Wasco Vice Mayor Alex Garcia announced his candidacy for the Kern County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday.
Garcia will challenge David Couch in District 4, a district that has been the target of Democrats for several years and multiple redistrictings.
Driving the news: Garcia has served on the Wasco City Council since 2016 and also works as a realtor with eXp Realty.
- Along with his experience on the city council, Garcia has served on the boards of Kern Health Systems, the Kern Economic Development Corporation and the Kern Council of Governments.
- His time has not been without controversy, however. Two years ago Garcia pleaded no contest to alcohol-related reckless driving, causing his colleagues on the council to oust him as Wasco Mayor, although he remained on the council.
The backstory: Couch has served on the Kern County Board of Supervisors since 2013, facing multiple challenges to his district since.
- In 2016, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund sued the county over its district lines that were drawn in 2011, arguing that the distribution of Latino voters was illegal.
- The lawsuit forced Kern County to redraw its lines, which made Couch’s district the county’s second Latino-majority district.
- Couch has won reelection twice despite the new lines.
What they’re saying: In his announcement, Garcia said it is time for a change in Kern County, promising to lead the way to a brighter future with stronger communities, good jobs and secure streets.
- “I firmly believe that Kern County can become a place where everyone has the opportunity to thrive,” Garcia said in a statement. “To achieve this, we must invest in our neighborhoods, support our small businesses and ensure that every resident has access to affordable housing, quality healthcare and good-paying jobs. As your county supervisor, I will be a tireless advocate for the people of Kern County and their neighborhoods, championing their aspirations and needs.”
