Joe Garcia
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| Joe Garcia | |
| Born | October 12, 1963 Miami Beach, Florida USA |
|---|---|
Joe Garcia (born Jose Antonio Garcia on October 12, 1963) is a Cuban American politician. Garcia, the former executive director of the Cuban American National Foundation, is the Democratic candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in Florida's 25th congressional district, running against incumbent Republican Mario Diaz-Balart.
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[edit] Early life and education
Garcia was born in Miami Beach, Florida, to Joe Garcia Sr. and his wife, Carmen, who had fled Cuba after Fidel Castro took over. He graduated in 1982 from Belen Jesuit Preparatory School. Garcia attended Miami-Dade Community College before earning his Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and public affairs in 1987 from the University of Miami, where he was elected president of student government. He earned his J.D. from the University of Miami School of Law in 1991.
[edit] Career
Garcia served on the Florida Public Service Commission (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 currently serves 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 is currently the director of the New Democrat Network Hispanic Strategy Center, and chairman of the Democratic Party of Miami-Dade County.
[edit] 2008 campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives
Garcia announced on February 7, 2008, his candidacy for the U.S. House of Representatives in Florida's 25th congressional district. Garcia is regarded as Mario Diaz-Balart's most formidable political opponent ever, because his relationship with the Cuban American and Cuban exile community enables him to cut into Diaz-Balart's core constituency of Cuban-American voters. In March 2008, the Garcia's campaign announced that noted political strategist Joe Trippi was joining the campaign team as Senior Media Adviser.
[edit] Personal life
Garcia is married to Aileen Ugalde, general counsel for the University of Miami. They have one daughter.
