People | Former Assemblywoman Garcia Makes Move
Past Inland Empire Hispanic Image Award Winner and former Assemblywoman Bonnie Garcia announced she will run for the open State Senate seat in Riverside County and has earned the support of the every Republican state representative within the County. The newly drawn 28th district includes a large portion of the area she previously represented in the State Assembly and extends into Southwest Riverside County.
“For more than 25 years, I have lived, worked and raised my children in this district. I have worked alongside our local representatives to solve problems at the city, county and state level and am honored to have earned their trust and support. With the encouragement and support of my family and friends, small business owners, church leaders and the local community, I am running for the State Senate where I will continue working across party lines to revitalize our economy. We need to control government spending, protect public safety, encourage businesses to expand and reform public education. I have had success in both the public and private sectors and will be able to hit the ground running,” said Garcia.
Garcia secured the endorsements of the every Republican Senator and Assemblymember in Riverside County including Senator Bill Emmerson, Senator Joel Anderson, Assemblywoman Melissa Melendez, and Assemblyman Brian Nestande. She also has the support of County Supervisors Kevin Jeffries, Marion Ashley and John Benoit.
Senator Bill Emmerson said, “I served with Bonnie Garcia in the State Assembly and I know first-hand how hard she worked for her constituents. She brings 20+ years of experience working with local cities, counties and the state coupled with experience as a small business owner. My colleagues and I look forward to partnering with her to help strengthen the economy in the Inland Empire and throughout our state”.
When first elected in 2002 to represent California’s 80th Assembly District, Garcia became the first Hispanic woman to represent the area. During her six years in the state legislature, she established a reputation as a consensus builder and played an instrumental role in advancing bi-partisan legislation focused on efficiency within government, creating and protecting jobs in California, building affordable housing and eliminating childhood obesity and its related diseases.
Recognizing her strength with workforce development, Bonnie Garcia was appointed by Governor Schwarzenegger as Chairwoman of the California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board to lead an agency in crisis. During the highest unemployment period in California’s history, Bonnie utilized her fiscal and legislative experience to adopt new technology and push through regulatory changes that reduced costs and expedited claims for injured and unemployed workers.
Garcia owns BGC; a Public Affairs and Strategic Planning firm and resides in Palm Desert. She has two grown children and twin grand daughters.
