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Biography of Rosario Marin
Rosario Marin came to America at the age of 14 not speaking English. Like many immigrants before them, Rosario’s parents came to this country in hopes of providing an opportunity for their children to achieve the American Dream.
In August of 2001, Rosario Marin, the daughter of a janitor and seamstress, was sworn in as the 41st Treasurer of the United States as her parents and family watched. As Marin is fond of saying, her “signature validated the most powerful currency on earth.”
President Bush’s appointment and the U.S. Senate’s unanimous confirmation of Rosario Marin to this historic position is evidence of the hard work, dedication and perseverance that has distinguished Marin’s life. She has the personal strength and toughness to overcome adversity.
Rosario has extensive professional and life experience – in the private sector, as a Mayor and City Councilwoman, as an advocate for the disabled, as an official in Governor Wilson’s Administration and as Treasurer of the United States. She accomplished all of this while raising a family.
Rosario grew up in an economically disadvantaged family. She understood at a very young age that education is the key to achieving her goals, a strong personal belief that she works to instill in students across the country as an inspirational speaker.
Marin learned English, graduated in the top of her class and worked her way through college; first at a towel manufacturing company and later as an Assistant to the Receptionist at City National Bank. She rose through the ranks at the bank but left the private sector to care for her son Eric after he was born with Down Syndrome.
Eric’s birth spurred Rosario into becoming a fierce advocate for people with disabilities, and she saw a particular need for a support and advocacy group to help Spanish speaking families with children with disabilities. In 1987, Rosario founded such a group which later came to be called FUERZA, and which continues to assist many families today.
As President of FUERZA, Rosario spent countless hours assisting and counseling families through their difficult times and lobbying the California Legislature to change the laws to help people with disabilities. Rosario’s efforts were noticed by Governor Pete Wilson, and he quickly enlisted her to serve in his Administration.
Rosario first served Governor Wilson as Chief of Legislative Affairs in the Department of Developmental Services. During her tenure, the Governor signed the most sweeping legislative reform in 20 years to help people with developmental disabilities. Rosario was later appointed by Governor Wilson to Chair the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, a federally funded agency charged with implementing California’s State Plan.
Rosario’s commitment was also noticed by others. She received numerous awards including the distinguished Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Prize in 1995, and in the following year Rosario was named to the Special Olympics Board of Directors, where she continues to serve today.
In 1996, Governor Wilson appointed Rosario Marin to be Deputy Director of State Department of Social Services, where she participated in the development of the California State Plan for Welfare Reform. In 1997, Rosario became Deputy Director of the Governor’s office of Community Relations and the next year she was appointed to the California Film Commission.
While serving the State of California, Rosario Marin also served as Mayor and Councilwoman of Huntington Park, a city of 85,000 residents, with a population that is overwhelmingly Latino. As a life long Republican in a city that is staunchly Democrat, Rosario was first elected to the city council in 1994 and overwhelmingly re-elected in 1999.
As a Councilmember and Mayor, Rosario Marin’s leadership has been credited with reducing crime, holding down tax increases, cleaning up the business district and improving the city’s business climate.
As the Treasurer of the United States, Rosario Marin took the historic office that oversees the U.S. Mint and the Bureau of Engraving and Printing to a new level. U.S. Treasury Secretary John Snow said of Marin in a press statement:
“Marin brought invaluable experience to her position and with that background and perspective; she played an important role in shaping many of the public policy debates within the Administration and on Capitol Hill.” Secretary Snow added that Treasurer Marin “…has been one of the Administration’s top officials tasked with communicating President Bush’s efforts to keep America’s economy strong and to spread prosperity around the world.”
Marin led the U.S. Treasury’s Financial Literacy program and played an important role with Partnership for Prosperity which helped create a new era of cooperation between the U.S. and Mexico in the areas of increased economic and labor opportunities. This program was launched by President George W. Bush in partnership with Mexico President Vicente Fox.
As a member of the Advanced Counterfeit Deterrence Steering Committee, Rosario played an important role in developing the new $20 bill. As the highest ranking Latina in the Bush Administration, Rosario also served on the President’s Commission on Excellence in Education for Hispanic Americans.
As a Member of the Commission, she traveled the country as a champion of President Bush’s No Child Left Behind Act and also helped launch the “Yes, I Can” website to help encourage Hispanic students to continue their education beyond high school.
In addition to her leadership positions in local, state and federal government, Rosario has been actively involved in numerous organization and has served as: President of the Mayors and Councils Department of the League of California Cities (a post she was elected to by her colleagues), a member of the National Associations of Latino Elected Officials, a member of the South East Water Agency Coalition, a member of the Southern California Association of Governments – Housing and Economic Development Committee, and as a Member of the Board of Directors of three hospitals - Mission Hospital and Community Hospital in Huntington Park and Lincoln Hospital in Los Angeles. She was also elected by the members of the Republican State Central Committee to serve on the Executive Committee for the California Republican Party.
In June of 1998, Rosario Marin completed Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government. And on June 15, 2002, Rosario was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from her alma mater Cal State University, Los Angeles for her leadership and commitment to public service. In 2003, Rosario was named an “Alumna of the Year” by Cal State University, Los Angeles.
Rosario credits her family for all of her professional achievements and believes that her greatest achievement in life is her family. She has been married 22 years to Alvaro “Alex” Marin and is mother to her children Eric, Carmen and Alex. The Marin family motto continues to be “of him to whom much is given, much is expected.” As Rosario Marin embarks on her campaign for the United States Senate she is fond of saying, “America has given this immigrant so much. It is now time for me to give back to this great nation.”
Biography of Rosario Marin
Rosario Marin came to America at the age of 14 not speaking English. Like many immigrants before them, Rosario’s parents came to this country in hopes of providing an opportunity for their children to achieve the American Dream.
In August of 2001, Rosario Marin, the daughter of a janitor and seamstress, was sworn in as the 41st Treasurer of the United States as her parents and family watched. As Marin is fond of saying, her “signature validated the most powerful currency on earth.”
President Bush’s appointment and the U.S. Senate’s unanimous confirmation of Rosario Marin to this historic position is evidence of the hard work, dedication and perseverance that has distinguished Marin’s life. She has the personal strength and toughness to overcome adversity.
Rosario has extensive professional and life experience – in the private sector, as a Mayor and City Councilwoman, as an advocate for the disabled, as an official in Governor Wilson’s Administration and as Treasurer of the United States. She accomplished all of this while raising a family.
Rosario grew up in an economically disadvantaged family. She understood at a very young age that education is the key to achieving her goals, a strong personal belief that she works to instill in students across the country as an inspirational speaker.
Marin learned English, graduated in the top of her class and worked her way through college; first at a towel manufacturing company and later as an Assistant to the Receptionist at City National Bank. She rose through the ranks at the bank but left the private sector to care for her son Eric after he was born with Down Syndrome.
Eric’s birth spurred Rosario into becoming a fierce advocate for people with disabilities, and she saw a particular need for a support and advocacy group to help Spanish speaking families with children with disabilities. In 1987, Rosario founded such a group which later came to be called FUERZA, and which continues to assist many families today.
As President of FUERZA, Rosario spent countless hours assisting and counseling families through their difficult times and lobbying the California Legislature to change the laws to help people with disabilities. Rosario’s efforts were noticed by Governor Pete Wilson, and he quickly enlisted her to serve in his Administration.
Rosario first served Governor Wilson as Chief of Legislative Affairs in the Department of Developmental Services. During her tenure, the Governor signed the most sweeping legislative reform in 20 years to help people with developmental disabilities. Rosario was later appointed by Governor Wilson to Chair the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, a federally funded agency charged with implementing California’s State Plan.
Rosario’s commitment was also noticed by others. She received numerous awards including the distinguished Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Prize in 1995, and in the following year Rosario was named to the Special Olympics Board of Directors, where she continues to serve today.
In 1996, Governor Wilson appointed Rosario Marin to be Deputy Director of State Department of Social Services, where she participated in the development of the California State Plan for Welfare Reform. In 1997, Rosario became Deputy Director of the Governor’s office of Community Relations and the next year she was appointed to the California Film Commission.
While serving the State of California, Rosario Marin also served as Mayor and Councilwoman of Huntington Park, a city of 85,000 residents, with a population that is overwhelmingly Latino. As a life long Republican in a city that is staunchly Democrat, Rosario was first elected to the city council in 1994 and overwhelmingly re-elected in 1999.
As a Councilmember and Mayor, Rosario Marin’s leadership has been credited with reducing crime, holding down tax increases, cleaning up the business district and improving the city’s business climate.
As the Treasurer of the United States, Rosario Marin took the historic office that oversees the U.S. Mint and the Bureau of Engraving and Printing to a new level. U.S. Treasury Secretary John Snow said of Marin in a press statement:
“Marin brought invaluable experience to her position and with that background and perspective; she played an important role in shaping many of the public policy debates within the Administration and on Capitol Hill.” Secretary Snow added that Treasurer Marin “…has been one of the Administration’s top officials tasked with communicating President Bush’s efforts to keep America’s economy strong and to spread prosperity around the world.”
Marin led the U.S. Treasury’s Financial Literacy program and played an important role with Partnership for Prosperity which helped create a new era of cooperation between the U.S. and Mexico in the areas of increased economic and labor opportunities. This program was launched by President George W. Bush in partnership with Mexico President Vicente Fox.
As a member of the Advanced Counterfeit Deterrence Steering Committee, Rosario played an important role in developing the new $20 bill. As the highest ranking Latina in the Bush Administration, Rosario also served on the President’s Commission on Excellence in Education for Hispanic Americans.
As a Member of the Commission, she traveled the country as a champion of President Bush’s No Child Left Behind Act and also helped launch the “Yes, I Can” website to help encourage Hispanic students to continue their education beyond high school.
In addition to her leadership positions in local, state and federal government, Rosario has been actively involved in numerous organization and has served as: President of the Mayors and Councils Department of the League of California Cities (a post she was elected to by her colleagues), a member of the National Associations of Latino Elected Officials, a member of the South East Water Agency Coalition, a member of the Southern California Association of Governments – Housing and Economic Development Committee, and as a Member of the Board of Directors of three hospitals - Mission Hospital and Community Hospital in Huntington Park and Lincoln Hospital in Los Angeles. She was also elected by the members of the Republican State Central Committee to serve on the Executive Committee for the California Republican Party.
In June of 1998, Rosario Marin completed Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government. And on June 15, 2002, Rosario was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from her alma mater Cal State University, Los Angeles for her leadership and commitment to public service. In 2003, Rosario was named an “Alumna of the Year” by Cal State University, Los Angeles.
Rosario credits her family for all of her professional achievements and believes that her greatest achievement in life is her family. She has been married 22 years to Alvaro “Alex” Marin and is mother to her children Eric, Carmen and Alex. The Marin family motto continues to be “of him to whom much is given, much is expected.” As Rosario Marin embarks on her campaign for the United States Senate she is fond of saying, “America has given this immigrant so much. It is now time for me to give back to this great nation.”