Marta Jorgensen’s Story

Blue Collar Upbringing

“I grew up in a cabinet shop. I guess you could say I’m pretty blue-collar. Blue-collar and proud of it. Many years later my father stills builds furniture at age 83. Today I help him run the business.”

Marta was born in November 1953 in Denville, New Jersey, a country town famous for its Revolutionary War sites. Her hard working parents were furniture builders. Her father was the Commander of the local VFW and a staunch Republican. Her mother ran the VFW Auxillary. The family participated in all local Denville parades, hosting July Forth events and Memorial Day celebrations. Marta sang in the church choir and longed to be an opera singer.

In 1968 they moved to California to escape the harsh weather. Marta grew up around the events of the sixties in Orange County.

Passion For Healthcare

In the late 1970’s Marta went to nursing school and got a degree in 1981 and worked as a nurse for several years in Orange County, then in Los Angeles and Santa Barbara counties. She spent more than 27 years working with patients and their families in hospitals, private homes, and on ambulance runs.

As a nurse Marta was involved with direct patient care, dedicated to providing support care to sick individuals, easing their pain, and teaching them to get the best service. She was frustrated with the terrible medical and insurance bureaucracy that has developed in the country. Patients with debilitating major illnesses were being denied the best care available from insurance companies. She knew firsthand about the giving of rewards and incentives to practitioners to limit or deny treatments.

Protecting The Environment

In the late 1980’s she became involved in environmental issues and worked with the Los Angeles Sierra Club. Marta studied Recycling and City Planning at UCLA and participated in demonstrations against urban over development in Los Angeles.

Entrepreneur and Small Business Owner

Marta moved to Santa Barbara County in 1997. She started and ran a private computer school in Solvang from 2001 to 2006. Later, she taught in a private school and started their first computer lab and school newspaper as well. Being in a technically oriented field, she became aware of the large gap in skill levels. She taught people how to use the Internet to help them educate themselves, to become more involved in world affairs.

Marta also works today helping manage a transportation business with her business partner in the Santa Ynez Valley.

Active in the Local Community

Marta ran for Congress in the 24^th CD, won the Primary and did well against a Republican incumbent in the 2008 General Election.

She continues to be active in the Santa Barbara County Democratic Central Committee, Ventura County Democratic Central Committee, Santa Maria Democratic Club, Lompoc Democratic Club, Santa Ynez Valley Democratic Club, Democratic Women of Santa Barbara County, and Progressive Democrats of America.

Honoring Family

Marta is happily single and lives in Solvang near her 83 year old father who still works everyday. Her mother passed away in 2005. Her brother runs an international furniture manufacturing company on the East Coast.

Marta Jorgensen believes in the power of the average citizen and lives that belief everyday.