Ex-HUD Secretary Martinez Enters Race for U.S. Senate

[Judi Lynn]

Published Tuesday, January 6, 2004

Ex-HUD Secretary Martinez Enters Race for U.S. Senate

By BRENT KALLESTAD
The Associated Press

TALLAHASSEE -- Former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Mel Martinez began his run for the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate on Monday, saying he is not banking on his presidential connections to win the primary.

Washington-based lawyer Ken Connor, a longtime friend of Martinez's, filed papers with the secretary of the Senate and had a copy delivered to the Federal Election Commission. The filing lets Martinez begin raising money for his campaign to succeed retiring Democratic Sen. Bob Graham.

Martinez said he would immediately begin calling supporters for money.

"You want to try and earn this nomination one Floridian at a time," said Martinez, who was Orange County's chairman -- the equivalent of mayor in the county around Orlando -- before President Bush tapped him as HUD secretary. "I'm not counting on anything being handed to me."

Martinez, the first CubanAmerican to serve in the Cabinet, was Connor's running mate in an unsuccessful bid for the Republican gubernatorial nomination in 1994 won by Jeb Bush.
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http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040106/NEWS/401060380/1004


Martinez with friend

[nayt]

1. eh

more of a threat than katherine harris i suppose.