by Caleb Fort
Daily Lobo
Graduate student Joseph Garcia said he will run in the October election for Albuquerque City Council.
A Thursday post on the blog New Mexico Politics With Joe Monahan stated that Garcia, president of GPSA, was a possible replacement for City Councilor Martin Heinrich.
"It was a surprise for me to see that post," Garcia said. "I was going to take a slower approach to entering the race. Now it's out there for the whole state to see."
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Garcia said he would try to keep his position in GPSA.
"If I was able to combine being GPSA president with being a councilor, I think that the two positions would go hand-in-hand," he said.
He said having both jobs would not stop him from performing well.
"I think people should be happy that there would be a stronger connection between the University and the city," he said.
Garcia would run for District 6, which goes from Girard Boulevard to Eubank Boulevard and from Gibson Boulevard to Lomas Boulevard.
Garcia said his goals as councilor would be to improve housing and transportation.
He would try to make it easier to commute by bicycle, he said.
"I ride my bike to campus," he said. "I'm interested in getting some bike paths throughout the city, but especially around the UNM area. That's something that could really help people."
Garcia said he would try to get more housing in his district.
"Something that's affordable for students and something that's attractive, whether it's privately owned or is run through the city or the University," he said. "I'd like there to be affordable, sustainable housing for students."
Max Fitzpatrick, a member of the GPSA Council, said Garcia is well-suited to be a city councilor.
"I think he has great views on the environment, and he could do a lot to make the city greener," he said. "I think he's the ideal candidate. There would be a lot of synergy between the city and the University."
Garcia said he is qualified for the position.
"I've lived in the area for five years, so I think I really understand the concerns that there are," he said. "I've studied community and regional planning. I have experience organizing communities."
Garcia's father was a school board member in a town near Corpus Christi, Texas, he said.
"I have training from growth working in these types of situations," he said. "I've always been around it. I know what it takes to work with people in something like this."
Garcia said his campaign will not be typical of City Council elections.
"I'll just go about it with a real grassroots type of approach," he said. "I'll just talk to people about my views, and hopefully, that will resonate."
