Sylvia Garcia

Sylvia R. Garcia (born September 6, 1950) is an American politician who represents District 6 in the Texas Senate.

Early life and education

Sylvia Garcia was born in Palito Blanco, Texas. She was the eighth of ten children.

Garcia attended Texas Woman's University on a scholarship, graduating with a degree in social work. After completing her studies, she began her career as a social worker. She later received her Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University.^[1]

Political career

City of Houston

In the early 1980s, Houston Mayor Kathryn Whitmire appointed Garcia as presiding judge of the Houston Municipal System.^[2] She served for an unprecedented five terms under two mayors.^[3]

In 1998, Garcia became Houston city controller.^[4]

Harris County

Garcia was elected to the Harris County Commissioner's Court in 2002. She was the first woman and first Latina elected to that post in her own right.^[1] Her precinct featured a major base of operations for NASA, the nation’s largest petrochemical complex, the Houston Ship Channel and the Port of Houston, the sixth largest port in the world.^[4]

Garcia was defeated by Republican Jack Morman in 2010.^[5]

Texas Legislature

Garcia represents District 6 in the Texas Senate. In 2013, she defeated State Rep. Carol Alvarado in a special election runoff to replace the late Sen. Mario Gallegos.^[6]

Garcia took the oath of office on March 11, 2013.^[7] She currently serves on the Criminal Justice, Intergovernmental Relations, Natural Resources and Economic Development, and Transportation committees. ^[8] Garcia ran unopposed in the 2016 general election, winning re-election.^[9]

References