Reid’s chief of staff Martinez stepping down

Thursday, Nov. 19, 1998 | 11:22 a.m.

Reynaldo Martinez, Sen. Harry Reid's chief of staff, will step down at the end of the year and return to Nevada after leading the Democrat's transition team.

"Reynaldo Martinez has been giving back to the community ever since I first knew him during high school," Reid said, as he announced the resignation.

Martinez, 61, has been by Reid's side since the senator won the 1956 race for student body president of Basic High School in Henderson.

Both Reid and Martinez graduated from Basic High, and Martinez attended college on an athletic scholarship. He received an associates degree from Boise State in Idaho in 1958 and a bachelor's degree in education from Arizona State University in 1961.

From 1961 to 1964 Martinez served on active duty in Japan with the U.S. Naval Reserve.

When not serving as Reid's political advisor or to other Nevada politicians, Martinez worked as a political and legislative consultant for the National Education Association.

He was the highest paid congressional staffer of the four Nevada delegates, earning $116,000, according to the Cato Institute in 1996.

Martinez worked on all of Reid's campaigns and had experience in more than 20 congressional races. He has been active in presidential politics as well.

As an advisor to the National Education Association, Martinez served as midwest coordinator for former President Jimmy Carter's primary election. He also served as President Carter's campaign coordinator for Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara counties in California.

He served as senior advisor to Al Gore's 1988 presidential campaign and for Bill Clinton in 1992.

Reid said that one of the areas Martinez will focus on when he returns to Nevada is Hispanic leadership and development.

Martinez has a wife, Diane, and two sons, Brandon and Matthew.