About – Raul Martinez

EARLY YEARS

Raul Martinez was born on March 6‚ 1949 to a working–class family in Santiago‚ Cuba. Troubled by the rise of communism and political persecution‚ Raul’s parents‚ Leonides and Aida‚ moved the family to South Florida in 1960.

As a young man Raul learned the value of hard work and demonstrated a commitment to his family and the community. Martinez worked at a gas station while attending Miami Senior High to help his family pay their bills. In 1969 he worked with his father and started Hialeah’s first–ever Spanish–language weekly newspaper “El Sol de Hialeah.”

At the age of 25‚ Raul began his public service career by joining Hialeah’s Minority Housing Committee in 1971. He would then continue his commitment to the community by serving on the Personnel Board and afterwards on the Hialeah City Council.

A FAMILY MAN

Raul believes that families are the heart and soul of our community and America. He met his wife‚ Angela‚ in high school and would carry her books for her while walking home from school. They married soon thereafter and had two children‚ Raul Jr. and Aida.

A constant commitment to community service has defined the lives of Raul and Angela. Despite their success‚ they have never forgotten their humble beginnings and have always been actively involved in efforts that improved the lives of senior citizens and families. On holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas‚ Raul and Angela led food drives that delivered food to needy families and toys to poor children.

Raul and Angela have been married for 38 years and have lived in the same home for nearly three decades. They are also proud grandparents and have three grandkids: Lucas (9 months)‚ Isabella (2) and Raul (2).