Trey Martinez Fischer

Trey Martinez Fischer
Member of the Texas House of Representatives
from the 116th district
In office
2000-2017
Preceded by Leo Alvarado, Jr.
Succeeded by Diana Arrevalo (pending)
Personal details
Born (1970-06-05) June 5, 1970
San Antonio, Texas, USA
Political party Democratic
Spouse(s) Elizabeth Marie Provencio Fischer
Children Francesca and Camilla Fischer
Residence San Antonio, Texas
Nickname(s) TMF

Trey Martinez Fischer (born June 6, 1970) is a Democratic member of the Texas House of Representatives, who has represented the San Antonio-based 116th District since 2000. In January 2017, he will be succeeded in the position by Diana Arevalo, the secretary for the Bexar County Democratic Party.

Martinez Fischer was born and reared in San Antonio. He graduated from Oliver Wendell Holmes High School, at which he was a member of the school's Hall of Fame. He received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Texas at San Antonio, and in 1994 was selected to study as a National Urban Fellow . He is a graduate of Baruch College of Public Affairs in New York City, and the University of Texas School of Law.

He is currently serving his seventh term representing House District 116. He was named one of the "10 Best Legislators" by Texas Monthly Magazine in both 2013 and 2015,[1] who described him as a "soldier prepared to do battle but ready to make peace". The Houston Chronicle and the San Francisco Chronicle named him one of the "20 Latino political rising stars of 2012",[2] placing him among those under 55, "who just might change the face of American politics over the next two decades". Campaigns and Elections Magazine named him a “Texas Influencer” and one of the Top-50 Democrats in the state.

Martinez Fischer is the chairman of the Mexican American Legislative Caucus, the oldest and largest Latino legislative caucus in the United States. During his chairmanship, the caucus has emerged as one of the leading Latino public policy organizations and the “group to watch” in the Texas Legislature according to The Economist magazine.[3] In 2012, Martinez Fischer led the Mexican American Legislative Caucus to victory in two court battles concerning redistricting and voter/photo identification in Texas.

Legislative career

Trey Martinez Fischer on the House Floor

Born and reared in San Antonio, Martinez Fischer was first elected to the District 118 seat in the Texas House of Representatives in 2000. He was worked with the San Antonio business community throughout his legislative career. In 2009, he authored HB 1922, which doubled the capacity of San Antonio to provide recycled water to businesses to meet the demands of expanding industries while also conserving water for the region. He authored an amendment requiring the state Employee Retirement System to hire emerging fund managers, many from minority and women-owned businesses. In 2011, he was the lead Democratic author on HB 3727, the Boeing Bill, which created hundreds of manufacturing jobs in San Antonio to build, test, and repair the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. As a result of this bill, Air Force One will be refitted and repaired in San Antonio.[4]

He was selected by House Speaker Joe Straus to sit on the Select Committee on Transparency in State Agency Operations,[5] and the Select Committee on Redistricting during the first called special session of the 83rd Legislature.

Martinez Fischer was named the “Bull of the Brazos”, an award given by Texas Monthly magazine, recognizing him among the best in the legislature. Texas Monthly wrote: “without TMF the Democrats would have had no champion at all”. He has also been recognized as the “2013 Friend of Education”[6] and a “Legislative Star” by the Texas Classroom Teachers Association for fighting what it considered to be harmful legislation.

Martinez Fischer played a role in restoring education funding to Texas schools and was a major player in the state budget negotiations that resulted in $3.9 billion in increased education funding.[7] He is an advocate for government transparency and accountability as a member of the Select Committee on Transparency in State Operations and fought to preserve the voting rights of all Texans on the Select Redistricting Committee.

On February 17, 2015, Martinez Fischer was defeated in a special election by fellow Democratic House colleague Jose Menendez for the District 26 seat in the Texas Senate, a position vacated by Leticia Van de Putte, who ran unsuccessfully for lieutenant governor in 2014 and for mayor of San Antonio in 2015. The regular election was hotly contested, with Martinez Fischer earning a double-digit lead over his opponent. In a special runoff election marked by low turnout among Democratic voters and unprecedented participation by San Antonio Republicans, Menendez edged out Martinez Fischer.

Martinez Fischer challenged Menendez for a full Senate term in the Democratic primary on March 1, 2016.

With the power of incumbency, Menendez prevailed in the Democratic senatorial primary. Menendez is unopposed in the November 8 general election in the heavily Democratic district.

Martinez Fischer's House seat will be assumed in January 2017 by Democratic county chairperson Diana Arrevalo.


Personal life

Representative Trey Martinez Fischer with his wife, Elizabeth Marie Provencio, and their two daughters, Francesca (left) and Camilla (right)

Martinez Fischer has practiced before state and federal courts throughout Texas since his admission to the bar. He and his wife, Elizabeth Provencio, an attorney and San Antonio Water System trustee, are the parents of two daughters, Francesca and Camilla.

References

  1. ↑ Texas Monthly Magazine
  2. ↑ Chronicle
  3. ↑ The new face of America, retrieved July 21, 2009
  4. ↑ Boeing will move up to 400 jobs to Alamo City, retrieved January 5, 2012
  5. ↑ "Representative Trey Martinez Fischer", Texas House of Representatives, retrieved February 13, 2013
  6. ↑ TCTA Friend of Education Award, retrieved February 13, 2013
  7. ↑ star-telegram.com May 20, 2013
  8. ↑ Texas Legislature - Bills Authored, retrieved January 13, 2014
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