Edwina Garcia to Run for Richfield City Council—Again

Editor's Note: The following is a press release from Edwina Garcia's campaign for Richfield City Council.

Edwina Garcia former Richfield City Council Member and State Representative is pleased to announce her candidacy for Richfield City Council – Ward 2.

Garcia is seeking re-entry into public life because of her steadfast commitment to the well-being of Richfield in an increasingly competitive regional arena. She explains, “Our city needs to promote and market the opportunities for development in Richfield.” Notwithstanding being boxed-in by major highways, Garcia maintains, “Richfield needs to attract smart development that will increase our tax base. We should continue to concentrate economic development in market challenged areas. Our city holds a competitive edge because of our location. Richfield has reason to have higher development/redevelopment expectations which broaden the tax base. We must be thoughtful in projects considered for development. Our decisions must be based on choice not chance.

Among Garcia’s priorities for Richfield is housing. “What we are all experiencing, as residents in a first-ring suburb, is more and more people are trying to live near their jobs and have close access to transportation.” Because of this, Richfield’s location in the Metro region is very attractive. However, she underscores, “We need to be smart about how we create new housing choices. Richfield is a community of inclusion, but we also want to maintain the livability for people who choose to move to Richfield.” Accessible schools and local commercial hubs are among the qualities that make Richfield so livable, she adds. Zoning, density, compatibility to the comprehensive plan and financing should come together in a cohesive way. What happens in a pocket of one neighborhood happens to all of Richfield.

Garcia’s strength-based working style facilities consensus building and collaborative efforts. She believes the foundation of being an effective public servant is building and maintaining relationships with city residents. Garcia pledges to be proactive in creating these relationships, including personally reaching out to any and all Ward 2 residents around projects that would affect their neighborhood. Furthermore, she is committed to team-building among residents, city staff and the city council in order to leverage Richfield’s ompetitive edge in the region. Building community between stakeholders and policy makers will boost our community profile.

Garcia is uniquely qualified for the position having previously served 2 terms as a Richfield City Council member from Ward 3 (in 1985). Garcia was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 1991 and served for four terms. Garcia knows and understands local, regional and state governments.
Garcia began her grassroots community involvement soon after moving to Richfield in 1972, by serving on city commissions, the HRA, public school advisory committees and civic organizations including Chair of the Richfield Community Council, recipient of the Gene and Mary Jacobson Citizen of the Year award in 2008 and the award from Family Partnerships in 2007 and 2010. She is also a member of the Richfield League of Women Voters, Friends of Woodlake and the . Currently she serves on the Board of Directors of , The Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches and Community Action Partnership of Suburban Hennepin.

The Garcias have been Richfield residents for over 40 years. She is married to husband Joe and has 1 adult daughter and a six-year old Yorkie-Poo named Bea Bee. Garcia received a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Minnesota and attended the University’s law school.

Edwina Garcia can be reached at: 612-861-6140.