Diane Martinez
Encyclopedia
Diane Janet Martinez is an American
politician who served in the California State Assembly
from 1992 until 1998. She was "reviled as just about the worst legislator in Sacramento by the insider magazine California Journal." Her outbursts and other strange behavior led many to believe she was literally crazy. Her apparent mental instability was so well known that newspaper typically did not bother to detail her bizarre behavior. For example, the LA Weekly
began an editorial endorsing her successor to the State Assembly: "After years of being poorly represented by the loopy Diane Martinez..." And Capitol Weekly simply described her as "crazy." A resident of Monterey Park
, she ran for state Insurance Commissioner
in 1998. In the Democratic primary, she was nominated over Hal Brown, Jr., a Marin County
Supervisor and cousin of current California Governor
Jerry Brown
. Martinez lost the general election to the incumbent Republican, Chuck Quackenbush
.
Martinez is the daughter of former Congressman Matthew G. Martinez
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician who served in the California State Assembly
California State Assembly
The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000...
from 1992 until 1998. She was "reviled as just about the worst legislator in Sacramento by the insider magazine California Journal." Her outbursts and other strange behavior led many to believe she was literally crazy. Her apparent mental instability was so well known that newspaper typically did not bother to detail her bizarre behavior. For example, the LA Weekly
LA Weekly
LA Weekly is a free weekly tabloid-sized "alternative weekly" in Los Angeles, California. It was founded in 1978 by Editor/Publisher Jay Levin and a board of directors that included actor-producer Michael Douglas...
began an editorial endorsing her successor to the State Assembly: "After years of being poorly represented by the loopy Diane Martinez..." And Capitol Weekly simply described her as "crazy." A resident of Monterey Park
Monterey Park, California
Monterey Park is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States, east of downtown Los Angeles. The city's motto is "Pride in the past, Faith in the future"...
, she ran for state Insurance Commissioner
California Insurance Commissioner
California Insurance Commissioner is an elected executive office position in California. The officeholder is in charge of the California Department of Insurance.The current Insurance Commissioner is Democrat Dave Jones.- Duties :...
in 1998. In the Democratic primary, she was nominated over Hal Brown, Jr., a Marin County
Marin County, California
Marin County is a county located in the North San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California, across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco. As of 2010, the population was 252,409. The county seat is San Rafael and the largest employer is the county government. Marin County is well...
Supervisor and cousin of current California Governor
Governor of California
The Governor of California is the chief executive of the California state government, whose responsibilities include making annual State of the State addresses to the California State Legislature, submitting the budget, and ensuring that state laws are enforced...
Jerry Brown
Jerry Brown
Edmund Gerald "Jerry" Brown, Jr. is an American politician. Brown served as the 34th Governor of California , and is currently serving as the 39th California Governor...
. Martinez lost the general election to the incumbent Republican, Chuck Quackenbush
Chuck Quackenbush
Charles "Chuck" Quackenbush is a Florida law enforcement officer and former California Republican politician. He served as Insurance Commissioner of California from 1995–2000 and as a California State Assemblyman representing the 22nd District, from 1986–1994.- Background and political career :As...
.
Martinez is the daughter of former Congressman Matthew G. Martinez
Matthew G. Martínez
Matthew Gilbert "Marty" Martínez was a Congressional representative who was both a member of the Democratic Party and the Republican Party from California's 30th congressional district from 1983 to 1993 and California's 31st congressional district from 1993 to 2001...
.