Juan Garcia ~ In the News

[theredstate]

Juan Garcia has a been a busy man lately. Garcia, candidate for HD 32, was all over the newspapers this Sunday.

On Thursday, Juan Garcia introduced his Harvard classmate Sen. Barrack Obama (D-IL) at fundraiser in Austin. Present at the event was another Harvard Law classmate, Juan's wife Denise Garcia.

I attended this event and beside the impressive speeches by both Juan Garcia and Sen. Obama, I was shocked by how many young people was there. The packed room was filled by high school and college-aged supporters. I go to my share of these events and I am happy to see that there is a new generation of active participation in politics.

There was also great article written in the SA Express News in Carlos Guerra's column.

A second-generation naval aviator, he had risen to lieutenant commander
when he left active duty in a career that included 30 armed missions over the Persian Gulf, one of which ended with an emergency landing during a sandstorm. In the process, he also was appointed White House fellow.

....

"A lot of the analysts said, 'That district is not going to elect someone whose name ends in a vowel,' and in the past, it is undeniable: They voted in droves against the Hispanic candidate," García says. "But I choose to believe that this campaign is emblematic in closing that chapter in our history.

"I think that the right person with the right qualifications and the right message and vision can close that chapter so we can get to the issues we all care about," he adds.

And such political divisiveness isn't limited to race issues.

"There are issues out there, education, property taxes, services, that also transcend party," he says. That's why he picked fellow pilot Hall — a Republican — for his campaign treasurer. "I wanted to send a message."

This is guy is the real deal. It is nice to see a campaign trying to woo the entire district on real issues. I expect Seaman will probably try to create some false wedge issue to divide the district. I am glad Garcia is focused on what really matters in the district.

Garcia also spoke at annual earth day festival at Cole Park on Saturday. He talked about how Texas leads the nation in polluters but fails to adequately monitor the polluters. Apparently, polluters in Texas self report their emissions. Hmmm... kinda like putting Michael Jackson in charge of the day care. This kind of self-serving industry practice will not change until we see a real change in our elected officials.

Garcia has also been busy securing the restoration of the Dr. Hector P. Garcia (no relation) office builiding. He was the first Mexican American to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom. This is the highest award a civilian can receive. Dr. Garcia organized the American G.I. Forum (1948) initially to improve veteran benefits and enhance medical attention. But it soon expanded to address educational and vocational training, housing, public education, poll taxation, voter registration, hospitalization and employment. Today the American G. I. Forum has nearly 160,000 members in 502 chapters in 24 states.

[sonias]

1. The Right Stuff

Juan not only has it, it's real. Damn sorry I missed him at the Barrack Obama HopeFund event. I was out of town and missed both Feingold and Obama. Good to hear your report of all the young people who came out. That's the real army out there if we can keep them engaged.

In addition to staying on message about the important issues in his district, you can tell by his other commitment to the restoration of Dr. Garcia's building that Juan has heart. That's what I mean by he's real. He's not just politicking. This is really important to him. He knows the sacrifices that those that came before us need to be remembered and honored. He's smart to point out that we are essentially subsidizing pollution in this state too. Polluters know it's "bidness" as usual at the TCEQ. Polluting companies don't have to worry because even if TCEQ fines them, it's peanuts compared to complying with the law. And it impacts the health of thousands of children. We don't call that renamed agency "toxic" for nothing.

I'm really proud of Juan's campaign. He's really a candidate that can lead.

Sonia

[Czolgosz]

2. Gene Seaman is an ineffectual GOP-bench-warming lackey; Juan Garcia offers

great hope, dynamic energy, and a soundly progressive agenda.

Of all the Texas Legislature races I am aware of, no race offers us (1) such a good chance of success of (2) replacing a useless turd (3) with a great progressive leader with unlimited potential (top-of-the-national-ticket type of potential).

We NEED to get behind Juan's candidacy with all our might.

[2bfree]

3. Garcia is a great guy!

I met him when he was riding in the car behind us in a parade a few months back. I am so hoping to get rid of Seaman.

[sonias]

4. Good luck to you 2bfree

With hard work you can win this district. You have an excellent candidate and you have an incumbent who does nothing for the district. You just need to get that message out.

Sonia