A South Texas small business owner and journalist has become the first Hispanic woman to file to run for Texas governor.

On Saturday, Miriam Martinez filed paperwork to seek the Republican Party nomination for Texas governor.

In a press release, Martinez laid out some of the things that she supports, including a statewide constitutional amendment election to legalize the use of medical marijuana, a vote on allowing casino gaming in Texas, and more.

Martinez attempted to run for state representative, House District 41 in 2012 as a Republican, but lost to Democrat Bobby Guerra.

“I am an immigrant in a country and a state that have been made great by immigrants and the descendants of immigrants,” said Martinez. “I am a naturalized U.S. citizen, living, working, and raising my family in the best state in the most magnificent nation in the history of civilization.”

Martinez continued, saying “As governor, I will represent the values that are most important to Texans. I will serve you with transparency, humility, fairness, an open heart and an open mind, and an open door – So help me God.”

Martinez’s complete press release is included below.

Laying out her vision for Texas that would include no new state taxes, more jobs from
international investments, a state immigration reform plan that would help the state
economy, an improved education system, and allowing Texans to vote on legalizing
Medical Marijuana and casino gaming, Miriam Martínez, a South Texas small business
owner and journalist, on Saturday, November 9, became the first Latina to file for
Governor of Texas.

Martínez, who is seeking the Republican Party primary nomination in March 2014, said
she favored allowing Texans, in a statewide constitutional amendment election, to
legalize the use of Medical Marijuana, which helps reduce the intense suffering of cancer
patients, among others.

In addition, she also support Texans voting on allowing casino gaming in Texas,
including on federally-recognized Native American lands, a move that would help keep
billions of dollars in Texas that are now being spent by Texans in neighboring states,
which have casino gaming.

Martínez communicates with voters through twitter @1MiriamMartinez and on her
website, www. MiriamforTexas.com.

“Some may ask, ‘Why run for Governor of Texas?’ After all, I am NOT a career
politician. That is true. I am a Working Mom. Others may ask, ‘Why should people listen
to you?’ After all, I won’t have $30 million or more, like other politicians, to force people
to see and hear me on fancy TV commercials and slick campaign mail-outs. That is true,”
she reflected. “But what I have to say, and what I plan to do for Texas, no amount of
money can buy.”

A survivor of family violence, Martínez said she “did what it took to protect myself
and my children. In the process, I proved that love, not hate, conquers all, and yes, I
learned that here in Texas.”

Abuse, extreme poverty, bullying and limited opportunities “did not stop me from
aspiring for and reaching a better life here in Texas. I moved ahead, despite the
overwhelming odds against me,” she said. “God has answered my prayers in allowing me
to seek the highest office in this land that we love – Texas.”Among the other major issues
on her platform are the following goals:

• Elevate Texas’ system of public education to!achieve!excellence
• Pass laws to make governments more accountable to the people.
• A State Immigration Reform that makes sense – at no cost to Texas taxpayers – which
would benefit the Texas economy, reduce fraud on our social services programs, and keep
more Texas families together.
• A strong defense of the 2nd Amendment Right of the People to keep and bear arms from
infringement.

Martínez said she is Pro-Life, emphasizing her support for the “protection for our unborn
from abortion-on-demand, which can occur anytime and for any reason during
pregnancy. I only support abortion if the woman’s life is in danger, if she was a victim of
rape, or if she was a victim of incest.”

As part of her message to voters, Martínez, a single-mother of three, explained why she
believes as governor, she would best relate to the vast majority of Texans.

“I am an immigrant in a country and a state that have been made great by immigrants and
the descendants of immigrants. I am a naturalized U.S. citizen, living, working, and
raising my family in the best state in the most magnificent nation in the history of
civilization,” Martínez said. “As Governor, I will represent the values that are most
important to Texans. I will serve you with transparency, humility, fairness, an open heart
and an open mind, and an open door – So help me God.”

During her campaign for governor, which began last February, she and her family have
traveled throughout Texas, meeting with voters.

“I have talked to many Texas teachers, Border Patrol agents, law enforcement officers,
doctors, nurses, welders, and small business owners. They simply want to do better for
their families,” Martínez reported. “Texans from all walks of life want a Governor who will serve the greater good of the People – NOT a Governor who is a servant to people who give the largest campaign contributions.”

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