Elba Garcia – Campaign

Meet Dr. Elba Garcia

Voters across District 4 elected Dr. Elba Garcia to the Dallas County Commissioners Court in 2010, 2014, and again in 2018.

Dr. Garcia has the support of voters in District 4 because they appreciate the way she seeks input from her constituents. They appreciate how she listens to what they have to say. And, they appreciate how she makes certain that the county serves everyone who calls District 4 home.

Dr. Garcia has demonstrated her commitment to her community while never taking a raise in salary in her 10 years as Commissioner and refusing the car allowance. She has also donated over $100,000 of her commissioner's salary to charitable and civic organizations.

"I knew what the job paid when I ran for it. And I never got an allowance when I was growing up. I'm not going to take one now." - Elba Garcia

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Dr. Elba Garcia Biography

Birthplace

Mexico City

Family

Married with two sons

Education

DDS, Baylor College of Dentistry, 1990
DO, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, 1984

Career

Dallas County Commissioner, District 4, since 2010
Dallas City Councilperson, District 1, 2001-2009
(Elected Mayor Pro Tem and Deputy Mayor Pro Tem by her peers)
Dentist, private practice since 1998
Former assistant professor at Baylor College of Dentistry

Positions as County Commissioner

Chair, Dallas County Criminal Justice Advisory Board
Chair, DWI Task Force
Chair, Public Employee Benefits Cooperative
Chair of the County Facilities Committee
Board Member, North Texas Behavioral Health Authority
Board Member, Public Employee Benefits Cooperative
Board Member, Prostitute Diversion Initiative
Alternate, Regional Transportation Committee

Other Public Service Positions

Former Board Member, Dallas Convention Visitors Bureau
Former Board Member, Dallas Zoological Society
Advisory Board Member, New Friends New Life
Advisory Board member, Methodist Dallas Medical Center

Awards

Awards earned while on the Commissioners Court

2020 Chris Howell Foundation – Faithful Service Lifetime Achievement Award
2019 AEM Dallas Fort Worth Chapter – Lifetime Achievement Award
2019 Unlocking DOORS – Susan McHenry Golden Key Award
2019 Oak Cliff Chamber of Commerce – 2018 Public Servant of the Year
2018 WBE Hall of Fame – Leadership Advocacy Award
2018 Community Council – Community Impact Civic Leader Award
2018 Women of Wisdom – Elite News
2018 Grand Prairie United Charities – Community Impact Award
2018 City of Dallas Parks and Recreation – Empowerment of Women
2017 It’s Going to Be OK – Shaniya Davis Human Rights Award
Texas Assn. of Mexican-American CofCs – Govt. Hispanic Business Advocate of the Year
2016 Verna’s H.E.L.P. Foundation – Living Legend Award
2015 America’s Blood Centers – It’s About Life. Blood Drive Award
IGNITE – Trailblazer Award
2014 DCET/Believe in Yourself, Inc. – Silent Hero Azteca Award
Dress for Success Dallas – Inspirational Leader Award
Greater SW Black Chamber of Commerce – Woman of Distinction Leadership Award
Keep Irving Beautiful – Green Government Award
Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation – August Héroe en la Comunidad
2013 Greater Grand Prairie Hispanic Chamber of Commerce – Los Amigos Philanthropy Award
Dallas County Democratic Party – Democratic Elected Official of the Year
Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau – High Tea With High Heels Award
2012 Mi Escuelita – Hero Award
Stonewall Democrats – Distinguished Service Award
Telemundo – Hispanic Business Salute
Texas Democratic Party – Rising Star Award
Immigrant Journey Awards – Immigrant Spirit Award
Natl. Assoc. for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) – President Award
2011 Oak Cliff Chamber of Commerce – Public Servant of the Year
League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) – District 3 – Woman of the Year
Low Birth Weight Development Center – Awards of Hope 2011 Visionary Leader
2010 Stonewall Democrats – Democrat of the Year

Awards earned while on the Dallas City Council

American Assoc. of Univ. Women (AAUW) – AAUW 100 Women of Distinction Award
American Jewish Congress – Women of Spirit Award
Aspen Rodel Fellowship in Public Leadership Program selection
Dallas Can Academy – Most Outstanding Community Leader
Dallas Film Commission – Advocacy in Film Award
Dallas Fire and Rescue – Recognition Award
Dallas Observer – Best Dallas City Council Member (2002, 2005)
El Centro College – Outstanding Alumnus Award
Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce – Chairman’s Award (2004, 2005, 2008)
Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce – Chairman’s Leadership Award
Institute of Mexicans Abroad (IME) – OHTLI Award
McDonald’s® – Salute to Local Leaders Hispanic Faces of Leadership
Northeast Texas Library System – Government Official of the Year
Oak Cliff Chamber of Commerce – Best Oak Cliff Public Servant Award
Oak Cliff Tribune – Citizen of the Year Award
Rotary Club of Dallas & Safer Dallas/Better Dallas – Citizens Public Safety Award
Texas Animal Control Association – Presidential Citation
Texas Can Academy – Motherhood Lifetime Achievement Award
Women’s Council of Dallas County – Woman of the Year
YWCA – Women of Oak Cliff Achievement Award

Achievements

Achievements on the Dallas County Commissioners Court (2011 – Present)

As Chair of the County Facilities Committee led efforts that reduced deferred maintenance from $100 million to less than $15 million.
Led the charge to have all Commissioners Court proceedings videotaped so taxpayers could see who was in attendance at meetings and how the commissioners voted on the issues before them
Approved (with bi-partisan support) a ‘Ban the Box’ hiring policy for Dallas County, which increases employment opportunities for qualified job applicants who were formerly discouraged from applying
Secured funds for the construction and expansion of trails throughout District 4
Selected to lead and spearheaded the renovation of the Dallas County Records Building complex
Saved taxpayers millions of dollars by fixing the county’s bail bond system
Championed and approved funding for a new Animal Cruelty unit created by the Dallas County District Attorney’s office
Spearheaded the disparity study and efforts to create the county’s first SBE program – the first step toward building a stronger Minority/Women-Owned Business Enterprises (M/WBE) program for the future
Approved updating of the county’s purchasing and ethics policies
Accelerated completion of long-delayed Hunter-Ferrell Road in Irving and Grand Prairie
First Latina elected to the court

Achievements on the Dallas City Council (2001 – 2009)

Secured funds for Latino Cultural Center
Spearheaded development for new Dallas Animal Services center
Led development of new Oak Cliff Cultural Center
Collaborated with city’s Environmental Committee to institute LEED standards for all City of Dallas buildings
Unanimously elected by her colleagues to serve as Deputy Mayor Pro Tem of Dallas and, later, Mayor Pro Tem of Dallas, making her the first Latina to hold either position

Press

Download high-resolution photograph (JPG)
Download Dr. Garcia’s full biography (PDF)

Join our community and stay updated!

I want to thank all the residents of Commissioner District 4 for your support over the last 10 years. We have spent the past year working hard to create free COVID-19 testing sites, helping people register to be vaccinated, developing programs to support small businesses and offer rental assistance for those affected by the pandemic as well as supporting local food pantries so that they can provide relief in our community. We also continued to ``taking care of business`` building trails, breaking ground on new County facilities and improving current facilities, working with our cities on transportation projects, and planning a better future for all the residents of Dallas County.

Thank you again! It has been an honor to serve you and continue our mission to create a better more equitable Dallas County. Saludos,

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Paid for by the Elba Garcia Campaign, Anastasia Semos, Treasurer
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