Garcia.

Ed. note: At least one other candidate, Jason McCutcheon, has signed up to run for this seat, which will be on the November ballot.

###

Press release from Victor Garcia for City Council, Ward One:

Victor E. Garcia Jr., local community organizer and commissioner on the Humboldt County Human Rights Commission, today announced the endorsement of three local elected officials in his campaign for the open Eureka City Council 1st Ward seat.

Endorsing Garcia are Councilmember Leslie Castellano (Ward 1), Councilmember G. Mario Fernandez (Ward 3), and Supervisor Natalie Arroyo (Fourth District).

“Victor has the vision and knowledge to help build a successful Eureka. It doesn’t take long to figure out how difficult life can be behind the Redwood Curtain; though, with Victor’s experience and insight and expertise of public processes, adding him to our city’s leadership would help build a more prosperous Eureka.”

— G. Mario Fernandez, Eureka City Councilmember, Ward 3

Garcia is running on a platform that addresses five interconnected challenges facing Eureka: a behavioral health crisis, lack of healthcare access, housing instability and tenants’ rights, food resiliency, and shrinking state and federal support. He has proposed creating a Rent Board to protect tenants, pursuing an elected Community Healthcare District to reduce the need for residents to travel hours for basic care, and investing in local food production through backyard gardens, gleaning campaigns, and partnerships with local farmers, ranchers, and the fishing industry.

For people experiencing homelessness, Garcia supports safe parking programs, tiny home villages, and embedding mental health professionals alongside community ambassadors. He has emphasized cross-agency collaboration as a strategy for stretching public dollars further during a period of reduced federal and state funding.

“This campaign is about presenting an attainable vision for Eureka and a movement that enables our neighbors to shape its future. Humboldt is full of creative, artistic, resilient, intelligent people, and we will harness their energy to create the future we deserve.”

— Victor E. Garcia Jr., candidate, Eureka City Council 1st Ward

Garcia is a public employee, community organizer, and proud Ward One resident. From watching his mother run a small business for 27 years to organizing progressive victories across California, Victor has spent his life learning how to make systems work for people. He is a member of Operating Engineers Local 3, Vice Chair of the Humboldt County Democratic Central Committee, and a dedicated advocate for a better Eureka. He grew up in the San Fernando Valley and earned a B.A. in Political Science from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Campaign Kickoff Event

• Saturday, April 11, 2:30–4:30 p.m.
• Synapsis, 1675 Union St., Eureka (across from Caltrans)

Food provided. Children welcome.

To learn more, RSVP for the launch event, or get involved, visit Victor4Eureka.com or email info@victor4eureka.com.

Biography

Victor Garcia is a proud Eureka resident who has made Humboldt County his forever home. He lives in Ward One with his partner of ten years, three beloved pets, and his parents, who reside just a mile down the road. To Victor, Ward One is home, and its future is personal.

Growing up in the San Fernando Valley, Victor experienced firsthand what it means to build something from the ground up. His mother owned and operated a travel agency for 27 years, working seven days a week for much of that time. That upbringing gave him a front-row seat to the sacrifices small business owners make each and every day.

As a public employee in local government, Victor’s professional experiences inform his civic life. He is grounded in the belief that government can do better and should work for the people it serves. His experience navigating municipal government from the inside gives him a practical understanding of how city institutions function and how to get things done for residents.

Over the past ten years, Victor has organized for progressive causes and candidates across California. He got his start in politics as Co-Chair of UC Santa Barbara for Bernie in 2015. Working alongside a coalition of students and community stakeholders, his efforts helped register over 10,000 students to vote ahead of the 2016 primary. He later served as Statewide Volunteer Coordinator for Delaine Eastin for Governor and most recently helped defeat Measure F right here in Eureka.

Victor is deeply embedded in the civic life of the region. He currently serves on the Humboldt County Human Rights Commission and is a proud member of Operating Engineers Local 3. He is also active in the Democratic Party as Vice Chair of the county central committee and a delegate to the California Democratic Party. He earned his B.A. in Political Science from UC Santa Barbara in 2017.

When he is not engaged in the community, Victor can be found tending his garden, at one of Humboldt’s beautiful beaches with a good book, or cooking and baking for friends and family.