Martin Chávez

Martin Chávez
28th Mayor of Albuquerque, New Mexico
In office
December 1, 2001 – November 31, 2009
Preceded by Jim Baca
Succeeded by Richard J. Berry
26th Mayor of Albuquerque, New Mexico
In office
December 1, 1993 – November 31, 1997
Preceded by Louis E. Saavedra
Succeeded by Jim Baca
Personal details
Born Martin Joseph Chávez
March 2, 1952
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Nationality American
Political party Democratic
Children Martinique Chávez
Zeke Chávez
Alma mater University of New Mexico
Georgetown University Law Center
Occupation Executive Director of ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability USA
Religion Roman Catholic

Martin Joseph Chávez (born March 2, 1952[1]) is a former three-term mayor of Albuquerque, New Mexico and New Mexico State Senator.[1][2] He formerly served as the Executive Director of ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability USA.[3] and Chairman of the Advisory Board for the Center for Green Schools at U.S. Green Building Council.[4] In 2012, he unsuccessfully sought the Democratic nomination for the Congressional seat being vacated by Martin Heinrich, who retired from the House to run for Senate.[5]

He is formerly a senior advisor to Ready for Hillary and a co-chair of Latinos for Hillary.

Early life, education, and early business career

In 1952, he was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico of Hispanic heritage. Chávez attended both parochial (St. Charles Borromeo and Holy Ghost) and public (Van Buren Junior High and Manzano High) schools.[2] After graduating from Manzano High School, Chávez earned a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of New Mexico and a Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center.[2] He was the founding director of the New Mexico Workers' Compensation Administration in 1986.[2][6]

New Mexico Senate

From 1987 to 1993 he served in the New Mexico State Senate where he helped pass the New Mexico Workers Compensation Act and the Voter Registration Reform Act.[2]

First mayoral term

1993 election

He pulled a major upset by defeating former Governor David Cargo in the 1993 election for Mayor of Albuquerque 50.4%-49.6%, a difference of just 596 votes.[7]

Accomplishments

He was named one of America's 25 Most Dynamic Mayors by Newsweek in 1997.[3]

1998 gubernatorial election

In 1997, Chávez decided not to run for re-election as Mayor and instead ran for Governor of New Mexico in 1998. He won the six candidate Democratic primary with 48% of the vote and won most of the counties in the state. He defeated some very well experienced candidates such as State Representative Gary King, former Governor Jerry Apodaca, and State Auditor Robert Vigil.[8] In the general election he was defeated by incumbent Republican Governor Gary Johnson 55%-45%.[9]

Second mayoral term

2001 election

In 2001, Chávez again ran for Mayor of Albuquerque and finished first in a seven-candidate race.

2005 re-election bid

In 2005, he was the first mayor to be re-elected two consecutive terms since the creation of the strong mayoral form of government in 1974[2]

Accomplishments

As Mayor, Chávez partnered with the University of New Mexico, Sandia National Laboratories and leading entrepreneurs and educators to establish the Albuquerque Institute of Math and Science (AIMS), a charter high school dedicated to academic excellence. In 2009, the AIMS graduated its first senior class of 26 students. For the first time in New Mexico's history, an entire graduating class had enrolled in college.[2][10] AIMS is now number 1 public high school in the State of New Mexico for math, science and reading. http://www.aims-unm.org/academics/index.cfm

Recognitions

During his tenure as Mayor, Chávez and the City of Albuquerque received the following recognitions:

2008 U.S. Senate election

On October 8, 2007, Chávez announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate seat that was being vacated by retiring Republican Senator Pete Domenici. Democratic leaders, including Senator Charles Schumer, Chairman of Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, recruited Tom Udall into the race.[20]

Chávez initially indicated that he intended to remain in the race, referring to Udall as Washington's "fair-haired boy."[21] However, Chavez ultimately withdrew from the race on December 7 saying, "While I deeply appreciate all the support I have received, it has become very clear to me that Democrats should not be divided in the upcoming election.[22] "

2009 re-election bid

In 2009, Chávez succeeded in overturning a two consecutive mayoral term limit, which he initially had gotten passed into law, and announced he would seek a third consecutive, and fourth overall, term as mayor. He ran against Republican State Representative Richard J. Berry and Democratic State Senator Richard Romero in a hotly contested race. Romero split the Democratic vote, and Richard J. Berry defeated Chavez 44% to 35% while Romero finished a distant third with 21%.[23]

Post-mayoral career

ICLEI

In March 2010, Chávez, was appointed Executive Director of ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability USA. Chávez previously served on ICLEI USA’s Board of Directors and was recognized nationally as a “green mayor” during his tenure in Albuquerque. Chavez leads a staff of 52 ICLEI USA employees, based in six regional offices: Boston, Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Oakland, and Seattle. In addition to these responsibilities Chávez also speaks a many conferences including George Mason University's Washington Youth Summit on the Environment in 2011.

Memberships

Chavez serves on the Board of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF). Chávez is a member of the National Building Museum’s Intelligent Cities Advisory Committee and member of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Vibrant Cities and Urban Forests Task Force.[24][25] In March 2011, Chávez joined polar explorer and environmentalist Robert Swan, on an expedition to explore the effects of climate change in the Antarctica.[26] Chávez visited the remnants of the Larsen Ice Shelf known as “Larsen B"; once an ice shelf larger than the state of Rhode Island, which disintegrated over a three-week period in 2002 as a result of climate change. Chavez serves a Member of the Board of Directors of American Rivers.http://www.americanrivers.org/about/governance/

2012 congressional election

Chávez sought the Democratic nomination to succeed Representative Martin Heinrich, but lost to Bernalillo County Commissioner Michelle Lujan Grisham.[27]

Current Memberships

Martin Chavez was named to a two year term on the Board of Directors of MALDEF ( Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund) in May, 2013. He is a current Member of the Board of Directors of American Rivers.http://www.americanrivers.org/about/governance/ He is a Senior Adviser to the Hispanic Technology and Telecommunications Partnership (HTTP),[28] and a Senior Adviser to P3GM, a Smart Cities Technology startup focusing on public private partnerships in the smart cities arena.[29]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Nm_Gov_Chavez". CBS News. October 6, 1998.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 "Marty's Story | Mayor Marty Chavez". Martychavez.com. Retrieved 2013-12-30.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Martin J. Chávez—ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability USA
  4. ↑ "Greening America's Schools Summit". Centerforgreenschools.org. Retrieved 2013-12-30.
  5. ↑ Kyle Trygstad (June 29, 2011). "Ex-Albuquerque Mayor Marty Chavez Running in 1st District". Roll Call. Retrieved July 6, 2011.
  6. ↑ "Glenn R. Smith Named New Director of New Mexico Workers Compensation administration" (PDF). Workerscomp.state.nm.us. Retrieved 2013-10-22.
  7. ↑ "Albuquerque, NM Mayor Race - Nov 09, 1993". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2012-08-20.
  8. ↑ "NM Governor - D Primary Race - Jun 02, 1998". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2012-08-20.
  9. ↑ "Martin J Chavez – Mayor of Albuquerque". City Mayors. Retrieved 2013-12-30.
  10. ↑ "2009 Albuquerque Mayoral Race". Democracy for New Mexico. Retrieved 2013-12-30.
  11. ↑ "2007 Climate Award Winners | Climate Protection Partnerships | US EPA". Epa.gov. Retrieved 2013-12-30.
  12. ↑ 2008 Siemens Sustainable Community Awards Winners | BCLC
  13. ↑
  14. ↑ Clark, Hannah (February 16, 2007). "Table: Best Cities For Jobs". Forbes.
  15. ↑ "2007 mayors' Climate Protection Award Winners Announced" (PDF). Usmayors.org. Retrieved 2013-10-22.
  16. ↑ Van Riper, Tom; Malone, Robert (October 10, 2007). "America's Most Pet-Friendly Cities". Forbes.
  17. ↑ Former ABQ Mayor Chavez takes job with sustainability org. | New Mexico Independent
  18. ↑ "Number One Place". Forbes. Retrieved 2013-10-22.
  19. ↑ FOG Open Government News
  20. ↑ Reid Wilson (June 16, 2008). "Schumer Wins Again". Real Clear Politics. Retrieved March 9, 2009.
  21. ↑ RALPH BLUMENTHAL (November 25, 2007). "Political Upheaval Follows a Rare Decision to Retire". New York Times. Retrieved March 23, 2009.
  22. ↑ "Chávez drops out of U.S. Senate race". KRQE-TV. December 7, 2007. Retrieved December 18, 2007.
  23. ↑ Albuquerque: You Have a New Mayor | New Mexico Independent
  24. ↑ Task Force Members | Vibrant Cities & Urban Forests
  25. ↑ "Intelligent Cities: Martin Chávez". Nbm.org. Retrieved 2012-08-20.
  26. ↑ "ICLEI USA Executive Director Martin Chávez Joins Renowned Polar Explorer and Environmentalist, Sir Robert Swan, Global CEOs on Important Climate Change Expedition to Antarctic". EcoChamber. March 22, 2011. Retrieved July 6, 2011.
  27. ↑ "Lujan Grisham wins hotly contested CD-1 primary". KOAT-TV. June 6, 2012.
  28. ↑ httponline.org
  29. ↑ http://p3gm.com/about/government-advisors

External links

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