Matthew Martinez | |
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Member of the ColoradoHouseofRepresentatives from the 62nd district | |
Assumed office January 9, 2023 | |
Preceded by | Donald Valdez |
Personal details | |
Nationality | American |
Political party | Democratic |
Residence | Monte Vista,Colorado |
Alma mater | Adams State University Southern New Hampshire University |
Matthew Martinez is an American politician who is a member of the Colorado House of Representatives from the 62nd district,which includes portions of Saguache,Costilla,Rio Grande,Conejos,Huerfano,Mineral,Pueblo and Alamosa counties. He was elected in 2022 and assumed office in January 2023.
Martinez is a seventh-generation native of Colorado. He was born and raised in Monte Vista. After graduating high school,Martinez joined the US Marine Corps and served in Iraq. After his service,Martinez attended and graduated from Adams State University with a bachelor's degree in political science. He later gained his master's degree from Southern New Hampshire University. [1] He has served on the Monte Vista city council,local government boards,and various posts for the Adams State University. He also works for local organizations that focuses on public services. [1]
Martinez ran for office in 2020 against incumbent Donald Valdez. [2] He lost in the primary to Valdez. [3] In the 2022 general election,Martinez defeated the Republican candidate. [4]
His legislative priorities include better access to healthcare,education,improving the local economy,protecting the resources of the area and other issues affecting the rural nature of the region. [1]
As of the 2023 legislative session,Martinez is a member of the Agriculture,Water and Natural Resources and Joint Select Committee on Rising Utility Rates committees. [5] [6] He alsos serves as vice-chair of the Education Committee. [7]
The San Luis Valley is a region in south-central Colorado with a small portion overlapping into New Mexico. The valley is approximately 122 miles (196 km) long and 74 miles (119 km) wide,extending from the Continental Divide on the northwest rim into New Mexico on the south. It contains 6 counties and portions of 3 others. It is an extensive high-elevation depositional basin of approximately 8,000 square miles (21,000 km2) with an average elevation of 7,664 feet (2,336 m) above sea level. The valley is a section of the Rio Grande Rift and is drained to the south by the Rio Grande,which rises in the San Juan Mountains to the west of the valley and flows south into New Mexico. The San Luis Valley has a cold desert climate but has substantial water resources from the Rio Grande and groundwater.
Rio Grande County is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2020 census,the population was 11,539. The county seat is Del Norte. The county is named for the Rio Grande,which flows through the county.
Alamosa County is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2020 census,the population was 16,376. The county seat is Alamosa. The county name is the Spanish language word for a grove of cottonwood trees.
Founded in 1851,the Town of Manassa is a Statutory Town and is the most populous municipality in Conejos County,Colorado,United States. The town's population was 947 at the 2020 United States Census.
The Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge is an 11,169-acre (4,520 ha) United States National Wildlife Refuge located in southern Colorado. The site is located in the San Luis Valley along the east side of the Rio Grande approximately 8 miles (13 km) southeast of Alamosa primarily in southeastern Alamosa County,although very small parts extend into northeastern Conejos and western Costilla counties. It is managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service jointly with the Baca and Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuges. It was established in 1962 as a haven for migratory birds and other wildlife.
The 2006 Colorado gubernatorial election was held on November 7,2006. Incumbent Republican governor Bill Owens was unable to run due to term limits,and the election was won by Democratic nominee Bill Ritter.
The Colorado Pacific Rio Grande Railroad is a class III railroad operating in south-central Colorado. It runs on 154 miles (248 km) of former Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad tracks on three lines radiating from Alamosa and interchanges with the Union Pacific Railroad in Walsenburg. Much of the railroad is located in the San Luis Valley. In 2022,it was purchased by Stefan Soloviev.
Colorado's 3rd congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Colorado. It takes in most of the rural Western Slope in the state's western third portion,with a wing in the south taking in some of the southern portions of the Eastern Plains. It includes the cities of Grand Junction,Montrose,Durango,Aspen,Glenwood Springs,and Pueblo. The district has been represented by Republican Lauren Boebert since 2021.
Rio Grande National Forest is a 1.86 million-acre (7,530 km2) U.S. National Forest located in southwestern Colorado. The forest encompasses the San Luis Valley,which is the world's largest agricultural alpine valley,as well as one of the world's largest high deserts located around mountains. The Rio Grande rises in the forest,and the Continental Divide runs along most of its western border. The forest lies in parts of nine counties. In descending order of land area within the forest they are Saguache,Mineral,Conejos,Rio Grande,Hinsdale,San Juan,Alamosa,Archuleta,and Custer counties. Forest headquarters are currently located in Monte Vista,Colorado,but plan to move to Del Norte. There are local ranger district offices in Del Norte,La Jara,and Saguache.
South-Central Colorado is a region of the U.S. state of Colorado. It can be roughly defined by Chaffee County in the northwest,El Paso County in the northeast,Las Animas County in the southeast,and Conejos County in the southwest. Some notable towns and cities there include Colorado Springs,Pueblo,Cripple Creek,Cañon City,Salida,Buena Vista,Monte Vista,Alamosa,Walsenburg,and Trinidad. The landscapes of South-Central Colorado were made known to the Western world by the explorations of Zebulon Pike and Kit Carson,who were later followed by settlers,many of whom came by the Santa Fe Trail. The upper tributaries of the Arkansas River and South Platte River provide ample whitewater rafting and are famous for trout and bass fishing in scenic settings such as Royal Gorge. Much of the local economic system is dependent on mining,forestry,ranching,and tourism related to these endeavors. South-Central Colorado has so far largely escaped urbanization,allowing visitors to experience something of the American Old West.
William Herbert Adams was an American politician who served as the 25th governor of the state of Colorado,from 1927 until 1933.
Gail Sheridan Schwartz is a former legislator in the U.S. state of Colorado. Elected to the Colorado State Senate as a Democrat in 2006,Schwartz represented Senate District 5,which covers a large section of south-central Colorado,ranging from Aspen,and Delta,Colorado through the San Luis Valley to the New Mexico border. Schwartz left office in 2015 after serving two terms and unsuccessfully ran for the United States House of Representatives in Colorado's 3rd congressional district.
State Highway 371 (SH 371) is a 6.067-mile (9.764 km) state highway in Conejos and Alamosa counties in Colorado,United States,that connects Colorado State Highway 15 (SH 15),east of Capulin,with Colorado State Highway 368 (SH 368) east of Estrella.
State Highway 368 (SH 368) is a 12.329-mile (19.842 km) state highway in Rio Grande,Conejos,and Alamosa counties in Colorado United States,that connects Colorado State Highway 370 (SH 370) west of Waverly with U.S. Route 285 in Estrella.
Sangre de Cristo National Heritage Area is a federally designated National Heritage Area in the south central portion of the U.S. state of Colorado. The heritage area includes the San Luis Valley and portions of the Sangre de Cristo Range. The region combines influences of Anglo-American,Hispano-American and Native American influences. It also includes portions of the upper Rio Grande valley.
Larry Crowder is a former Republican legislator in the American State of Colorado. Elected to the Colorado Senate in 2012,he represented Senate District 35 which encompasses parts of Pueblo County,and all of Alamosa County,Baca County,Bent County,Conejos County,Costilla County,Crowley County,Custer County,Huerfano County,Kiowa County,Las Animas County,Mineral County,Otero County,Prowers County,Rio Grande County,and Saguache County.
Hispanic and Latino Coloradans are residents of the state of Colorado who are of Hispanic or Latino ancestry. As of 2020,Hispanics and Latinos of any race made up 21% of the state's population,or 1,269,520 of the state's 5,770,545 residents.
Donald Valdez is an American farmer and politician who served as a member of the Colorado House of Representatives. He represented District 62,which covered portions of Alamosa,Conejos,Costilla,Huerfano,Mineral,Pueblo,Rio Grande,and Saguache counties.
Ginette E. Dennis is an American politician from Colorado,U.S. A Republican,she served as Secretary of State of Colorado from 2005 to 2006. She was appointed Secretary of State by Governor Bill Owens and succeeded Donetta Davidson. Previously,she was elected to the Colorado State Senate and served there from 1994 to 2001.
Cleave Simpson,Jr. is an American politician from Alamosa,Colorado. A Republican,Simpson represents Colorado State Senate District 6. Prior to the implementation of 2020 redistricting in 2023,Simpson represented the former Colorado State Senate District 35.