After six months without a leader, the state Office of Hispanic Affairs has a new director - long-time community advocate Lee Martinez.
Martinez said he looks forward to the challenge that lies ahead, even though he accepted congratulations from a hospital bed Thursday morning. He was hospitalized with an infection in his elbow but is expected to go home for Christmas.Martinez's appointment comes after weeks of tension between the Hispanic community and the governor's office. Trouble between the two boiled over when Image de Utah President Art Martinez (no relation) told reporters the governor had offered him the job.
Art Martinez was considered by the selection committee but was not a finalist for the position. Lee Martinez, Tony Yapias and Lisa Hurtado Armstrong were the three selected by the committee as finalists for the job.
The governor insisted he had not offered the job to Art Martinez but told the council he'd like two additional names from which to chose. They offered Gustavo Leon and Jorge Galvez, one of whom was expected to be named director. Hurtado Armstrong, the chairwoman of the Hispanic Advisory Council, withdrew her name from consideration after the trouble with the governor's office began.
Ironically, by hiring Lee Martinez, Leavitt selected one of the original three nominees. Martinez said he went into a Monday meeting with Leavitt expecting another interview. Instead, he was offered the job.
"I was surprisd because I know the hit he's going to take from the Republicans," Lee Martinez said. "I applaud him for going beyond political affiliations."
Lee Martinez had to resign his position as a special assistant to Rep. Bill Orton, D-Utah. As Orton's assistant, he measures public opinion and does research for the first-term Democrat.
While the move surprised Lee Martinez, it didn't surprise the Hispanic Advisory Council.
"The council is very excited to start working with Lee," said Hurtado Armstrong. "He brings a strong community background with him, and he's been very active on issues like employment dis-cimination and farm workers rights."
Hurtado Armstrong said Lee Martinez's emphasis on gang prevention and developing trade relations were two things both the governor and the council liked. He has good contacts in Mexico, which will help develop new trade relationships in the wake of NAFTA, she said.
The native Utahn is the son of Mexican imigrants. He and his wife, Ernestina, have two children.
He is also a member of the board of directors and executive board of the Utah Coalition of La Raza. He's on the Utah State Bar's advisory board for the development of a pro bono plan of action and a Utah Housing Authority board to identify and resolve issues, including housing for migrant farm workers.
Lee Martinez said he's anxious, nervous, happy and excited about the "challenge that lies ahead."
The new appointee said he looks forward to "bringing the community together, bringing credibility to the office and working with the other directors."
"Together, we can probably do a lot more than we can alone," he said. Lee Martinez plans to phase into his new job in January and go full time in February. Both Lee Martinez and Hurtado Armstrong believe relations with Leavitt's office are getting better.
"We have opened the lines of communication," Hurtado Armstrong said. "Now we can start working together."