Larry Martin, senior advisor for the E.J. Gallo legal department, was elected chair of the Kenneth L. Maddy Institute at California State University, Fresno.

The Maddy Institute was established in 1999 by a unanimous vote of the California Legislature in honor of State Senator Ken Maddy. The mission of the Maddy Institute is to inspire citizen participation, elevate government performance, provide non-partisan analysis and assist in providing solutions for public policy issues important to the region, state and nation.

Martin replaces former California Assemblymember Juan Arambula (I-Fresno), who has been chairman since January 1, 2013. During his chairmanship Arambula helped raise almost $250,000 for student scholarships, grew the Maddy Intern Program, expanded programing to include the only weekly Spanish language program on state politics and increased The Maddy Daily by 20 percent to over 12,000 subscribers.

Martin is the fourth chair of the Institute. Don Jackson, who was instrumental in establishing the Maddy Institute, was its first chair from 2000 until 2010. Jackson, a key strategist and a close confidant of the late Sen. Ken Maddy, helped establish the Institute’s Costa Washington, D.C. Legislative Intern Program, the Maddy Associates Luncheon Speakers Series, the Maddy Daily e-newsletter and The Maddy Report, a weekly half-hour public affairs program that airs on ValleyPBS, KSEE24 and the California Channel, statewide.

Former Senate Republican Leader Dave Cogdill was the Institute’s second chair, serving from 2011 until 2013. Cogdill was instrumental in helping expand the institute’s legislative intern program to more federal and state legislative offices, as well as help establish the institute’s Beverly Sacramento Legislative Intern Program. He also helped launch The Maddy Report – Valley Views Edition, a weekly one-hour radio program heard weekly on Newstalk 580 KMJ.

“The Maddy Institute has been blessed with extraordinary leadership from individuals like Assemblymember Juan Arambula, Sen. Cogdill and Don Jackson. The University and region are indeed grateful for their service,” said Fresno State President Joseph I. Castro. “We are delighted that Larry Martin will be building on the foundation and ensuring that the Maddy Institute will continue to be an important asset, not just for Fresno State but for the region and the state as a whole.”

Martin was born and raised in Los Angeles but his connection to the Central Valley began in 1919 when his grandfather purchased a farm in Modesto. Martin’s parents, Winifred and Laurence would bring their two sons to the Modesto farm for summer vacations.

Martin received his bachelor’s degree from Stanford University and juris doctorate from University of California, Hastings College of Law. He and his wife of 52 years, Robin, have two daughters and four grandchildren.

In 1975 Martin moved his family and his legal practice to Modesto. After years of private practice in Los Angeles and Modesto, Martin spent 30 years with E.J. Gallo’s legal team before his partial retirement.

“I have always been committed to the Central Valley and I am a firm believer in giving back. As a result, I am honored by this opportunity to help lead the Maddy Institute as a regional asset and one of the most active and engaged public affairs institutes in the state,” Martin said.

For more information about The Kenneth L. Maddy Institute, contact Mark Keppler at 559.278.1133 or mkeppler@csufresno.edu.

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