Ventura & Santa Barbara Counties, CA-24

Jill Martinez and daughter Marie Davis Photo By Penny Cash Nep ©

“Experienced, Effective Leadership”

About Jill Martinez

Raised on the Central Coast of California, Jill Martinez does not limit her dedication to just "state," or "homeland." She has whole-heartedly committed her life to service in the public arena, to improve living standards of generations of hard working, low income and middle class families. Future generations will benefit from the work in which she has participated locally, regionally and around the world. As Congresswoman, Martinez will continue to successfully bring opportunities in education, health care, housing and economic development. She will work, immediately, to support the efforts to end the war in Iraq and bring those funds home to provide for families here. She will facilitate cooperative efforts in transportation and address global warming by prioritizing research and development in renewable energy sources by using skills she has developed over 3 decades.

Martinez initiates reorganization of corporate practices, allowing for efficient delivery of services, with greater integrity and fiscal responsibility. Her outstanding reputation for policy advocacy and organizational development comes from her service history on numerous local and national Boards and Agency Councils. Prior to being Deputy Director of Area Housing Authority in Ventura County, she was Director of Public Relations, and Support Services Supervisor at California State University Stanislaus, Stockton Center, on the Delta College Campus. Working full time for CSU Stanislaus, she taught professional ethics for the Masters of Business Administration program, and was Co-host for the ABC Stockton/Sacramento affiliate with the Council for the Spanish Speaking, on “La Voz de la Raza.”

Martinez is known for sharing a variety of issues from her travels to study conditions in China, Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, Mexico, Europe, and elsewhere. She shares her experiences in a variety of settings. As one of the co-chairs of the committee on Peace Education and Disarmament presented in four languages, and held in Helsinki, Finland, she was instrumental in restructuring the conference and turning it into real dialogue. She continues to teach regularly on multi-cultural issues impacting relationships at the local level, knowing this enhances our ability to work in partnerships around the world.

Martinez has also served, both as a City Civil Service Commissioner, and as a Police Chaplain in Stockton, CA, further demonstrating her ability to balance competing community demands. Martinez was selected as a "Local Hero," in Santa Barbara, for her relentless work in decent, safe, affordable housing. As Reverend Martinez, she was honored when chosen to stand for Moderator of the 212th General Assembly of the Presbyterian denomination. With her mixed race background, Montgomery on her Mother’s side that can be traced back to a long United States heritage, and as a first generation Mexican on the other, Jill Martinez is a proven leader accepting some of the most difficult of challenges and prevailing, against all odds. Vote for her. We need her!