Mel Martínez

About

Cuban-American politician who represented Florida in the United States Senate from 2005 to 2009. In 2006, he became the first Latino to chair the Republican Party.

Before Fame

He earned both his bachelor's degree and his Juris Doctor from Florida State University. For a time, he worked as a partner at an Orlando law firm called Wooten, Kimbrough, et al.

Trivia

He served as Secretary of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Family Life

Born in Cuba, he moved to the United States at the age of sixteen as one of thousands of Cuban children aided by a Roman Catholic charity operation. His marriage to Kitty Martinez produced one daughter and two sons.

Associated With

In 2000, he was the Florida organizer of the presidential campaign of Republican candidate George W. Bush.