Mel Martinez biography

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Assumed Office: January 3, 2005

Born: October 23, 1946 in Sagua La Grande, Cuba

Party: Republican

Spouse: Kitty Martinez

Children: Three- one daughter, two sons

Residence: Orlando

Alma Mater: Florida State University

Profession: Lawyer

Melquíades Rafael "Mel" Martínez is the United States Senator from Florida.

Martinez served as General Chairman of the Republican Party from November, 2006 until October 19, 2007.

Previously, Martinez served as the 12th Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under President George W. Bush.

Martinez resigned his cabinet post on December 12, 2003 to run for the open U.S. Senate seat in Florida vacated by retiring Democratic Sen.Bob Graham. Martinez secured the Republican nomination and narrowly defeated the Democratic nominee, Betty Castor.

His election made him the first Cuban-American to serve in the U.S. Senate. Furthermore, he and Ken Salazar are the first Hispanic U.S. Senators since 1977.

They were joined by Bob Menendez (who is also Cuban-American) in January 2006.

Mel Martinez first came to the United States in 1962 as part of a Roman Catholic humanitarian effort called Operation Peter Pan.

He subsequently lived with two foster families, and in 1966 was reunited with his family in Orlando.

Martinez went onto receive his Juris Doctor from the Florida State University College of Law in 1973.

He began his legal career working at the firm Wooten Honeywell, where he became a partner and worked at for more than a decade.

In 1994, Martinez ran for Lt. Governor of Florida. He teamed up with former Family Research Council President Ken Connor, who was the gubernatorial candidate. The Connor/Martinez ticket was defeated in the Republican primary, finishing fifth.

Before becoming Secretary of HUD, Martinez served on the Governor's Growth Management Study Commission.

In 1998, Mel was elected to serve as Mayor of Orange County, Fla. -- one of the state's largest counties. He served until 2001.

He previously served as president of the Orlando Utilities Commission, on the board of directors of a community bank, and as Chairman of the Orlando Housing Authority.

Serving as co-chairman of George W. Bush's 2000 presidential election campaign in Florida, Martinez was a leading fundraiser.

He was one of the 25 electors from Florida, who voted for George W. Bush in the 2000 election.