1960 – He became the head of the Tampa teachers’ union, leading it in a strike against the city.

1979 – He was elected mayor of Tampa.

1983 – He switched his party affiliation from Democrat to Republican and was re-elected mayor.

1986 – He ran for governor.

1987 – He won the election and took office on the 6th of January.

1989 – The U.S. Supreme Court ruling allowed states greater flexibility to restrict abortions, he called the Florida Legislature into special session in an effort to pass anti-abortion laws. None of the governor’s proposals made it out of committee and his approval ratings sunk to around 24%.

1990 – Governor Martinez was defeated in his re-election bid by former Democratic Senator Lawton Chiles.

1991 – He left the governor’s mansion on the 8th of January, Martinez was tasked by President George H. W. Bush to be the Director of the National Drug Control Policy.