Robert Garcia

Robert Garcia may refer to:

See also

Robert Garcia (New York politician)

Robert Garcia (born January 9, 1933) is a former United States Representative who represented New York's 21st district from 1978-90.

Biography

Garcia was born in Bronx, New York of Puerto Rican descent. He attended public schools and graduated from Haaren High School in Manhattan in 1950. He served in the United States Army during the Korean War with the Third Infantry Division, from 1950-53. He continued his education from 1953-57 by enrolling in the City College of New York, although he also attended the Community College of New York as well as the RCA Institute. After graduation, he worked as a computer engineer with IBM Control Data, from 1957-65.

Career

Garcia was a Democratic member of the New York State Assembly in 1966 and 1967. On March 28, 1967, he was elected to the New York State Senate, to fill the vacancy caused by the conviction of Eugene Rodriguez.

Garcia retained his seat in the Assembly until the end of the session of 1967, and resigned on April 17. He took his seat in the State Senate at the beginning of the session of 1968, and remained in the Senate until 1978, sitting in the 177th, 178th, 179th, 180th, 181st and 182nd New York State Legislature. In the Senate he was Deputy Minority Leader from 1975-78. He was a delegate to the 1976 Democratic National Convention.

Robert Garcia (California politician)

Robert Garcia (born December 2, 1977) is an Peruvian-American politician who is the current Mayor of Long Beach, California. He previously represented the First Council District, which includes large areas of downtown, parts of the Port of Long Beach, and some of the densest and most diverse urban areas in the nation.

When elected on April 13, 2009, to fill the seat vacated by Bonnie Lowenthal, Garcia became the youngest person, the first Latino male, and the first gay person of color ever elected to the Long Beach City Council.

In 2014 Garcia ran for Mayor of Long Beach. He qualified for the runoff by finishing first in the primary election. He won the mayoral election on June 3, 2014 with 52.1% of the vote, defeating Damon Dunn, and becoming the youngest Mayor in Long Beach history, as well as its first gay mayor, first Latino Mayor, and first Mayor to be fluent in Spanish and English.

Biography

Garcia was born on December 2, 1977 in Lima, Peru. He immigrated to the United States with his mother at age 5. His mother and aunt worked in many jobs, including as housekeepers, to support the family.