[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 139 (Thursday, October 24, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1959]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        RECOGNIZING RAY MARTINEZ

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BOB SCHAFFER

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 24, 2002

  Mr. SCHAFFER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the work of Ray 
Martinez, Mayor of Fort Collins, Colorado. Ray has over 26 years of 
public service and has been instrumental in making Fort Collins a 
``City of Character.''
  Martinez started his public service career by serving three years in 
the United States Army in Thailand and stateside. Upon completion of 
his military service he began a career in law enforcement by joining 
the Fort Collins Police Department in 1974, becoming an expert witness 
in the ``field of identification, recognition, and investigation of 
dangerous drugs.'' When he retired from the police department in 1996 
after 25 years of service he was the first hispanic sergeant in the 
history of the Fort Collins Police Department.
  His public service career far from over, Martinez was elected Mayor 
of Fort Collins in 1999 and once again in 2001. At this time, he began 
to focus his attention on one of his primary concerns, public safety. 
It was the subject of his first book and, as mayor, he continued the 
effort by serving on two public safety boards. Mr. Martinez was 
appointed by the United States Conference of Mayors as co-chair of the 
Mayors and Police Chiefs Task Force and he also sits on the National 
League of Cities Steering Committee for Public Safety and Crime 
Prevention.
  Mr. Speaker, Ray Martinez has been instrumental in transforming Fort 
Collins, Colorado into a ``City of Character.'' Through his commitment 
to public safety, eagerness to listen to members of the community, and 
ability to work with youth, Mr. Martinez has transformed the city into 
a place that anybody would love to call home. On behalf of the citizens 
of Colorado, I ask the House to join me in extending congratulations to 
Mayor Ray Martinez for a job well done.

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