Martin Chavez
Encyclopedia
Martin Joseph Chávez Chávez is a former three-term mayor of Albuquerque, New Mexico
and New Mexico State Senator. He currently serves as the Executive Director of ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability USA
. and Chairman of the Advisory Board for the Center for Green Schools at U.S. Green Building Council. He is currently seeking the Democratic nomination for the Congressional seat being vacated by Martin Heinrich
, who is retiring from the house to run for Senate.
of Hispanic
heritage, Chávez attended both parochial (St. Charles Borromeo and Holy Ghost) and public (Van Buren Junior High and Manzano High) schools. 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
. He was the founding director of the New Mexico Workers' Compensation Administration in 1986. 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.
in the general election, which Chávez lost 45 percent to 55 percent.
In 2001, Chávez again ran for Mayor of Albuquerque and finished first in a seven-candidate race. 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
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.
Chávez initially indicated that he intended to remain in the race, referring to Udall as Washington's "fair-haired boy." 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. "
During his tenure as Mayor, Chávez and the City of Albuquerque received the following recognitions:
. 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.
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. In March 2011, Chávez joined polar explorer and environmentalist Robert Swan
, on an expedition to explore the effects of climate change in the Antarctica. 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.
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque is the largest city in the state of New Mexico, United States. It is the county seat of Bernalillo County and is situated in the central part of the state, straddling the Rio Grande. The city population was 545,852 as of the 2010 Census and ranks as the 32nd-largest city in the U.S. As...
and New Mexico State Senator. He currently serves as the Executive Director of ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability USA
ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability USA
ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability USA is a 501 nonprofit membership organization of U.S. cities, towns, and counties working to address climate change, clean energy, and local sustainability. ICLEI USA is the U.S...
. and Chairman of the Advisory Board for the Center for Green Schools at U.S. Green Building Council. He is currently seeking the Democratic nomination for the Congressional seat being vacated by Martin Heinrich
Martin Heinrich
Martin T. Heinrich is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2009. He is a member of the Democratic Party.The district includes the central area of the state, in and around Albuquerque.- Early life, education and career :...
, who is retiring from the house to run for Senate.
Background and Early Political career
Born in Albuquerque, New MexicoAlbuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque is the largest city in the state of New Mexico, United States. It is the county seat of Bernalillo County and is situated in the central part of the state, straddling the Rio Grande. The city population was 545,852 as of the 2010 Census and ranks as the 32nd-largest city in the U.S. As...
of Hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
heritage, Chávez attended both parochial (St. Charles Borromeo and Holy Ghost) and public (Van Buren Junior High and Manzano High) schools. After graduating from Manzano High School
Manzano High School
Manzano High School is a public high school located in northeast Albuquerque, New Mexico. It is part of the Albuquerque Public Schools system....
, Chávez earned a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of New Mexico
University of New Mexico
The University of New Mexico at Albuquerque is a public research university located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the United States. It is the state's flagship research institution...
and a Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from Georgetown University Law Center
Georgetown University Law Center
Georgetown University Law Center is the law school of Georgetown University, located in Washington, D.C.. Established in 1870, the Law Center offers J.D., LL.M., and S.J.D. degrees in law...
. He was the founding director of the New Mexico Workers' Compensation Administration in 1986. 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.
Mayor of Albuquerque and 1998 Governor's race
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 Democratic primary and faced incumbent Republican Governor Gary JohnsonGary Johnson
Gary Johnson may refer to:*Gary Johnson , former Governor of New Mexico and candidate for President in 2012*Gary Johnson , American politician, Wisconsin State Assembly...
in the general election, which Chávez lost 45 percent to 55 percent.
In 2001, Chávez again ran for Mayor of Albuquerque and finished first in a seven-candidate race. 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
U.S. Senate Campaign
On October 8, 2007, Chávez announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate seatUnited States Senate election in New Mexico, 2008
The 2008 United States Senate election in New Mexico was held on November 4, 2008. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Pete Domenici decided to retire instead of seeking a seventh term. All three of New Mexico's U.S. Representatives chose to retire from the U.S. House of Representatives in order to...
that was being vacated by retiring Republican Senator Pete Domenici
Pete Domenici
Pietro Vichi "Pete" Domenici is an American Republican politician, who served six terms as a United States Senator from New Mexico, from 1973 to 2009, the longest tenure in the state's history....
. Democratic leaders, including Senator Charles Schumer
Charles Schumer
Charles Ellis "Chuck" Schumer is the senior United States Senator from New York and a member of the Democratic Party. First elected in 1998, he defeated three-term Republican incumbent Al D'Amato by a margin of 55%–44%. He was easily re-elected in 2004 by a margin of 71%–24% and in 2010 by a...
, Chairman of Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, recruited Tom Udall
Tom Udall
Thomas Stewart "Tom" Udall is the junior United States Senator from New Mexico and a member of the Democratic Party. He had represented as a member of the United States House of Representatives since 1999. Udall was elected as the junior United States senator from New Mexico on November 4, 2008,...
into the race.
Chávez initially indicated that he intended to remain in the race, referring to Udall as Washington's "fair-haired boy." 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. "
2009 Mayoral Race
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 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%.Awards and recognition
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.During his tenure as Mayor, Chávez and the City of Albuquerque received the following recognitions:
- Top Ten Places to Live In the US, US News and World Report (2009);
- “Cool” Mayor Award, Mayors for Climate Protection –cited as “The Visionary” for sustainable water vision, urban forestry program and climate change initiatives, ICLEI (2009);
- EPA Climate Protection Award, 1st Place, US Environmental Protection Agency (2008);
- U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Siemens Sustainable Community Award (2008);
- Fittest City in America, Men's Fitness Magazine (2008);
- Renewable Energy Innovator of the Year Award, Association of Energy Engineers (2008);
- Best Cities for Jobs or a Career, Forbes Magazine (2007);
- Climate Protection Award, 1st Place, United States Conference of Mayors (2007);
- Most Pet Friendly City,3rd Place, Forbes Magazine (2007);
- World Leadership Award for Water Utilities Conservation, World Leadership Forum, London, (2006)
- Number-one Place to do Business, Forbes Magazine (2006);
- Mayor of Trees Award, National Alliance for Community Trees (2004);
- William F. Dixon Award for Open Government, the Foundation for Open Government (2004);
- One of America's 25 Most Dynamic Mayors, Newsweek (1997).
Post-mayoral career
In March 2010, Chávez, was appointed Executive Director of ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability USAICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability USA
ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability USA is a 501 nonprofit membership organization of U.S. cities, towns, and counties working to address climate change, clean energy, and local sustainability. ICLEI USA is the U.S...
. 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.
Chávez is a member of the National Building Museum
National Building Museum
The National Builders Museum, in Washington, D.C., United States, is a museum of "architecture, design, engineering, construction, and urban planning"...
’s Intelligent Cities Advisory Committee and member of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Vibrant Cities and Urban Forests Task Force. In March 2011, Chávez joined polar explorer and environmentalist Robert Swan
Robert Swan
Robert Charles Swan, OBE, FRGS is the first person to walk to both Poles.He was born on 28 July 1956 in Durham, England and attended Aysgarth School and then Sedbergh School before completing a BA degree in Ancient History at St Chad's College, Durham University. He is currently an advocate for...
, on an expedition to explore the effects of climate change in the Antarctica. Chávez visited the remnants of the Larsen Ice Shelf
Larsen Ice Shelf
The Larsen Ice Shelf is a long, fringing ice shelf in the northwest part of the Weddell Sea, extending along the east coast of Antarctic Peninsula from Cape Longing to the area just southward of Hearst Island...
known as “Larsen B
Larsen Ice Shelf
The Larsen Ice Shelf is a long, fringing ice shelf in the northwest part of the Weddell Sea, extending along the east coast of Antarctic Peninsula from Cape Longing to the area just southward of Hearst Island...
"; 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.