Louann H. Martinez

Louann H. Martinez has over 40 years’ experience in the Texas governmental and political arenas.  She began her career as a legislative aide to former State Representative Sarah Weddington (D-Austin) in 1975 and honed her legislative skills working for other elected officials in the Texas Capitol over the next 15 years. Because of her legislative expertise and intricate knowledge of education issues, in 1988, Louann was tapped to serve as Associate Executive Director for Governmental Relations for the 2,500-member Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA), a position she held for more than a decade. In 2002, she joined Martinez & Associates, an independent government relations firm she cofounded with her husband, where she continued forging strong relationships with key lawmakers and policymakers in the area of public education.

Louann has represented the interests of TASA and numerous independent groups in some of the most challenging and contentious issues debated by the Texas Legislature over the past 30 years. In 2003, in recognition of her extensive knowledge of education issues and her ability to form solutions and consensus, the House Leadership asked Louann to return to the legislature to direct the Select Committee on School Finance Studies. It was a momentous task that involved working with the leadership in both the Senate and House, including coordinating with interim select committees and directing the committee’s work through two special sessions in 2004.  Since returning to Martinez & Associates in 2005, her clients have included Dallas Independent School District, Association of American Publishers, King Ranch, Texas Urban Council, and other various education-related clients.  

Louann is respected by lawmakers and members of the lobby alike for her legislative acumen and the consistently principled manner in which she conducts business on behalf of her clients. She has a broad, deep knowledge and experience with school finance and budgets; school district operations; and the House and Senate appropriations processes.  She is also adept at drafting legislation, lobbying for changes in school district operational and personnel matters, and formula and funding components regarding public education.  

A fourth-generation Austinite, Louann was educated in Austin ISD and went on to graduate from the University of Texas at Austin.