Changes

==Political career==  

==Political career==  

In 1994, Martinez ran for Lieutenant Governor of Florida. He teamed up with former Family Research Council President [[Ken Connor]], who was the gubernatorial candidate. The Connor/Martinez ticket was defeated in the Republican primary, finishing fifth with 83,945 votes, or 9.31% of the vote. Martinez was the elected Chairman of Orange County, Florida, and served on the Governor's Growth Management Study Commission. He previously served as President of the Orlando Utilities Commission, on the board of directors of a community bank, and as Chairman of the Orlando Housing Authority. In 2000, Martinez was selected as the co-chairman of [[Texas]] [[Governor]] [[George W. Bush]]'s 2000 Presidential campaign in Florida. Bush carried Florida and won the election. In November 2004, Martinez was elected to the United States Senate in Florida. Sen. Martinez announced on December 2, 2008 that he will not seek a second term in 2010, saying he wants to spend more time with his family. <ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2008Dec02/0,4670,MelMartinez,00.html Sen. Mel Martinez of Fla. won't seek re-election], Brendan Farrington and Mark Wangrin, Associated Press, ''Fox News'', December 02, 2008</ref>

In 1994, Martinez ran for Lieutenant Governor of Florida. He teamed up with former Family Research Council President [[Ken Connor]], who was the gubernatorial candidate. The Connor/Martinez ticket was defeated in the Republican primary, finishing fifth with 83,945 votes, or 9.31% of the vote. Martinez was the elected Chairman of Orange County, Florida, and served on the Governor's Growth Management Study Commission. He previously served as President of the Orlando Utilities Commission, on the board of directors of a community bank, and as Chairman of the Orlando Housing Authority. In 2000, Martinez was selected as the co-chairman of [[Texas]] [[Governor]] [[George W. Bush]]'s 2000 Presidential campaign in Florida. Bush carried Florida and won the election. In November 2004, Martinez was elected to the United States Senate in Florida. Sen. Martinez announced in August 2009 that he will resign from the Senate. <ref>http://www.newsmax.com/insidecover/mel_martinez_retiring/2009/08/07/245239.html</ref>

Mel Martinez was one of the first Republicans in the Senate to endorse [[President Obama]]'s [[Supreme Court]] nominee [[Sonia Sotomayor]]. <ref>http://www.rollcall.com/news/36930-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</ref>

Mel Martinez was one of the first Republicans in the Senate to endorse [[President Obama]]'s [[Supreme Court]] nominee [[Sonia Sotomayor]]. <ref>http://www.rollcall.com/news/36930-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</ref>