Scott Taps Former U.S. Senator's Son for Orange County Seat

John M. Martinez, the son of former U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez, R-Orlando, has been named by Gov. Rick Scott to take the seat once held by Mildred Fernandez on the Orange County Commission.

Martinez, 30, is vice president of Gardnyr Michael Capital Inc.

Johns leadership ability is evident through his professional service and his broad community involvement, Scott stated in a release from the governors office.I am confident he will bring the highest levels of integrity and ethics to the commission.

Scott is in Israel as part of a trade mission with Enterprise Florida.

I am humbled and honored to be selected by Governor Scott to serve Orange County and District 3, Martinez stated in the release. As a native of Orange County, this is a unique and special opportunity to give back to a community where I have lived and worked my whole life. I am eager to get to work as an advocate for the residents of this district.

Martinezs community leadership includes service on the Central Florida YMCA metropolitan board of directors since 2007 and the Frederick Leadership Initiative board of directors since 2008, according to the governors office.

Martinezs father served on the Orange County Commission from 1988 to 2000 before moving on to the national scene. Mel Martinez later served as housing and urban development secretary and was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2004.

Fernandez formally resigned from office Nov.16 -- more than a year after she was arrested on corruption charges in April 2010.

She was running for Orange County mayor at the time she was arrested on charges that included bribery and racketeering.

She pleaded no contest to unlawful compensation for official acts and accepting a campaign contribution of more than $5,000, in exchange for the bribery and racketeering charges being dropped.

Lui Damiani was named the interim replacement by former Gov. Charlie Crist. Damiani was among those who applied to be the permanent replacement.
Fernandezs term expires Nov. 19, 2012.

I support Governor Scotts choice of John Martinez, who has agreed not to seek election during the 2012 cycle, Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs stated in the release. This demonstrates the governors commitment to responsible leadership while ensuring a fair and level playing field in this upcoming election.

According to the governors office: Martinez was an associate attorney with Lowndes, Drosdick, Doster, Kantor and Reed PA from 2006 to 2010.

He has also served on the Osceola County Education Foundation board of directors and the Central Florida March of Dimes board of directors since 2011.

"He received a bachelors degree from Wake Forest University and a law degree from the Florida State University College of Law.