Joe Garcia
| Joe Garcia | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Democratic Party candidate for U.S. House of Representatives from Florida's 25th District |
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| Election date November 2, 2010 |
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| Incumbent | vacant |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 12, 1963 |
| Political party | Democratic Party |
| Spouse(s) | Aileen Ugalde (m. 1992) |
| Children | Gabriella (b. 1998) |
| Residence | Miami, Florida |
| Alma mater | Belen Jesuit Preparatory School University of Miami (B.A.) University of Miami Law School (J.D.) |
| Website | http://www.joegarcia2010.com/ |
Joe Garcia (born Jose Antonio Garcia on October 12, 1963) is a Miami-based lawyer and 2010 Democratic nominee for Florida's 25th congressional district. He is the former executive director of the Cuban American National Foundation and was nominated by President Barack Obama to be director of the Office of Minority Economic Impact and Diversity of the United States Department of Energy[1]
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[edit] Early life and education
Jose Antonio Garcia, Jr. was born in Miami Beach, Florida, to Jose Garcia Sr. and his wife, Carmen; both of Garcia's parents had fled Cuba after Fidel Castro and his regime instituted Communism and dictatorship. Garcia graduated in 1982 from Belen Jesuit Preparatory School and attended Miami-Dade Community College before earning his Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and public affairs from the University of Miami in 1987. While at the U of M, Garcia was elected president of student government. Garcia later earned his J.D. from the University of Miami School of Law in 1991.[2]
[edit] Career
Garcia served on the Florida Public Service Commission (FPSC) and also served as its chairman.[2] While serving on the FPSC, he also was chair of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC). He was also Second Vice-Chair of the Southeastern Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (SEARUC). Garcia was also appointed to the Federal Communications Commission Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service. Garcia was a member of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO).[3]
Garcia served on the board of the Spanish American League Against Discrimination (SALAD) and on the board of directors of Regis House, a drug addiction treatment and prevention center for inner-city youth in Miami. Garcia is a member of the board of directors of the Cuban American National Foundation, and is a past president. He also has served as director of the New Democrat Network Hispanic Strategy Center, and chairman of the Democratic Party of Miami-Dade County.[3]
In 2009, Garcia joined the Obama administration as director of the Office of Minority Economic Impact for the Department of Energy.[2]
[edit] 2009 Energy Department, Director of Economic Impact
As director of the Office of Economic Impact, Garcia worked closely with small business owners to increase their participation in the energy sector. He focused on the cause of women and minorities within the federal government by partnering with minority serving institutions, like Florida International University. As head of the Civil Rights office, Garcia worked to ensure that institutions that received money from the federal government did not discriminate against women and minorities.[3]
During his tenure at the Energy Department, Garcia was also appointed by President Barack Obama to the Task Force on Puerto Rico's Status. On the Task Force, Garcia focused on lowering energy costs in Puerto Rico and pushed for renewable energy projects on the island of Vieques.[3]
[edit] Political campaigns
[edit] 2008 U.S. Congressional campaign
Garcia announced on February 7, 2008, his candidacy for the U.S. Congress in Florida's 25th congressional district. Garcia proved to be a prolific fundraiser, raising over $1.8 million, but was narrowly defeated by Mario Diaz-Balart.
[edit] 2010 U.S. Congressional campaign
In April 2010, Joe Garcia announced his candidacy for Congress in Florida's 25th Congressional District after Mario Diaz-Balart announced he would not seek re-election in that seat. In his campaign announcement, Garcia noted he would focus on job creation, funding education and health care as his top priorities.[2]
In the general election, Garcia faced State Representative David Rivera, Tea Party nominee Roly Arrojo, and Florida Whig Party nominee Craig Porter.
Garcia was endorsed by President Obama, the Miami Herald, Commissioner Katy Sorenson, Florida City Mayor Otis Wallace, City of Homestead Mayor Steven C. Bateman, Homestead Vice Mayor Judy Waldman, Cutler Bay Mayor Paul Vrooman, HRC, United Teachers of Dade, Air Traffic Controllers, Laborers Union and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.[4]
Rivera defeated Garcia on November 2, 2010.[5]
[edit] Personal life
Garcia was married to Aileen Maria Ugalde, general counsel for the University of Miami. They have one daughter, Gabriela.[2]
[edit] References
- Clark, Lesley "3 Fla Congressional Candidates in Spotlight", The Miami Herald, August 27, 2008, page A2
- Padgett, Tim "Big Trouble in Little Havana", Time Magazine, August 15, 2008
- Rieff, David "Will Little Havana Go Blue?", The New York Times, July 13, 2008
- ^ [1][dead link]
- ^ a b c d e Patricia Mazzei (23 September 2010). "Democratic House candidate Joe Garcia more mellow this time around". Miami Herald. http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/10/23/1888612/democratic-house-candidate-joe.html. Retrieved 8 July 2011.
- ^ a b c d "Campaigns -- Joe Garcia for FL-25". Democracy for America. http://www.democracyforamerica.com/campaigns/2699. Retrieved 8 July 2011.
- ^ "The Herald recommends". Miami Herald. 2010-10-14. http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/10/14/1872564/the-herald-recommends.html. Retrieved 2010-10-15.
- ^ Jaweed Kaleem (3 November 2010). "Joe Garcia concedes to David Rivera, Allen West leads in Congressional race". Miami Herald. http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/11/03/1905749/joe-garcia-concedes-to-david-rivera.html. Retrieved 8 July 2011.
[edit] External links
- Joe Garcia for Congress 2010 official campaign site
- Biography at WhoRunsGov.com at The Washington Post
- Biography, voting record, and interest group ratings at Project Vote Smart
- Campaign finance reports and data at the Federal Election Commission
- Campaign contributions at OpenSecrets.org
- Articles
- Joe Garcia will run for Collier congressional seat he narrowly lost in 2008 at NaplesNews.com
- Parties Look to Boost Garcia, Rivera at CQPolitics
- Democrats Court Garcia for Florida Race at Wall Street Journal
- Garcia Turns Focus to Tallahassee at Miami Herald
- Congressional Candidate Joe Garcia Urges Crist to Ban Gulf Drilling for Good at NaplesNews.com
