Martin Sandoval

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Martin A. Sandoval

Member of the Illinois State Senate from the 12th district
In office 2003 -

Born	January 12, 1964 (1964-01-12) (age 44) Chicago, Illinois
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Marina Sandoval
Religion	Roman Catholic

Martin A. Sandoval is a Democratic member of the Illinois Senate, representing the 12th District since 2003.

1 Early life
2 Public service
3 Senate career
4 Personal life
5 References
6 External links

[edit] Early life

Sandoval was born in The Back of the Yards, a neighborhood on Chicago’s Southwest Side. He graduated from Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary South High School and went on to Loyola University, Chicago where he earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology.

[edit] Public service

Sandoval’s career has included appointments to the U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and ten years at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. He was also a leader in various federal labor unions.

In 1999, Sandoval was appointed as Commissioner to the Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago. He was reelected to that position in 2000. Sandoval served as chairman on the District’s Committee of Engineering as well as the Committee on Public Health and Welfare. These committees provide policy and budgetary direction in the planning and design of the District’s construction projects as well as security of all plant facilities.

Sandoval continues to sponsor science fairs and provides resources to local schools. He serves on the board of Catholic Charities of Chicago, Advocate Bethany Hospital and the Save-A-Life Foundation.

[edit] Senate career

Sandoval was elected in 2003 as state senator.

As senator, he has sponsored a bill to reduce harmful mercury emissions by requiring automobile manufacturers to establish a program to collect mercury switches out of used vehicles to be scrapped or recycled.

Sandoval supported increased funding for early detection of breast cancer. The increased funding would be used to help low-income and uninsured women get tested early for breast cancer.

One of Sandoval’s biggest priorities is education,^{[citation needed]} so he has worked to secure more education funding for the students in his district who need new facilities to replace the overcrowded schools of the Southwest Side.

Sandoval has questioned the work ethic of Governor Rod Blagojevich during the 2007 budget crisis, as Blagojevich returned to Chicago rather than staying in Springfield for the remainder of the session.^[1]

Sandoval is Vice-Chairperson of the Local Government Committee and Chairperson of the Commerce and Economic Development Committee. He also serves on the Senate Commerce Committee, Appropriations I, and the Environment and Energy Committee.