Joe Garcia
Encyclopedia
Joe Garcia is a Miami-based lawyer and 2010 Democratic
nominee for . 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
, 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.
(FPSC) and also served as its chairman. 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).
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.
In 2009, Garcia joined the Obama administration as director of the Office of Minority Economic Impact for the Department of Energy.
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.
.
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.
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.
Rivera defeated Garcia on November 2, 2010.
for the University of Miami. They have one daughter, Gabriela.
Articles
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
nominee for . He is the former executive director
Executive director
Executive director is a term sometimes applied to the chief executive officer or managing director of an organization, company, or corporation. It is widely used in North American non-profit organizations, though in recent decades many U.S. nonprofits have adopted the title "President/CEO"...
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
United States Department of Energy
The United States Department of Energy is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government concerned with the United States' policies regarding energy and safety in handling nuclear material...
Early life and education
Jose Antonio Garcia, Jr. was born in Miami Beach, FloridaMiami Beach, Florida
Miami Beach is a coastal resort city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States, incorporated on March 26, 1915. The municipality is located on a barrier island between the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay, the latter which separates the Beach from Miami city proper...
, to Jose Garcia Sr. and his wife, Carmen; both of Garcia's parents had fled Cuba
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...
after Fidel Castro
Fidel Castro
Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz is a Cuban revolutionary and politician, having held the position of Prime Minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976, and then President from 1976 to 2008. He also served as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba from the party's foundation in 1961 until 2011...
and his regime instituted Communism and dictatorship. Garcia graduated in 1982 from Belen Jesuit Preparatory School
Belen Jesuit Preparatory School
Belen Jesuit Preparatory School is a Roman Catholic preparatory school in Miami, Florida operated by The Society of Jesus. It was established in Cuba by the Jesuits in 1854, but moved to the United States after the communist government of Fidel Castro, himself an alumnus, took power and expelled...
and attended Miami-Dade Community College before earning his Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree
Academic degree
An academic degree is a position and title within a college or university that is usually awarded in recognition of the recipient having either satisfactorily completed a prescribed course of study or having conducted a scholarly endeavour deemed worthy of his or her admission to the degree...
in political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
and public affairs
Public policy
Public policy as government action is generally the principled guide to action taken by the administrative or executive branches of the state with regard to a class of issues in a manner consistent with law and institutional customs. In general, the foundation is the pertinent national and...
from the University of Miami
University of Miami
The University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12...
in 1987. While at the U of M, Garcia was elected president of student government
Students' union
A students' union, student government, student senate, students' association, guild of students or government of student body is a student organization present in many colleges and universities, and has started appearing in some high schools...
. Garcia later earned his J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from the University of Miami School of Law
University of Miami School of Law
The University of Miami School of Law, founded in 1926, is the law school of the University of Miami, located in Coral Gables, Florida, in the United States. The school graduated its first class of 13 students in 1929.- Academics :...
in 1991.
Career
Garcia served on the Florida Public Service CommissionFlorida Public Service Commission
Florida Public Service Commission is a regulatory agency serving the public of Florida by managing its public utilities, including telecommunications, electricity, natural gas, water, and wastewater....
(FPSC) and also served as its chairman. While serving on the FPSC, he also was chair of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners
National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners
The is the national association representing the State Public Service Commissioners who regulate essential utility services, including energy, telecommunications, and water. NARUC members are responsible for assuring reliable utility service at fair, just, and reasonable rates...
(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 Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service. Garcia was a member of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO).
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
Inner city
The inner city is the central area of a major city or metropolis. In the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and Ireland, the term is often applied to the lower-income residential districts in the city centre and nearby areas...
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
New Democrat Network
The New Democrat Network is an American think tank that promotes progressive Democratic candidates, especially those in a more centrist vein, although this focus has waxed and waned...
Hispanic Strategy Center, and chairman of the Democratic Party of Miami-Dade County.
In 2009, Garcia joined the Obama administration as director of the Office of Minority Economic Impact for the Department of Energy.
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.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.
2008 U.S. Congressional campaign
Garcia announced on February 7, 2008, his candidacy for the U.S. Congress in . Garcia proved to be a prolific fundraiser, raising over $1.8 million, but was narrowly defeated by Mario Diaz-BalartMario Diaz-Balart
Mario Rafael Diaz-Balart Caballero is the current U.S. Representative for , serving since 2011. A member of the Republican Party, he was elected in 2010 to succeed his brother, Lincoln Diaz-Balart. The district includes the city of Hialeah, along with several of Miami's southwestern suburbs...
.
2010 U.S. Congressional campaign
In April 2010, Joe Garcia announced his candidacy for Congress in Florida's 25th Congressional District after Mario Diaz-BalartMario Diaz-Balart
Mario Rafael Diaz-Balart Caballero is the current U.S. Representative for , serving since 2011. A member of the Republican Party, he was elected in 2010 to succeed his brother, Lincoln Diaz-Balart. The district includes the city of Hialeah, along with several of Miami's southwestern suburbs...
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.
In the general election, Garcia faced State Representative David Rivera
David Rivera
David Mauricio Rivera is the U.S. Representative for . He is a member of the Republican Party. He is a Miami-based public affairs consultant and formerly represented District 112 in the Florida House of Representatives....
, 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.
Rivera defeated Garcia on November 2, 2010.
Personal life
Garcia was married to Aileen Maria Ugalde, general counselGeneral Counsel
A general counsel is the chief lawyer of a legal department, usually in a corporation or government department. The term is most used in the United States...
for the University of Miami. They have one daughter, Gabriela.
External links
- Joe Garcia for Congress 2010 official campaign site
- 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