NEW YORK, Sept. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2004 Republican National Convention
today announced Mel Martinez, former Secretary of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD) and current candidate for the U.S. Senate from the state of
Florida, will speak at the convention on Thursday, September 2. Another
recent addition to the program, retired General Tommy Franks, former head of
U.S. Central Command, adds to the outstanding group to address the nation from
Madison Square Garden on the night President George W. Bush will accept the
Republican Party's nomination. President Bush will lay out his vision for the
next four years -- a vision that will help build a safer world and a more
hopeful America.
"Mel Martinez is the embodiment of the American Dream and after his
primary is on his way to becoming America's first Cuban-American senator,"
said Ed Gillespie, Chairman of the Republican National Committee. "Secretary
Martinez is a proven leader who has demonstrated a dedication to public
service and to Florida's families."
Currently a Republican U.S. Senate candidate from Florida, Mel Martinez
won the GOP primary on Tuesday, beating former Rep. Bill McCollum 45 percent
to 31 percent. Prior to serving President George W. Bush as the Secretary of
Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in Washington, D.C., Martinez was the
first popularly elected Republican to serve as Orange County Chairman.
Elected in 1998 with over 60% of the vote against a popular State Senator,
Martinez quickly earned a reputation as a bold leader, a tax-cutter, and a
champion of law enforcement as he added more than 200 police officers to the
force.
Martinez's life story is a testament to the opportunities available in
this great land. At age 15, he escaped communist Cuba as a part of "Operation
Peter Pan," a humanitarian program that helped over 14,000 Cuban children
escape Communist Cuba. Martinez arrived in Florida with only one suitcase,
the clothes on his back and an enduring love of the game of baseball. He
taught himself the language and assimilated into American life. Four years
later, when he was reunited in Orlando with his parents and his siblings, he
had already lined up a job for his father who had been a veterinarian in Cuba,
and had saved $300 -- enough to buy the family a used car. He attended
Florida State University, where he received his undergraduate and law degrees.
Martinez and his wife of 34 years, Kitty, reside in Orlando and have three
children and two grandchildren.
General Tommy Franks, former commander of the military's Central Command,
served his country for 37 years, earning three Purple Hearts for wounds
received and, over his career, three Bronze Stars for valor. He was in charge
of CentCom on September 11, 2001, and he led the planning and execution of the
attacks on Afghanistan in October 2001 and Iraq in March 2003. He retired on
August 1, 2003. Tommy Franks has the President's respect, the respect of our
military, and the thanks of the United States of America.
For more information about the 2004 Republican National Convention, please
visit our Web site at http://www.gopconvention.com.
Paid for by the Committee on Arrangements for the
2004 Republican National Convention
Not authorized by any candidate or candidate committee.
http://www.gopconvention.com
SOURCE 2004 Republican National Convention
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