Meet Mayoral Candidate – Gilbert Garcia

By: Jeanette V. Rocha, Special to www.StyleMagazine.com

perspective and business-oriented mindset. This marked the beginning of a transformative period for the Metro, addressing inefficiencies, funding challenges, and transparency issues.

During his tenure on the Metro Board, Garcia witnessed the impact of a business-oriented approach to city affairs. Recognizing a gap in understanding the challenges faced by small business owners among career politicians, he saw an opportunity for transformation. Garcia firmly believes that Houston needs a leader with a business mindset to tackle unresolved issues, financial challenges, and governance concerns. With his qualifications and determination, he is confident that he is the best-equipped candidate to address these pressing issues and lead Houston toward positive transformation.

As a Democrat, Gilbert emphasizes his willingness to work with individuals from all political affiliations, emphasizing that good government and prioritizing the needs of everyday people are nonpartisan issues. He places great importance on city services and acknowledges the city’s dire financial situation. Gilbert believes that taking decisive action is essential to ensure the provision of essential services. His approach involves conducting a thorough examination of the city’s finances, exploring alternative revenue generation methods, and streamlining operations through departmental consolidation to enhance efficiency.

Regarding public safety, Gilbert understands that the concept of defunding the police is often misunderstood. He acknowledges that while some argue for reallocating police funds, others desire a stronger police presence. To address these concerns, Gilbert suggests adopting a neighborhood policing model, like the firefighter model, where police posts are established throughout the city. This approach would increase visibility and improve response times to crime scenes, potentially at no additional cost.

When discussing matters important to the Houston community, Gilbert emphasizes the need for a higher level of service than the city currently provides. He finds it disheartening that Houston still struggles to provide clean water, as evidenced by the need for boil water notices, especially on the city’s East Side. Gilbert attributes this issue to a lack of investment and neglect, emphasizing the importance of transparency from the administration to inform the public about the true state of affairs. Additionally, he highlights the need for streamlining and expediting the lengthy permitting process, which poses obstacles for small business owners and hampers growth and development.

When asked about his plans if elected Mayor of Houston, Gilbert Garcia emphasized his commitment to gaining a thorough understanding of the city’s finances, which currently face significant challenges. He stressed the importance of transparency and clarity in communicating the true state of affairs to the residents. Drawing from his experience at Metro, where he successfully implemented cost-saving measures, Garcia believes in running the city like a business. Just as one would address financial issues within their household, he aims to increase revenue or reduce expenses to ensure the allocation of funds to essential services that have been lacking for far too long. By making Houston an appealing destination, Garcia envisions generating revenue to support the city’s needs. To achieve this, the first step is establishing transparency and a clear understanding of the budget, addressing the lack of transparency and structural deficit. It is crucial to assess commitments and expenses beyond revenue to determine the necessary steps for improvement. Garcia suggests implementing a hiring freeze, like what was done at Metro, to evaluate each department and identify opportunities for increased efficiency and improvement.

Engaging in open dialogue and actively seeking opportunities to connect with various communities is another priority for Gilbert Garcia. He expresses his willingness to speak wherever he is invited, as it allows him to continuously learn and gain valuable insights. To truly understand the concerns and priorities of the people, Garcia takes a hands-on approach by personally meeting with elected officials and touring different districts. Attending community meetings has been particularly enlightening for him, and he intends to maintain this approach as it has proven to be a valuable and enriching experience.

In conclusion, Gilbert Garcia has emerged as a standout contender in the upcoming mayoral election in Houston. Despite being relatively new to politics, his impact on the community and his vision for a brighter future have garnered attention and support. With a background in business and a commitment to public service, Garcia believes that a business-oriented approach is crucial to addressing the city’s challenges effectively. His priorities include gaining a thorough understanding of the city’s finances, increasing transparency, providing essential services, streamlining permitting processes, and engaging with the community. If elected as Mayor of Houston, Gilbert Garcia is determined to lead the city towards positive transformation by implementing cost-saving measures, fostering growth, and addressing the pressing issues that Houston faces.

To learn more about Gilbert Garcia, visit: www.GarciaforHouston.com

The City of Houston activated its Public Health Heat Emergency Plan, providing resources for individuals to find relief from the extreme heat.

The National Weather Service had issued an excessive heat advisory for the Houston region until Monday.