[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 179 (Tuesday, November 13, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S6914]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO GENO MARTINI

 Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Mr. President, I come forward today to 
recognize the mayor of the city of Sparks, Geno Martini, who, after 
years of dedicated service, announced his retirement this year.
  Mayor Martini was born on January 19, 1946, in Reno. Three days 
later, he returned to his family's home in Sparks and has never left 
the city since. Every day during his childhood, he would walk to school 
down an old dirt road and even played Little League baseball where 
Sparks City Hall now stands. He was student body president and 
graduated from Sparks High School and the University of Nevada, going 
on to work in the banking industry for three decades.
  Both Mayor Martini and Sparks have come a long way since his 
childhood days. That old dusty road he walked down is now Prater Way, 
one of the main routes connecting Sparks' established neighborhoods 
with new shopping, entertainment, and business opportunities on the 
east side of the city. Downtown Sparks is benefitting from private 
investment and revitalization that is also helping address the region's 
housing shortage. The success of these projects and the benefits they 
bring to the city of Sparks are due in no small part to the hard work 
and leadership of Mayor Martini.
  In 1998, Martini left the banking industry to serve on the Sparks 
City Council until 2005. He was then elected mayor serving full terms 
in 2006, 2010, and 2014, making him the longest serving mayor of Sparks 
in the city's history. He has gone above and beyond his mayoral duties 
and served on the Truckee Meadows Water Authority Board of Directors, 
the Nevada League of Cities and Municipalities, the Board of Directors 
Regional Planning Governing Board, the Western Regional Water 
Commission, and the City of Sparks Legislative Team.
  Mayor Martini's commitment to the city of Sparks extended to all of 
its residents. He performed community service in underserved 
communities and passed out Thanksgiving turkeys to those in need. At 
the same time, he helped bring opportunity to northern Nevada by paving 
the way for new businesses and development around the Sparks Marina, 
Legends Mall, and Victorian Avenue. Mayor Martini has guided the city 
of Sparks through both tumultuous economic times and the area's highest 
growth periods. During his tenure, Sparks has seen an additional 1 
million square feet of retail space open for business.
  It is no wonder that Mayor Martini has been repeatedly recognized for 
his leadership, receiving the 2017 Citizen of the Year Award from the 
Reno Gazette Journal, the 2016 Public Official of the Year from the 
Nevada League of Cities and Municipalities, the Citizen of the Year 
Award and Lifetime Achievement Award from the Sparks Chamber, and was 
inducted into the Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame, as well as 
numerous other accolades that recognize his commitment to serving the 
people of Sparks.
  In 2012, Mayor Martini was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. 
Despite these challenging circumstances, he has never wavered in his 
commitment to public service and the people of Sparks. He won 
reelection in 2014 and steadfastly served out his entire term, 
cementing his legacy as a genuine public servant committed to pragmatic 
governance and hard work.
  Today, I celebrate the many contributions of Mayor Martini to the 
city of Sparks and to the northern Nevada community. His service is as 
an example to all of us who wish to know, serve, and better our 
communities.

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