This is one in a series of profiles of legislative newcomers. 

ASSEMBLYWOMAN SUSAN MARTINEZ

Freshman Democrat who succeeds James Ohrenschall, who was unable to run for re-election in 2018 because of term limits.

• Represents Assembly District 12, which includes portions of eastern Las Vegas.
• District 12 is a heavily Democratic district (43 percent Democratic, 29 percent Republican, and 28 percent other in the 2018 election).
• Martinez defeated Anat Levy, Cinthia Moore, Brandon Casutt, Gabrielle D'Ayr, and Gregory York in the Democratic primary, garnering 46.1 percent of the vote.
• Martinez defeated Richard Fletcher (R) and Mary Elizabeth Martinez (Independent American Party) with 53.8 percent of the vote, or about 12,700 votes in the 2018 general election.
• She will sit on the Government Affairs, Commerce & Labor and Taxation committees.

BACKGROUND

Martinez, who is currently a guest service agent at the Flamingo, was born in Las Vegas. Her family came to the United States in 1959. She has worked in the hospitality industry for more than 30 years and has lived in the district she represents for two decades. She said her motivation for public service comes from those who have broken down social barriers before her.

In her free time, she enjoys swimming, hiking and spending time with her family, including her daughter, Victoria.

ON NEVADA AND THE ISSUES:

My top three priorities for the 2019 legislative session are education, labor, and health care. For education, I want to make sure that every student has the opportunity to succeed by increasing funding for classrooms and raising teacher pay. In terms of labor, I want to work with my colleagues to ensure that we pass legislation that will increase the standard of living for working families. On the subject of health care, I am committed to addressing the rising costs of health-care coverage and making sure that protections are in place for all Nevadans.

What programs/parts of the state government could be cut? What programs/areas need more funding in 2019?

As a new legislator, I believe it is too early to discuss which programs should be adjusted. Nevertheless, I am committed to working with all of my colleagues to find the best possible solutions for our constituents. Furthermore, I am also committed to hearing ideas from stakeholders and local communities before making decisions that will impact my constituents in Assembly District 12.

What specifically should Nevada do to improve health care this session? How about education?

My priorities this session with regard to health care are making coverage more affordable for hardworking families and strengthening protections for all individuals, including those with a pre-existing condition. As I've previously stated, I am committed to hearing ideas from stakeholders and local communities to ensure that we move forward with the best information to address health care-related concerns.

As a mother of a 16-year-old high school student, education is dear to my heart. Our state cannot continue to rank among the lowest in terms of student performance. We need to do better and we will.

That is why I am committed to working with various stakeholders and local communities to ensure that students and teachers have the best possible resources to succeed. To accomplish that, we need to increase the salary of teachers, reduce classroom sizes, and make changes to the current funding formula so that students reach their full potential.

Should Nevada raise its Renewable Portfolio Standard to 100 percent by 2050? If not, what should the state's RPS compliance standard be?

Voters in the 2018 election cycle sent a clear message by overwhelmingly supporting an increase in our renewable portfolio standard to 50 percent by 2030. Nevadans want our state to be the nation's leader in clean and renewable energy, and I am committed to supporting legislation that meets that standard. We need to ensure that we continue to diversify our economy by creating high quality and good paying jobs.

Do you support modifying or eliminating current property tax caps in state law?

The 120-day legislative session will offer us an opportunity to speak with various stakeholders and local community partners to ensure that we provide the best possible solutions moving forward. I want to make sure that small businesses and communities operate in a stable environment so that they can continue to succeed in Nevada. That is why I am committed to working with my colleagues to find the most cost effective ways to address issues in our state.

Are there any particular issues on which you see yourself working across party lines? If so, which ones? If not, why not?

Absolutely. I may not always agree with a lot of the ideas proposed by my Republican colleagues, but I believe they need to have a voice in the legislative process.

Health care is one of the issues where I see a possibility for collaboration with my colleagues. The backlash against repeal-and-replace efforts in Congress over the last two years has demonstrated that Nevadans – regardless of political affiliation – want to continue to provide coverage protections to all individuals, especially those with pre-existing conditions. I look forward to working with my colleagues to make sure that those protections are enshrined in our state laws.

This interview was edited for length and clarity.