Rudy Garcia (New Jersey)
Encyclopedia
Raul "Rudy" Garcia is an American
Democratic Party
politician who served in the New Jersey General Assembly
from 1993 to 2000, where he represented the 33rd Legislative District
. He also served as the mayor of Union City
.
, and emigrated to the United States with his mother and brothers when he was four-years old. He grew up in Union City and attended Union Hill High School
, where he was the captain of the football team, earning all-State honors at both linebacker and running back, as well as winning three state championships. He continued playing football for the Columbia Lions
football team.
Garcia earned his undergraduate degree from Columbia University
with a major in Economics and received his law degree from New York University School of Law
. After finishing law school, he took a position as an associate at the firm of Lord Day & Lord, Barrett Smith
.
After Bob Menendez was elected as U.S. Senator
in November 1992, Assemblymember Bernard Kenny
was chosen to fill Menendez's vacancy in the New Jersey Senate
. In turn, Hudson County, New Jersey
Democratic Party boss Bruce Walter picked Garcia in January 1993 to fill Kenny's now-vacant spot in the Assembly. Garcia won election for his first full term the Assembly in November 1993, together with his running mate Louis Romano
. Garcia won re-election together with Romano in 1995 and 1997, and was re-elected with Albio Sires
in 1999. In the Assembly, Garcia served as Associate Minority Leader starting in 1998, and served on the Banking and Insurance Committee and the Education Committee. Garcia did not run for re-election to the Assembly in November 2000, and his seat was taken by fellow Democrat Rafael Fraguela
.
After Bruce Walter died in 1998, Garcia was named to fill his vacancy on the Union City Board of Commissioners, and was selected by the members of the board to serve as mayor. At the city's July 2000 reorganization meeting, Garcia was removed from his position as commissioner responsible for public safety and recreation, in the wake of a recall election
petition that had garnered at least 6,700 signatures. Garcia resigned from his post as mayor in October 2000 and was replaced by Brian Stack.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Democratic Party
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...
politician who served in the New Jersey General Assembly
New Jersey General Assembly
The New Jersey General Assembly is the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature.Since the election of 1967 , the Assembly has consisted of 80 members. Two members are elected from each of New Jersey's 40 legislative districts for a term of two years, each representing districts with average...
from 1993 to 2000, where he represented the 33rd Legislative District
33rd Legislative District (New Jersey)
New Jersey's 33rd Legislative District is one of 40 in the state, covering the Hudson County municipalities of Guttenberg, Hoboken, Union City, Weehawken and West New York, as well as portions of Jersey City...
. He also served as the mayor of Union City
Union City, New Jersey
Union City is a city in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. According to the 2010 United States Census the city had a total population of 66,455. All of the city is on land, an area of...
.
Early life
Garcia was born in CubaCuba
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...
, and emigrated to the United States with his mother and brothers when he was four-years old. He grew up in Union City and attended Union Hill High School
Union Hill High School
Union Hill Middle School is a public middle school in Union City, New Jersey, United States, as part of the Union City Board of Education, an Abbott District. The school was built in what was formerly Union Hill, New Jersey, which merged with West Hoboken in 1925 to form Union City...
, where he was the captain of the football team, earning all-State honors at both linebacker and running back, as well as winning three state championships. He continued playing football for the Columbia Lions
Columbia Lions
The Columbia University Lions are the collective athletic teams and their members from Columbia University, an Ivy League institution in New York City, United States. The current director of athletics is M...
football team.
Garcia earned his undergraduate degree from Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
with a major in Economics and received his law degree from New York University School of Law
New York University School of Law
The New York University School of Law is the law school of New York University. Established in 1835, the school offers the J.D., LL.M., and J.S.D. degrees in law, and is located in Greenwich Village, in the New York City borough of Manhattan....
. After finishing law school, he took a position as an associate at the firm of Lord Day & Lord, Barrett Smith
Lord Day & Lord
Lord Day & Lord was a large, blue-chip New York City law firm. It was established in 1845 by Daniel Lord, his son Daniel De Forest Lord, and his son-in-law Henry Day. The firm had retained the same name until 1988 when it merged with smaller firm Barrett Smith Simon & Armstrong to become Lord Day &...
.
Career
Garcia later became an attorney with the firm of Nelson, Walrod and Garcia.After Bob Menendez was elected as U.S. Senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
in November 1992, Assemblymember Bernard Kenny
Bernard Kenny
Bernard F. Kenny, Jr. is an American Democratic Party politician, who served in the New Jersey State Senate from 1993 to 2008, where he represented the 33rd Legislative District...
was chosen to fill Menendez's vacancy in the New Jersey Senate
New Jersey Senate
The New Jersey Senate was established as the upper house of the New Jersey Legislature by the Constitution of 1844, replacing the Legislative Council. From 1844 until 1965 New Jersey's counties elected one Senator, each. Under the 1844 Constitution the term of office was three years. The 1947...
. In turn, Hudson County, New Jersey
Hudson County, New Jersey
Hudson County is the smallest county in New Jersey and one of the most densely populated in United States. It takes its name from the Hudson River, which creates part of its eastern border. Part of the New York metropolitan area, its county seat and largest city is Jersey City.- Municipalities...
Democratic Party boss Bruce Walter picked Garcia in January 1993 to fill Kenny's now-vacant spot in the Assembly. Garcia won election for his first full term the Assembly in November 1993, together with his running mate Louis Romano
Louis Romano
Louis A. Romano is an American Democratic Party politician who served four terms in the New Jersey General Assembly from 1992 to 2000, where he represented the 33rd Legislative District.-Early life:...
. Garcia won re-election together with Romano in 1995 and 1997, and was re-elected with Albio Sires
Albio Sires
Albio Sires is the U.S. Representative for , serving since a special election in 2006. The district includes most of Jersey City, as well as most of the Latino neighborhoods of Newark. He is a member of the Democratic Party...
in 1999. In the Assembly, Garcia served as Associate Minority Leader starting in 1998, and served on the Banking and Insurance Committee and the Education Committee. Garcia did not run for re-election to the Assembly in November 2000, and his seat was taken by fellow Democrat Rafael Fraguela
Rafael Fraguela
Rafael Fraguela is an American politician who was elected to the New Jersey General Assembly in 2001 as a Democrat, where he represented the 33rd Legislative District...
.
After Bruce Walter died in 1998, Garcia was named to fill his vacancy on the Union City Board of Commissioners, and was selected by the members of the board to serve as mayor. At the city's July 2000 reorganization meeting, Garcia was removed from his position as commissioner responsible for public safety and recreation, in the wake of a recall election
Recall election
A recall election is a procedure by which voters can remove an elected official from office through a direct vote before his or her term has ended...
petition that had garnered at least 6,700 signatures. Garcia resigned from his post as mayor in October 2000 and was replaced by Brian Stack.