Nixon taps St. Louis lawyer to lead economic development
Jay Nixon, left, introduces lawyer Linda Martinez as his new economic development director
Gov.-elect Jay Nixon has tapped a St. Louis lawyer with a long record of working alongside business to lead the state’s Department of Economic Development.
Linda Martinez, will be charged with leading Nixon’s Show Me JOBS program, the new governor’s push to revive the state’s sluggish economy.
Martinez, 54, lives in the city’s Washington Avenue Loft District and is currently a partner in the high-powered Bryan Cave law firm downtown, where she has focused on public-private development partnerships.
She is a well-known figure at City Hall, where she has represented, among others, Washington University and BJC Health Care.
Now, Martinez will be on the other side of the bargaining table as Nixon’s top aide on economic development.
At a news conference at a small business in the Delmar Loop — City Sprouts, which sells kids clothing — Nixon said Martinez is “as qualified as anyone in the Midwest to hold this position.”
“Linda knows the economic development system inside and out, ” Nixon said.
Her office, Martinez said, will “move at the speed of business” and will take “bold steps to create good-paying jobs”
“Creating jobs will be the priority of the economic development department,” Martinez said.
I used to work with Linda Martinez, and she knows how to get things done. If she can’t do this job right, no one can.
Linda Martinez is and outstanding selection. Smart,well connected,personable and she gets deals done. Even my kids think she is great! The Guv hit a home run with this pick.
Home run indeed. It should be noted that Martinez headed up the legal team which successfully challenged Valley Park’s anti immigration city ordinance. Martinez is a class act.
Do we know if she contributed money to his campaign?
Yeah, lawyers know how to stimulate business. Here’s an idea; remove the heavy hand of regulation and get out of the way.
I won’t hold my breath. Look for a lot of subsidized “green” initiatives.
Linda Martinez is business partner with Richard Callow. Great, let the conflicts of interest begin!
Ms Martinez is an outstanding choice. She will encourage business, while protecting the public interest. Having worked with her for years, I can attest to her knowledge and integrity.
There is green and there is greenwashing.
Doing more with less, creating less waste, thinking outside the box, using more brainpower and less manpower, with the long term effects in mind is the greenest thing out there.
Saving energy saves money. Saving resources saves money. Money is green, too. Greenwashing just costs money for the paint, and doesn’t save anything.
Martinez sounds like a winner.
Linda Martinez is an outstanding choice to lead this effort. Missourians are very fortunate to have someone with her brains, resourcefulness, energy, and integrity be willing to accept a state position. Thank you, Governor-elect.
Wow, who are all these people posting?
If she represented Washington University and BJC Health Care in St. Louis City Hall, is it safe to refer to her as a LOBBYIST?
Makes one wonder, doesn’t it?
Now, I don’t think it’s wrong — or bad — if she was. I’m just sick and tired of the left pulling that card out at every stop, as if it’s a horrible thing!