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Garcia's support of the 2010 Long Beach Downtown Community Plan was criticized by some affordable housing advocates, who argued that the plan should be delayed to perform an economic study on affordable housing incentives. In response, Garcia argued that delaying the plan would be costly to the city, and that the economic study could be done separately. The plan passed the City Council, 7-2.<ref name=Housing>[http://www.presstelegram.com/technology/20101009/advocates-disturbed-at-affordable-housing-issues-in-long-beach-plan Advocates disturbed at affordable housing issues in Long Beach plan], Greg Mellen, ''[[Long Beach Press-Telegram]]'', 9 October 2010</ref>
Garcia's support of the 2010 Long Beach Downtown Community Plan was criticized by some affordable housing advocates, who argued that the plan should be delayed to perform an economic study on affordable housing incentives. In response, Garcia argued that delaying the plan would be costly to the city, and that the economic study could be done separately. The plan passed the City Council, 7-2.<ref name=Housing>[http://www.presstelegram.com/technology/20101009/advocates-disturbed-at-affordable-housing-issues-in-long-beach-plan Advocates disturbed at affordable housing issues in Long Beach plan], Greg Mellen, ''[[Long Beach Press-Telegram]]'', 9 October 2010</ref>


== 2014 mayoral candidacy ==
== 2014 Mayoral Campaign ==


In July 2013, Garcia announced his candidacy for Mayor of Long Beach. He received 25.4% of the vote in the April 8th, 2014 election, finishing first in a field of 10 mayoral candidates; a runoff election between Garcia and fellow candidate [[Damon Dunn]] (22.3% of the vote) is scheduled for June 3rd.<ref name="irr_ocregister">{{cite news | last = Stewart | first = Joshua | title = Prosecutor probing allegations in primary voting | newspaper = The Orange County Register | location = Orange County, California | language = English | date = 18 April 2014 | url = http://www.ocregister.com/articles/city-610495-garcia-haubert.html | accessdate = 20 April 2014 }}</ref>
In July 2013, Garcia announced his candidacy for Mayor of Long Beach. He received 25.4% of the vote in the April 8th, 2014 election, finishing first in a field of 10 mayoral candidates; a runoff election between Garcia and fellow candidate [[Damon Dunn]] (22.3% of the vote) is scheduled for June 3rd.<ref name="irr_ocregister">{{cite news | last = Stewart | first = Joshua | title = Prosecutor probing allegations in primary voting | newspaper = The Orange County Register | location = Orange County, California | language = English | date = 18 April 2014 | url = http://www.ocregister.com/articles/city-610495-garcia-haubert.html | accessdate = 20 April 2014 }}</ref>

Garcia's mayoral campaign "attracted unwanted attention on a variety of fronts",<ref name="campaign_beachcomber">{{cite news | last = Propes | first = Steve | title = Two Candidate Mayoral Race Heats Up | newspaper = The Beachcomber | location = Long Beach, California | date = 2 May 2014 | url = http://www.longbeachcomber.com/story.aspx?artID=4367 | accessdate = 20 May 2014 }}</ref> notably the appearance of unwanted Garcia campaign signs (placed by an [[independent expenditure]] committee) on private property in locations that made them difficult to remove,<ref name="signs_beachcomber">{{cite news | last = Ramirez | first = Kirt | title = Garcia Signs are Illegal | newspaper = The Beachcomber | location = Long Beach, California | date = 4 April 2014 | url = http://www.longbeachcomber.com/story.aspx?artID=4331 | accessdate = 11 April 2014 }}</ref><ref name="signs_ocregister">{{cite news | last = Stewart | first = Joshua | title = Unwanted campaign signs irk Long Beach businesses | newspaper = The Orange County Register | location = Orange County, California | date = 24 March 2014 | url = http://www.ocregister.com/articles/signs-606820-campaign-garcia.html | accessdate = 11 April 2014 }}</ref><ref name="signs_lbreport">{{cite web | title = Signs From Independent Expenditure Committee Backing Garcia For Mayor Appear On Private Property, Sometimes High Up, Making Them Hard To Remove | work = LBReport.com | date = 21 March 2014 | url = http://www.lbreport.com/14elec/indie/indx3.htm | accessdate = 11 April 2014}}</ref><ref name="campaign_beachcomber"/> and an investigation of the campaign by Long Beach City Prosecuter Doug Haubert for possible voting irregularities related to a March 21 incident in which Garcia's campaign bused would-be voters from [[Cambodia Town, Long Beach, California|Cambodia Town]] to the City Clerk's office, some of whom were not on the registered voter rolls or had the names of Robert Garcia and city attorney candidate James Johnson written on their hands in ink.<ref name="campaign_beachcomber"/><ref name="irr_ocregister">{{cite news | last = Stewart | first = Joshua | title = Prosecuter probing allegations in primary voting | newspaper = The Orange County Register | location = Orange County, California | date = 18 April 2014 | url = http://www.ocregister.com/articles/city-610495-garcia-haubert.html | accessdate = 20 April 2014 }}</ref><ref name="irr_presstelegram">{{cite news | last = Beatriz Valenzuela and Eric Bradley | title = Long Beach looking into possible voting irregularities | newspaper = The Press-Telegram | location = Long Beach, California | date = 19 April 2014 | url = http://www.presstelegram.com/government-and-politics/20140419/long-beach-looking-into-possible-voting-irregularities | accessdate = 20 April 2014 }}</ref><ref name="irr_lbreport">{{cite web | title = March Incident Involving Individuals Who Came To City Hall To Cast Early Ballots But Names Weren't On Voter Registration Roll (May Have Recently Registered); Were Allegedly Accompanied By Person (We Independently Learn Garcia Campaign Worker) Who Argued They Should Be Allowed To Vote Provisionally On Same Day; City Clerk Declines, Cites Elections Code, Explains Procedures; City Prosecutor Opens Inquiry (Stress Inquiry Only At This Point) | work = LBReport.com | date = 19 April 2014 | url = http://www.lbreport.com/14elec/voteirr/voteirr1b.htm| accessdate = 20 April 2014}}</ref><ref name="irr_gazette">{{cite news | last = Saltzgaver | first = Harry | title = Early Long Beach Voting Incident Prompts Examination | newspaper = The Grunion Gazette | location = Long Beach, California | date = 23 April 2014 | url = http://www.gazettes.com/news/early-long-beach-voting-incident-prompts-examination/article_fdc2ce50-cb0b-11e3-8721-001a4bcf887a.html | accessdate = 28 April 2014 }}</ref><ref name="irr2_ocregister">{{cite news | last = Stewart | first = Joshua | title = Prosecutor drops probe into Robert Garcia's mayoral campaign | newspaper = The Orange County Register | location = Orange County, California | date = 14 May 2014 | url = http://www.ocregister.com/articles/city-614323-haubert-garcia.html | accessdate = 19 May 2014 }}</ref><ref name="irr2_presstelegram">{{cite news | last = Bradley | first = Eric | title = Long Beach prosecutor finds no irregularities in Cambodian voting | newspaper = The Press-Telegram | location = Long Beach, California | date = 14 May 2014 | url = http://www.presstelegram.com/government-and-politics/20140514/long-beach-prosecutor-finds-no-irregularities-in-cambodian-voting | accessdate = 22 May 2014 }}</ref> Haubert later dropped his investigation, citing "insufficient evidence to believe any law was violated".<ref name="irr2_ocregister"/><ref name="irr2_presstelegram"/>


== References ==
== References ==

Revision as of 22:12, 23 May 2014

Robert Garcia
Councilmember of the First City Council District of Long Beach, California
Incumbent
Assumed office
May 5, 2009
Preceded byBonnie Lowenthal
Personal details
Born (1977-12-02) December 2, 1977 (age 46)
Lima, Peru
Political partyDemocratic
Websitewww.robertgarcia.com

Robert Garcia (born December 2, 1977) is the Vice Mayor and a City Council member for the City of Long Beach, California, and a member of the California Coastal Commission. He represents the First Council District, which includes large areas of downtown, parts of the Port of Long Beach, and some of the densest and most diverse urban areas in the nation.[1]

When elected on April 13, 2009, to fill the seat vacated by Bonnie Lowenthal, Garcia became the youngest person, the first Latino male, and the first openly gay person of color ever elected to the Long Beach City Council.[2]

In 2014 Garcia ran for Mayor of Long Beach. He qualified for the runoff by finishing first in the primary election.[3]

Biography

Garcia was born on December 2, 1977 in Peru. He immigrated to the United States with his mother at age 5. His mother and aunt worked in many jobs, including as housekeepers to support the family.[4]

Garcia attended California State University, Long Beach, where he became President of the Associated Students, was an active member of the Delta Chi Fraternity and graduated with a degree in Communications. He continued his education at the University of Southern California, where he received a Master's Degree, and later became Public Information Officer at Long Beach City College. Garcia received his Ed.D. in Educational Policy from California State University, Long Beach in June 2010.[4] He has taught courses in Communications and Public Policy at the University of Southern California, California State University, Long Beach, and Long Beach City College.

Garcia is fully bilingual, speaking, reading and writing both English and Spanish fluently.

Originally a Republican[5][6], Garcia served as California Youth Coalition Coordinator for the 2000 George W. Bush presidential campaign while in college.[7] In 2005,[8] he founded[5] and was president of the Long Beach Young Republicans;[6] he also worked as chief of staff for conservative Long Beach City Councilmember Frank Colonna[6] and ran Colonna's 2006 mayoral campaign.[9] Garcia changed his party to Democratic around 2007, before running for City Council.[6]

In 2007, Garcia founded the Long Beach Post, a website devoted to local news and sports reporting. The site soon became popular with local political figures and community leaders and gave Garcia increased local prominence.[10]

Garcia, with other area residents, founded the North Pine Neighborhood Alliance in 2008 to advocate for the needs of downtown residents and businesses. This launched his political career in earnest.[4]

In 2009, Garcia defeated six other candidates, including a former First District Councilmember, to win the seat vacated when Bonnie Lowenthal was elected to the California State Assembly in 2008. He was reelected in April 2010 by a margin of more than 40 percentage points.[11]

In July 2012 he was unanimously elected to a two-year term as Vice Mayor by the City Council, becoming the first Latino Vice Mayor in Long Beach and the youngest in the City's history (Press Telegram, July 18, 2012).

In January 2013, Garcia was appointed to the California Coastal Commission. In July 2013, after Bob Foster announced he would not seek re-election, Garcia entered the race for Long Beach Mayor.

City councilman

Garcia's time in office has been marked by socially progressive and economically moderate legislation. He has authored or cosponsored more than 20 pieces of legislation, including the City's first Equal Benefits Ordinance, a ban on smoking at bus stops and at farmers' markets, a proposal to extend increased preferences to veterans in civil service hiring, and a broad-ranging arts initiative that eliminated restrictions on street performances, and reduced the business license tax for artists and other home-based businesses.[12]

Garcia has shown support for labor unions, voting to supportProject Labor Agreements at the Long Beach Airport, Port of Long Beach and for the Gerald Desmond Bridge. He has also shown interest in government reform and fiscal accountability, and supported the [City Manager]'s efforts to consolidate departments.[13]

Garcia arranged the leasing of City land to a local charter school for use as a working educational farm. He also arranged the painting of a huge mural by local artists on the façade of the vacant Press-Telegram lofts in downtown Long Beach.[13]

Garcia initiated the first Latin-American Parade and Festival in Long Beach in 2009.[citation needed] The Festival is now an annual event.

Garcia has received some national attention for his socially progressive views and the culturally diverse communities he represents, being young, Latino and gay. Garcia was featured in [CNN]'s 2009 special "Latino in America," and was named to the "40 under 40 list" by the national gay news magazine The Advocate.[14]

Garcia's support of the 2010 Long Beach Downtown Community Plan was criticized by some affordable housing advocates, who argued that the plan should be delayed to perform an economic study on affordable housing incentives. In response, Garcia argued that delaying the plan would be costly to the city, and that the economic study could be done separately. The plan passed the City Council, 7-2.[15]

2014 Mayoral Campaign

In July 2013, Garcia announced his candidacy for Mayor of Long Beach. He received 25.4% of the vote in the April 8th, 2014 election, finishing first in a field of 10 mayoral candidates; a runoff election between Garcia and fellow candidate Damon Dunn (22.3% of the vote) is scheduled for June 3rd.[16]

Garcia's mayoral campaign "attracted unwanted attention on a variety of fronts",[17] notably the appearance of unwanted Garcia campaign signs (placed by an independent expenditure committee) on private property in locations that made them difficult to remove,[18][19][20][17] and an investigation of the campaign by Long Beach City Prosecuter Doug Haubert for possible voting irregularities related to a March 21 incident in which Garcia's campaign bused would-be voters from Cambodia Town to the City Clerk's office, some of whom were not on the registered voter rolls or had the names of Robert Garcia and city attorney candidate James Johnson written on their hands in ink.[17][16][21][22][23][24][25] Haubert later dropped his investigation, citing "insufficient evidence to believe any law was violated".[24][25]

References

  1. ^ Downtown Long Beach Market Study Final Report, Long Beach Redevelopment Agency, April 17, 2009
  2. ^ Forty Under 40, May 2010, retrieved 29 January 2012
  3. ^ Bradley, Eric (April 9, 2014). "Robert Garcia wins, Damon Dunn second as Long Beach mayor race goes to runoff". Long Beach Press Telegram. Retrieved April 9, 2014.
  4. ^ a b c http://robertgarcia.com/robertgarcia.html
  5. ^ a b Stewart, Joshua (25 April 2014). "Ambassador vs. CEO: Long Beach mayoral candidates have different approaches". The Orange County Register. Orange County, California. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
  6. ^ a b c d Bradley, Eric (26 March 2014). "2014 Long Beach mayoral race: Robert Garcia focused on growth". The Press-Telegram. Long Beach, California. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
  7. ^ Drucker, David (02 November 2000). "Candidates vie for contested youth, look to alter past trend". The Daily Bruin. Los Angeles, California. Retrieved 19 May 2014. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  8. ^ "LB Young Republicans Launch New Local Chapter, Plan To Build Political Voice For Long Term". LBReport.com. 01 September 2005. Retrieved 19 May 2014. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  9. ^ Jeffrey S. Klein and Maria J. Vazquez (March 2011). "Online Community News: A Case Study in Long Beach, California -- What It Takes to Survive and Thrive". USC Annenberg Center on Communication Leadership & Policy. University of Southern California. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
  10. ^ “The Future of the Long Beach Post”, by Ryan ZumMallen, LBPOST.com, February 11, 2010.
  11. ^ Los Angeles Registrar Recorder
  12. ^ “1st District: Robert Garcia points to achievements over a short period”, by Paul Eakins; Long Beach Press-Telegram, March 29, 2010; http://www.everythinglongbeach.com/garcia-proposes-jobs-for-vets-ballot-proposition/
  13. ^ a b http://robertgarcia.com/newsroom.html
  14. ^ “Long Beach councilman Robert Garcia named to ‘40-Under-40’ list by The Advocate,” by Phillip Zonkel; Press-Telegram, June 19, 2010; [1]
  15. ^ Advocates disturbed at affordable housing issues in Long Beach plan, Greg Mellen, Long Beach Press-Telegram, 9 October 2010
  16. ^ a b Stewart, Joshua (18 April 2014). "Prosecutor probing allegations in primary voting". The Orange County Register. Orange County, California. Retrieved 20 April 2014. Cite error: The named reference "irr_ocregister" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  17. ^ a b c Propes, Steve (2 May 2014). "Two Candidate Mayoral Race Heats Up". The Beachcomber. Long Beach, California. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
  18. ^ Ramirez, Kirt (4 April 2014). "Garcia Signs are Illegal". The Beachcomber. Long Beach, California. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  19. ^ Stewart, Joshua (24 March 2014). "Unwanted campaign signs irk Long Beach businesses". The Orange County Register. Orange County, California. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  20. ^ "Signs From Independent Expenditure Committee Backing Garcia For Mayor Appear On Private Property, Sometimes High Up, Making Them Hard To Remove". LBReport.com. 21 March 2014. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  21. ^ Beatriz Valenzuela and Eric Bradley (19 April 2014). "Long Beach looking into possible voting irregularities". The Press-Telegram. Long Beach, California. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
  22. ^ "March Incident Involving Individuals Who Came To City Hall To Cast Early Ballots But Names Weren't On Voter Registration Roll (May Have Recently Registered); Were Allegedly Accompanied By Person (We Independently Learn Garcia Campaign Worker) Who Argued They Should Be Allowed To Vote Provisionally On Same Day; City Clerk Declines, Cites Elections Code, Explains Procedures; City Prosecutor Opens Inquiry (Stress Inquiry Only At This Point)". LBReport.com. 19 April 2014. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
  23. ^ Saltzgaver, Harry (23 April 2014). "Early Long Beach Voting Incident Prompts Examination". The Grunion Gazette. Long Beach, California. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
  24. ^ a b Stewart, Joshua (14 May 2014). "Prosecutor drops probe into Robert Garcia's mayoral campaign". The Orange County Register. Orange County, California. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
  25. ^ a b Bradley, Eric (14 May 2014). "Long Beach prosecutor finds no irregularities in Cambodian voting". The Press-Telegram. Long Beach, California. Retrieved 22 May 2014.

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