Robert Garcia (New York politician)

See Robert Garcia, disambiguation page for other individuals with the same or similar names.

Robert Garcia
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 21st district
In office February 21, 1978 – January 3, 1983
Preceded by	Herman Badillo
Succeeded by	Hamilton Fish IV
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 18th district
In office January 3, 1983 – January 7, 1990
Preceded by	S. William Green
Succeeded by	Jose Serrano
Member of the New York Senate from the 30th district
In office January 1, 1973 – February 21, 1978
Preceded by	Harrison J. Goldin
Succeeded by	Olga A. Méndez
Member of the New York Senate from the 29th district
In office April 17, 1967 – December 31, 1972
Preceded by	Eugene Rodriguez
Succeeded by	Joseph Zaretzki
Member of the New York State Assembly from the 77th district
In office January 1, 1967 – April 17, 1967
Preceded by	Eugene Rodriguez
Succeeded by	Joseph Zaretzki
Member of the New York State Assembly from the 83rd district
In office January 1, 1966 – December 31, 1966
Preceded by	new district
Succeeded by	Burton Hecht
Personal details
Born	January 9, 1933 Bronx, New York, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Religion	Pentecostal

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.^[1]

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.

Garcia was elected on the Republican and Liberal tickets on February 14, 1978, to the 95th United States Congress, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Herman Badillo,^[2] and took his seat on February 21, 1978, as a Democrat. He was re-elected to the 96th, 97th, 98th, 99th, 100th and 101st United States Congresses, remaining in Congress until January 7, 1990, when he was forced to resign as a result of his involvement in the Wedtech scandal.^[3][4]

Resignation

Garcia was convicted of extortion and served 3 months in jail.^[5]

References

1. Garcia Wins Senate Seat Held by Rodriguez, nytimes.com, March 29, 1967 (subscription required)
2. MRS. ABZUG DEFEATED NARROWLY BY GREEN; GARCIA WINS IN BRONX, nytimes.com, February 15, 1978 (subscription required)
3. Haslip-Viera, Gabriel; Felix V. Matos Rodriguez; Angelo Falcon (2005). Boricuas In Gotham: Puerto Ricans In The Making Of New York City. Markus Wiener. p. 68. ISBN 1-55876-356-2.
4. Rudin, Ken (2007-06-06). "The Equal-Opportunity Culture of Corruption". NPR.org. Retrieved 2007-07-29.
5. Garcia convicted, nytimes.com; accessed January 26, 2016.

External links

• United States Congress. "Robert Garcia (id: G000047)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.