Emerging Christian Latino leader Richard L. Martinez, Jr., seeks to make history in Chicago's 10th Ward

Chicago -- Free-Press-Release.com-- Dec 7, 2010 -- Richard L. Martinez, Jr., an emerging Christian Latino leader in Chicago has successfully launched his campaign candidacy and campaign for the Chicago City Council's 10th Ward Aldermanic seat on the far southeast side of Chicago. Martinez is a life long resident of the southeastside raised in the South Chicago neighborhood with the U.S. Steel Southworks plant in the backdrop, Martinez is the grandson and son of steelworkers from the Southworks plant which was at one time one of largest steel producing plants in the Unites States. Martinez is currently raising his family in the 10th Ward's East Side neighborhood with his wife Sandi, mother Carolyn and five children: Maya, Sofia, Nina, Luke and Paul. The Martinez' are concerned with and value education so much that they Home School their five children.

Martinez is a born-again Evangelical Christian who attends the East Side United Methodist Church and he his family serve as leaders in a church plant - G2G Church - Generation 2 Generation which focuses on ministering to and investing in Teens and Young Adults. Rich leads the teens on Wednesday's for Bible Study, his wife Sandi serves in teen girl Bible Study and his mother Carolyn is part of the Prayer Ministry. Martinez also leads a Men's Bible Study ever other Saturday morning.

Martinez has over 15 years of government experience including over two years in the Chicago City Council, serving the 10th Ward as an Aldermanic Aide. He also served as a Legislative Aide to former Illinois State Representative Todd Stroger, worked in County Government as a Compliance Officer in the Office of Contract Compliance. For the last 11.5 years he has worked admirably for the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago's Affirmative Action Section monitoring multi-million dollar capital construction contracts as a Compliance Officer. Martinez has also served in his capacity at MWRDGC as the Co-Chair of the Chicago Minority Enterprise Development Council's Med Council and with the Illinois Minority Contractor Development Program. Martinez is certified as a "Certified Compliance Administrator" by the Association of Contract Compliance Administrators (ACCA).

Martinez is one of the Co-Founders of the Latino Breakfast Club, an emerging Christian Latino Business Association based out of Chicago. The mission of the LBC is to be the bridge that connects faith to the marketplace. Through this organization he has had the opportunity to minister to serve, advise, counsel and assist hundreds of small business owners all over the county. Through the LBC Martinez led a delegation from Chicago to Los Angeles to assist and support the election of Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and also a business trade mission to Indianapolis, Indiana where the LBC took over 30 Latino owned firms to meet with Indianapolis officials.

Martinez' past experience includes serving in Chicago's Alternative Policing Strategy as a Beat Facilitator, Elected Community Representative of George Washington High School's Local School Council, 2 term Past President of the SE Lions Club & appointed by Mayor Richard M. Daley to the Chicago's Community Development Advisory Council. Martinez also ran previously for the 10th Ward Aldermanic seat at the age of 26 in 1998-99.

Currently, in addition to many of his duties and responsibilities Martinez serves with Harvest Evangelism's Pray for Chicago Initiative and was recently appointed a Cook County Coordinator for the National Day of Prayer. Some of Rich's campaign platform includes pushing for the hiring of additional police and safe neighborhoods; improved educational choice and opportunities in the 10th Ward, economic development and sustainable job growth by bringing a Regional Hospital with a trauma center and cancer treatment facility and a major university campus as well as improving outreach, communication, collaboration with 10th ward residents and improved city services.

Mr. Martinez can be reached at 773-544-4682, or email at: martinez10thward@gmail.com. His campaign website is www.martinez10.com and you can find a link to his Facebook page there. In addition, campaign contributions can also be made via his website by anyone in the United States.

Mr. Martinez' campaign is being led by the Freeman Institute Political Consulting and Election Attorney is Nick Keflos of the firm of Vernor and Moran.

With a Martinez victory, he would be the first challenger to defeat a sitting Aldermanic incumbent in the 10th Ward since 1963. In addition, Martinez would be the first Latino elected Alderman in the history of the 10th Ward. Martinez has already submitted his nominating petitions and is awaiting his ballot position.

For more information please call: 773-544-4682

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Richard L. Martinez, Jr.,/New 10th Ward
Richard L. Martinez, Jr., Aldermanic Can
773-544-4682
http://www.martinez10.com