Rosario Marin (born August 4, 1958) is a Mexican-American politician who served as the 41st Treasurer of the United States from August 16, 2001, to June 30, 2003, serving under President George W. Bush. She is the first person since William Clark to assume the post without having been born a United States citizen. She is the only foreign-born Treasurer of the United States.
Early life Marin was born Rosario Spindola in Mexico City, Mexico. Her father Mariano, a worker in a label-making factory in California, brought his family to the United States in 1972 on visas provided by his employer.Richard Marosi, "Marin Draws a Contrast to Past GOP Candidates," Los Angeles Times (February 25, 2004).Lisa Friedman, Pasadena Star-News (May 26, 2003). Via WRNHA.org. The move was initially resisted by Marin due to her upcoming quinceañera and her fear of leaving behind her customs and traditions. Marin's family settled in Huntington Park, California where her father obtained work as a janitor and her mother as a seamstress.George Skelton, "Rosario Marin: a Republican to Put Democrats Off Balance," Los Angeles Times (February 16, 2004).The American Program Bureau, "Rosario Marin, Former US Treasurer," (profile) APBSpeakers.com. Accessed on July 26, 2009. They returned briefly to their old home in Mexico to celebrate a "small fiesta" in her honor.Audrey Fischer, "She's on the Money," The Library of Congress (November 2002).
Her poor command of English was another reason that Marin had resisted coming to the U.S. In high school, she was given an IQ test on which she scored a 27 out of 100 and was subsequently labelled as mentally disabled. This low score inspired Marin to work hard to learn the language which she accomplished in part by listening to songs on the radio and repeating the words. By 1976, she was in the top 20 out of a class of 500 and graduated with honors.
Marin's family had initially wanted her to forgo any further education and get a job in order to help out the family financially as well as help her mother care for her siblings. Marin compromised by working during the day and attending East Los Angeles College at night. After graduating in 1980, she continued to take night classes at the Los Angeles campus of the California State University (CSULA). Marin graduated from CSULA in 1983 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.Richard Marosi, "Choice for Treasurer Was Minted in Mexico," Los Angeles Times May 13, 2001).
Public service
Advocacy in the Wilson Administration Marin originally embarked upon a business and financial career. While attending CSULA, she had obtained work in 1981 at City National Bank in Beverly Hills as an assistant receptionist. After several promotions, Marin was poised for elevation to assistant vice president of the bank. However, in 1985 her son Eric was born with Down syndrome and she quit her job the following year in order to care for him."Biography of Treasurer Rosario Marin," Associated Press (March 10, 2003).Committee on Finance, United States Senate, "Nomination of Robert Bonner, Rosario Marin, (et al.)...," S. HRG. 107-252: Hearing Before the Committee on Finance, United States, One Hundred Seventh Congress, First Session (July 31, 2001). She also withdrew from an MBA program in which she was enrolled.
Her son's condition inspired Marin to become an advocate for the mentally disabled. During this time, she founded the first support group for Latino parents with Down's children as well as Fuerza ("Force"), an organization dedicated to providing services and support to mentally disabled children, and lobbied state officials in Sacramento on their behalf. It was also during this time, while counseling pregnant women with disabled children, that Marin became a supporter of abortion rights.
Marin's efforts came to the notice of state officials and, in 1992, she was appointed the chief of Legislative Affairs for the Department of Developmental Services by Governor Pete Wilson. At DDS, Marin worked for legislation to benefit the mentally challenged. Two years later, Marin was named chair of the Council on Developmental Disabilities where she continued to advocate for the mentally disabled and their families. For her work on behalf of the mentally disabled, Marin received the "Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Prize" by the United Nations in 1995, the second person to receive the award.Brian Heaton, "Rosario Marin Receives Lifetime Achievement Award at League of California Cities Annual Conference," (press release), Market Wire (September 7, 2006).
Finally, in 1996, Marin was appointed the assistant deputy director for the Department of Social Services.
Political career In addition to her public advocacy work, Marin became politically involved. She had been influenced to join the Republican Party (GOP) by her boss at City National after she naturalized in 1984. Additionally, Marin was inspired by what she felt she shared with the ideology of President Ronald Reagan: "Personal responsibility. Small government. Strong national defense."
In 1994, while still working in the Wilson Administration, Marin ran for a city council seat in Huntington Park and won. She served seven years on the council, including a term as mayor from 1999 to 2000 – the first Hispanic to hold that post in the city's history.The United States Conference of Mayors, "About the Mayor," U.S. Mayor (April 30, 2001). During her tenure, Marin was known as a law-and-order politician and was credited with various public safety initiatives that reformed the police department, increased its funding, and reduced crime by 50%. She also instituted a task force to combat air pollution in response to a government study that listed Huntington Park as one of several communities particularly at risk and launched a crackdown on a black market for illegal documentation. Despite her political registration, Marin was overwhelmingly re-elected to the council in 1999.Hugo Martin, "Task Force Is Sought to Help Combat Pollution," Los Angeles Times (November 16, 1999).
Marin was also known for being a tough and, sometimes, divisive participant of council meetings. Opponents accused her of raucous behavior, while even allies acknowledged a certain arrogance. In 2000, she was censured by the council for being rude toward fellow councilmembers and citizens alike.Richard Marosi, "Marin Joins GOP Field Hoping to Unseat Boxer," Los Angeles Times (December 3, 2003). Critics also accused her of missing council meetings and misusing her travel budget. Her improbable victory, they point out, was due to "misrepresenting her true political leanings" and a "savvy use of the Spanish media."
Marin continued to work for Governor Wilson for the first few years of her time on the council. In 1997, she was named deputy director of the governor's Office of Community Relations in Los Angeles. As the public face of the Administration to Hispanics, Marin had to deal with the tricky subject of Proposition 187 and other anti-illegal immigration topics which were the subject of heated debate among the community. 187 was particularly unpopular in Huntington Park – a city Marin herself referred to as "the most Mexican city outside Mexico."Paul Pringle, "Sheltered lives in California town may show whether enclaves help Latinos join mainstream or hinder them," The Dallas Morning News (September 21, 1999). While personally opposed to the controversial measure, Marin was called upon by the Administration to defend its position in support.Mark Sherman, "U.S. treasurer quits, to return to California..." Associated Press, via The Oakland Tribune (May 23, 2003).
During this time, Marin served as an officer on several commissions such as president of the Mayors and Councils Department of the League of California Cities, vice-chair of the Latino Caucus, and chair of the Southeast Community Development Corporation. She was also a member of various boards such as the California Film Commission, the Special Olympics, and the National Association of Latino Elected Officials and in 1998 completed the John F. Kennedy School of Government's program for senior executives in state and local government. In her last two years in office, Marin concurrently worked for AT&T Corporation as Public Relations Manager for the Hispanic Market in the Southern California Region.Office of the Governor, "Governor Schwarzenegger appoints Rosario Marin Secretary of the State and Consumer Services Agency," (press release), GAAS:071:06 (January 31, 2006)
Marin continued to bolster her Republican credentials. At the state level, she served as a California delegate to the 1996 Republican National Convention. She was also a vice-president of the California Republican National Hispanic Assembly.California State University- Los Angeles, "U.S. Treasurer Rosario Marin," Today (Winter 2002): 4-5.
On the national scene, Marin was an ardent supporter of George W. Bush's presidential run in 2000. While mayor, she had met the Texas governor and volunteered in his campaign effort in California working on Hispanic outreach and acting as its Spanish-speaking surrogate.Jeannie Aversa, "U.S. Treasurer Rosario Marin to Resign," Associated Press (May 22, 2003). Via USA Today. Her reputation and skill in the community was realized by Republican operatives and Marin's political cachet within the Party increased dramatically. Shortly after his election, Marin was featured prominently among the president-elect's circle.
In April, 2001, President Bush nominated Marin for the post of U.S. Treasurer. She was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on August 3 and resigned from her city council post three days later.California/Local, "Move to U.S. Treasurer's Post Opens Council Seat," Los Angeles Times (August 11, 2001).
U.S. Treasurer
Marin was sworn in on August 16, 2001. Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill presided over the ceremony.US Department of the Treasury, "Treasurers of the U.S.," History the Treasury. Accessed on June 28, 2009.US Department of the Treasury, "Treasurers of the U.S.: Rosario Marin," History of the Treasury. Accessed on July 27, 2009. She became the highest ranking Latina to serve in President Bush's Administration and, as such, was often called upon to represent it before the Hispanic community.
In addition to the Treasurer's traditional duties of overseeing the U.S. Mint and the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, Marin's tenure included organizing the Department’s first financial education outreach efforts. She also served as a member of the new Partnership for Prosperity efforts between the United States and Mexico.Office of Public Affairs, US Department of the Treasury, "Partnership for Prosperity: Working Together to Provide Financial Services to Latinos in the United States and Mexico ...," PO-3463 (September 27, 2002). Marin was particularly concerned with educating young people on the importance of building and maintaining financial stability.Office of Public Affairs, U.S. Department of the Treasury, "U.S. Treasurer Rosario Marin Remarks for Junior Achievement of New Mexico," (press release) PO-3364 (August 14, 2002). She also served as a designee to the President's Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans on behalf of Treasury Secretary John W. Snow."Rosario Main, United States Treasurer," White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans. Accessed on August 2, 2009.
Like previous U.S. treasurers, Marin continued to make numerous appearances on behalf of the Department, providing it with its public face. On June 15, 2002, she served as the keynote speaker at the commencement ceremony of her alma mater, CSULA, where she received an honorary Doctorate of Law degree and continued to garner praise for her achievements. That same year, she was awarded the "Groundbreaking Latina of the Year" award by Catalina magazine."7th Annual Groundbreaking Latina Awards: Previous Winners," Catalina (2008).