Bonnie Garcia
Encyclopedia
Bonnie Garcia was the representative of California's 80th Assembly District
, serving eastern Riverside County and all of Imperial County.
Assemblywoman Garcia was elected to the post in 2002, being the first Hispanic
woman to represent the district and the first Puerto Rican elected to statewide office in California. By 2004, Garcia had become a member of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
's transition team after the recall election against Gray Davis
and was named as one of California's delegates to the Republican National Convention
.
Garcia was one of five children born in Manhattan's Lower East Side
to a young Puerto Rican
couple who divorced soon after her birth. At age thirty-eight, after years of night classes, Garcia earned a Bachelor of Science
degree in workforce development from Southern Illinois University
.
Governor Schwarzenegger's off-the-cuff comments made September 7, 2006 on the temperament of Latin individuals are claimed by him and his campaign to be made in part due to his close working relationship with Garcia and her own admittedly "fiery temperament." Stock footage shown on the Fox News Channel
in relation to the issue shows Garcia standing to the governor's right and Garcia, a fellow Republican, stated that she was "not offended by the Governor's comments."
Schwarzenegger referred to Garcia as "very hot" and went on to say "I mean, they [ Cuba
ns and Puerto Ricans
] are all very hot...they have the, you know, part of the black blood in them and part of the Latino blood in them and together that makes it" (see http://ktla.trb.com/news/ktla-tapedmtgs,0,4398594.story?coll=ktla-news-1).
In October 2006 Garcia told a Young Republicans' Club at La Quinta High School
that the governor had a good body and she "wouldn't kick him out of bed." Upon facing criticism, she apologized if anyone took her seriously. http://www.kesq.com/Global/story.asp?S=5544595&nav=9qrx
She was ineligible to seek reelection to the State Assembly in 2008 due to term limits. On December 31, 2008, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed Garcia to the state's Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board, an appointment that pays $128,000 per year.
California State Assembly
The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000...
, serving eastern Riverside County and all of Imperial County.
Assemblywoman Garcia was elected to the post in 2002, being the first Hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
woman to represent the district and the first Puerto Rican elected to statewide office in California. By 2004, Garcia had become a member of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger is an Austrian-American former professional bodybuilder, actor, businessman, investor, and politician. Schwarzenegger served as the 38th Governor of California from 2003 until 2011....
's transition team after the recall election against Gray Davis
Gray Davis
Joseph Graham "Gray" Davis, Jr. is an American Democratic politician who served as California's 37th Governor from 1999 until being recalled in 2003...
and was named as one of California's delegates to the Republican National Convention
Republican National Convention
The Republican National Convention is the presidential nominating convention of the Republican Party of the United States. Convened by the Republican National Committee, the stated purpose of the convocation is to nominate an official candidate in an upcoming U.S...
.
Garcia was one of five children born in Manhattan's Lower East Side
Lower East Side
The Lower East Side, LES, is a neighborhood in the southeastern part of the New York City borough of Manhattan. It is roughly bounded by Allen Street, East Houston Street, Essex Street, Canal Street, Eldridge Street, East Broadway, and Grand Street....
to a young Puerto Rican
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
couple who divorced soon after her birth. At age thirty-eight, after years of night classes, Garcia earned a Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree in workforce development from Southern Illinois University
Southern Illinois University
Southern Illinois University is a state university system based in Carbondale, Illinois, in the Southern Illinois region of the state, with multiple campuses...
.
Governor Schwarzenegger's off-the-cuff comments made September 7, 2006 on the temperament of Latin individuals are claimed by him and his campaign to be made in part due to his close working relationship with Garcia and her own admittedly "fiery temperament." Stock footage shown on the Fox News Channel
Fox News Channel
Fox News Channel , often called Fox News, is a cable and satellite television news channel owned by the Fox Entertainment Group, a subsidiary of News Corporation...
in relation to the issue shows Garcia standing to the governor's right and Garcia, a fellow Republican, stated that she was "not offended by the Governor's comments."
Schwarzenegger referred to Garcia as "very hot" and went on to say "I mean, they
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
ns and Puerto Ricans
Puerto Rican people
A Puerto Rican is a person who was born in Puerto Rico.Puerto Ricans born and raised in the continental United States are also sometimes referred to as Puerto Ricans, although they were not born in Puerto Rico...
] are all very hot...they have the, you know, part of the black blood in them and part of the Latino blood in them and together that makes it" (see http://ktla.trb.com/news/ktla-tapedmtgs,0,4398594.story?coll=ktla-news-1).
In October 2006 Garcia told a Young Republicans' Club at La Quinta High School
La Quinta High School (La Quinta, California)
La Quinta High School is one of six public high schools, grades 9-12, in the Desert Sands Unified School District. It is located in the La Quinta, California. The school was a California Distinguished Schools award winner in 1999, 2003 and 2011.-History:...
that the governor had a good body and she "wouldn't kick him out of bed." Upon facing criticism, she apologized if anyone took her seriously. http://www.kesq.com/Global/story.asp?S=5544595&nav=9qrx
She was ineligible to seek reelection to the State Assembly in 2008 due to term limits. On December 31, 2008, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed Garcia to the state's Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board, an appointment that pays $128,000 per year.