Preceded by Ben Lujan Succeeded by Don Tripp Political party Democratic Party | Name W. Martinez Occupation attorney | |
Full Name Walter Kenneth Martinez, Jr. Born February 12, 1959 (age 65)
Albuquerque, New Mexico ( 1959-02-12 ) Residence Grants, New Mexico, United States | ||
W. Ken Martinez (born February 12, 1959) is an American attorney, politician, and Democratic member of the New Mexico House of Representatives from Albuquerque, representing the 69th District since 1998. He served as House Majority Leader from 2005 to 2013. That year he was elected as Speaker of the House, and served until 2015.
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Early years
Walter Kenneth Martinez, Jr. was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico on February 12, 1959 into a political family. His parents were Walter Martinez, Sr. and Dolores Martinez. He is Roman Catholic. His father was a member of a group of Hispanic and liberal Anglo legislators called the Mama Lucy's, who controlled the New Mexico House in the early 1970s. He served as House Speaker from 1971–78.
W. Ken Martinez earned a bachelor's degree from the University of New Mexico in 1981, and a law degree from the University of Notre Dame in 1984. His siblings also went into law. His older sister Camille Olguin became a state district judge, and his younger brother Kevin Martinez became a lawyer.
The Martinez brothers have a joint law practice in Albuquerque.
Legislator
Martinez was elected to the New Mexico House of Representatives in 1998, taking office in 1999 and serving to the present.
In the June 1, 2010 Democratic primary Martinez was elected by 2,130 votes. He was unopposed in the November 2, 2010 general election for the 69th District, winning with 5,379 votes.
Martinez served as House majority leader for eight years up to 2013. Martinez was elected as Speaker of the House in 2012, sworn in by Governor Susana Martínez on 15 January 2013. He served until 2015, when he was In 2014 he was still speaker of the house.
He was co-chair of the legislative council, capitol buildings planning commission and jobs council. He was a member of legislative committees on Labor and Human Resources, Rules and Order of Business, and Voters and Elections.
As of 2014 Martinez was married and resident in Grants, New Mexico.