Martinez, 51, said he will return to his company, Latino Survey and Research, which he describes as "the Dan Jones of the Latino community." Jones' company conducts polls for political candidates and media outlets.

Martinez hopes to do more for the city outside City Hall than he did in. He wants to work on Democratic campaigns this season. And he will return to working on issues related to the city's west side.

"That's where my heart is," said Martinez, who lives in the Westpointe neighborhood.

Martinez oversaw business licensing, planning, housing and neighborhood development, transportation, building services and arts council.

While he said he enjoyed the job, the bureaucracy bugged him

But he had high praise for city employees: They "just work at an enormous pace and [under] enormous pressure. They're understaffed and underpaid."

Mayor Rocky Anderson, who named Martinez as director in January, said in a statement he was "sorry to see him leave city government, but [I] know that he will continue to work on the issues he cares about so passionately."

Martinez, who worked on Anderson's re-election campaign last year, praised the mayor as a "great friend and a visionary leader."

His last day is Oct. 18. Ander- son nominated David Dobbins, who has been the department's deputy director for four years, as Martinez's replacement. The City Council routinely approves the mayor's appointments.

The director position has been difficult to fill for Anderson. Martinez is the fourth director in five years. Martinez had even joked with his staff about his longevity when he reached the six-month mark on the job.

Dobbins, 34, said he doesn't have significant changes in store. The department is already working on streamlining the business-licensing and building-permit processes.

hmay@sltrib.com