THE WHITE HOUSE

                     Office of the Press Secretary
                 (Aboard Air Force One en route Hawaii)

                PRESIDENT CLINTON NAMES RAY MARTINEZ AS
       DEPUTY ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT AND DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR
              INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS AT THE WHITE HOUSE

     The President today announced his intent to appoint Ray Martinez as

Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy Director for Intergovernmental Affairs at the White House.

Mr. Ray Martinez, of Alice, Texas, is currently a Regional Director for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, a position he has held since December 1998. As Regional Director, Mr. Martinez oversees a five-state region including Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. In addition, Mr. Martinez serves as Secretary Donna Shalala's personal representative in the region and is the Department's principle regional liaison with federal, state and local officials. Mr. Martinez is also responsible for regional implementation of cross-cutting secretarial initiatives as well as coordination and management of regional office operations.

Prior to his current position, Mr. Martinez served in the White House as a Special Assistant to the President for Political Affairs. In that position, Martinez was a liaison to state and federal elected officials in a 13 state region which included the Pacific Northwest, the Rocky Mountain states and California. During this time, Martinez was also responsible for advising the President and senior White House staff on issues and policies affecting the Hispanic Community.

Mr. Martinez has served for more than twelve years as a consultant and advisor to a number of federal, state and local officials. In addition, Mr. Martinez has done extensive public speaking on a wide range of subjects including the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), racial and ethnic health disparities, Head Start and childcare, welfare reform, and U.S. Mexico border health issues. Mr. Martinez received a Bachelors of Arts degree from the Southwestern University and a law degree from the University of Houston Law Center.

As Deputy Director for Intergovernmnental Affairs, Mr. Martinez will be responsible for assisting the President with the nation's governors and other statewide elected officials. The Office of Intergovernmental Affairs serves as the President's principal liaison between the White House and state and local governments.

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