Jill Martinez

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Reverend Jill Martinez is the former Democratic candidate for the United States House of Representatives in California's 24th congressional district. Her opponent in 2006, incumbent Republican, Elton Gallegly has been representing this district since 1987.

A Presbyterian minister, Martinez has worked for the Ventura County Area Housing Authority and taught professional ethics at California State University, Stanislaus and was co-host of the bi-lingual television program, "La Voz de la Raza" for ABC's Stockton, CA affiliate. In Stockton, she also worked as a City Civil Service Commissioner and a Police Chaplain.

One of her major platforms has been addressing poor housing conditions on the Central Coast of California. She has also expressed concern over health care, transportation, port security, the Iraq War, and globalization.

Martinez holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of Hawaii, and a Master of Divinity from San Francisco Theological Seminary.