FORT WORTH, TEXAS, -Fort Worth businessman, philanthropist, and longtime democratic leader Mike Martinez officially launched his campaign for the Texas Senate District 10 seat vacated by Governor-hopeful Wendy Davis. As a longtime Tarrant County resident with a dedicated history of standing up for families, minorities, and the working class in Texas, Martinez plans to continue advocating for District 10’s economic growth and protecting the rights of its citizens in Tarrant County. “I am a pro-business Democrat who wants to create jobs, ensure that our public schools are well funded, and continue the fight for women’s health issues that Wendy Davis has led during her tenure,” said Martinez.
An advocate for early childhood education, Martinez stated “it is imperative that the State of Texas gets creative with generating funds to educate our children and future generations.” A graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, Martinez established the first privately funded endowment at the Center for Mexican American Studies (CMAS) at his alma mater and serves as the Chair for its Advisory Committee. Martinez also serves on the Dallas Council of the Maguire Energy Institute at Southern Methodist University Cox School of Business.
Martinez formerly worked in the Texas House of Representatives and currently owns a locally based Energy company, Edge Resources, which operates natural gas wells in Tarrant County. His oil and gas company is the first in the world to have a well site accepted into the environmentally sensitive Audubon International Signature Program and is working toward designation as a Certified Signature Sanctuary. The energy executive and his partners have invested substantial financial resources in Tarrant County, resulting in the creation of hundreds of local jobs. “As the next Texas Senator, I will lead the fight for quality middle class jobs that allow Texans to achieve the American Dream,” Martinez said.
Senate District 10 is an open seat with a majority minority population, and Tarrant County is the only urban county without Hispanic representation in the state legislature. Of the approximately 60,000 registered Hispanic voters in the district, more than 53,000 have never voted or do not vote regularly in the general elections, and Martinez plans to energize an electorate which has been largely ignored in past Novembers. “This is a rare moment in history in which a down ballot candidate can help the top of the ticket by bringing out voters that have not been motivated in elections past,” Martinez said. “I think we would all agree in order for Wendy Davis to win as Governor she most likely needs to carry her home county. The additional 20,000 Hispanic voters we get to the polls will lead my candidacy to victory and helps ensure Wendy wins Tarrant County in November.”
Martinez is a longtime Tarrant County resident who moved to Benbrook at the age of 10 when his father was stationed at Carswell Air Force Base. He attended grade school in Fort Worth before graduating from Western Hills
