakers, Police Will Look Into Treatment of Immigrant Families Who Reported Missing Children". Pro Publica. Retrieved January 8, 2019.
  10. Cortés, Zaira (August 15, 2014). "Salvadorans: the Largest Minority on Long Island". Voices of NY. Retrieved January 8, 2019.
  11. Brand, Rick (June 7, 2018). "Suffolk Legis. Monica Martinez launches state senate campaign". Newsday. Retrieved January 8, 2019.
  12. https://www.elections.ny.gov/NYSBOE/elections/2018/general/2018NYSenate.pdf
  13. Schwartz, David (November 24, 2018). "Minority turnout boosted Democrat Monica Martinez, hurt Republican Pete King in Suffolk". Newsday. Retrieved January 8, 2019.
  14. "Senator Monica R. Martinez". NY State Senate. 2018-11-13. Retrieved 2019-01-29.
  15. "NY State Senate Bill S1747A". NY State Senate. 2019-05-30. Retrieved 2019-07-02.
  16. "Senadora salvadoreña contra licencias para indocumentados". Washington Hispanic. 2019-06-21. Retrieved 2019-07-02.
  17. "Immigrants call on lawmakers to pass driver's license bill". News 12 Long Island. 2019-06-10. Retrieved 2019-06-19.
  18. Junio 2019, Por: Edwin Martinez | 18 de. "Indocumentados cuentan los días para tener licencias en diciembre". El Diario NY (in Spanish). Retrieved 2019-07-02.
  19. "Salvadoreña entre senadores que no apoyaron la licencia de conducir para indocumentados en Nueva York". elsalvador.com (in Spanish). 2019-06-18. Retrieved 2019-07-02.
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