Carmelo G. Garcia
Preceded byNew Jersey's 33rd legislative district
Personal details
Born (1975-04-25) April 25, 1975
Hoboken, New Jersey
Political partyDemocratic Party
OccupationPolitician, executive business coach, speaker, and author

Carmelo G. Garcia (born April 25, 1975) is an American politician, trainer, speaker and author from the state of New Jersey. He represented the 33rd Legislative District in the New Jersey General Assembly as part of the Democratic Party for one two-year term.[1][2][3]

Early life and education

Garcia grew up in Hoboken, New Jersey and graduated from Hoboken High School.[4][5][6] He graduated from Seton Hall University, where he received a BS in Criminal Justice and Sociology, and from Stevens Institute of Technology, where he earned a Master of Science in Information Systems.[2] Garcia was one of 50 people selected in 2012 to participate in NeighborWorks Achieving Excellence Program,[7] which focuses on affordable housing and includes a three-week session at Harvard University.[8]

Career

In 1998 he was named as an aide, with an annual salary of $6,000, to Hudson County Freeholder Maurice Fitzgibbons. Garcia was first elected to the Hoboken Board of Education in 2002 at age 26, won re-election three times and served as president and vice president of the board.[9][4] In 2006 he was reprimanded by the New Jersey School Ethics Commission for his August 2005 votes on the school board to award a $60,000 contract to Fitzgibbons' public relations firm and to hire Garcia's brother for a custodial position.[10] He resigned from the board in 2013 when he won election to the state assembly.

Starting in 2001, Garcia worked as the first minority Director of Human Services under Mayor Dave Roberts.[4][11] He left this position in 2007 when he accepted a job as Assistant Director for the federally funded Hoboken Housing Authority (HHA); he was also the first Latino to hold this role.[12][4][6] In 2011, the Puerto Rican Culture Committee honored him with an Outstanding Achievement Award for his advocacy work and for being a role model for Hoboken youth.[13] Garcia was terminated from the HHA in 2014 and subsequently sued the housing board, claiming Mayor Dawn Zimmer was engaging in "ethnic cleansing" by removing minorities from positions of power.[14][15] Garcia sued the HHA, first in 2013, then again in 2014 when the first suit was denied with prejudice.[16] The amended suit was dismissed in January 2016 and he filed again in May 2016; this time, the HHA counter-sued him.[14][17] In late 2017, the lawsuit was settled and Garcia was awarded $700,000.[18]

In 2013, prior to the termination of his HHA contract, Garcia ran for the General Assembly in the June Democratic primary election on a ticket with State Senator Brian P. Stack and Raj Mukherji.[19] In April, however, following a lawsuit filed by several local residents,[20] Judge Peter Bariso ruled that since the HHA received federal subsidies, Garcia was subject to the Hatch Act of 1939, which bans those whose salary is paid primarily through federal funds from running in partisan elections.[21] Shortly after, an appellate court overturned Judge Bariso's decision based on a change in Hatch Act regulations and Garcia was deemed eligible to run for office.[22][23] Stack, Mukherji, and Garcia swept the November general election and assumed office.[24] Garcia, along with other Democrats on his 2013 legislative ticket, endorsed Republican Chris Christie in his successful bid for re-election as Governor of New Jersey[25]

As part of the Assembly, he worked on the Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee, the Human Services Committee, and the Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee.[6][26] During this time, he sponsored or co-sponsored 300 bills and his office authored at least six pieces of legislature, one of which champions for better rights for people living with Alzheimer's disease.[27][28] After 14 months in office, Garcia lost the backing of the powerful Hudson County Democratic Organization, which chose a Zimmer-approved candidate to run for his seat in the November 2015 election.[29]

In August 2015, he began campaigning against another Zimmer-approved candidate, Jennifer Giattino, for a seat on the City Council.[27][30][4][31] In November, four of five Zimmer-allied candidates won seats, including Giattino, who beat Garcia by over 200 votes.[32]

In early 2015, Garcia began working for the nonprofit Newark Community Economic Development Corporation (NCEDC), now known as Invest Newark.[33] He was executive vice president and chief real estate officer until April 2018.[34]

From 2017 to 2018, he worked as the deputy mayor and acting director of Newark's Department of Economic and Housing Development (DEHD) before being replaced by John Palmieri. He was moved into the role of chief of development, which he held until April 2019.[35][3][34] Beginning about June 2017, he also began working as the executive director of the federally funded Irvington Housing Authority in Irvington, New Jersey.[1][2][36][34] As of 2021, he is no longer listed as executive director of the Irvington Housing Authority.[37]

After leaving his Newark government positions about April 2019, he became the manager of a consulting firm.[34]

Conspiracy charges

In November 2020, Garcia was identified as a co-conspirator in the federal indictment of Malik Frederick, who plead guilty to honest services wire fraud and falsifying his 2017 taxes.[18] Garcia was allegedly offered bribes in exchange for using his official positions within the city "as specific opportunities arose" for conspirators Frank Valvano Jr. and Irwin Sablosky to obtain real estate.[18][33] He was charged with conspiracy to commit bribery in connection with the business and transactions of a federally funded local government and organization, that being the NCEDC (Invest Newark) and the DEHD.[33][38] Garcia is alleged to have accepted expensive jewelry and more than $25,000 in cash from Valvano and Sablosky.[39] If convicted, he could face five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the alleged scheme.[40]

Personal life

Garcia is married to Margarita and has four children.[27][6]

He has served as a board member for the Act Now Foundation for Alzheimer's Disease and educational group African Views and is the founder of the Save the Youth Academy, an after-school hip-hop dance program at Hoboken High School aimed at at-risk youth.[4][27][41]

References

  1. 1 2 Jackman, EmilyAnn (2020-07-31). "IHA puts in the effort to protect residents and improve township". Essex News Daily. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
  2. 1 2 3 "GARCIA, MUKHERJI TAKE OATH OF OFFICE IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY". New Jersey Assembly Democrats. n.d. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
  3. 1 2 NJ.com, Rebecca Panico | NJ Advance Media for (2020-11-19). "Ex-Newark deputy mayor took $25K, fancy jewelry as bribes, feds allege". nj. Retrieved 2021-09-01.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Clark, Amy Sara (2019-04-02). "Hoboken School Board candidates make their cases, Contender I: Carmelo Garcia". NJ.com. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
  5. ↑ Alfaro, Alyana (2015-08-05). "Does Carmelo Garcia Transcend Hoboken's Divisions?". Observer. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Assemblyman Carmelo G. Garcia Bio Page". NJ Assembly Majority Office. Archived from the original on 2015-09-25. Retrieved 2015-09-23.
  7. ↑ Deady, Christina (June 18, 2021). "NeighborWorks Achieving Excellence Program: Focus on Results". Neighborworks.org. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
  8. ↑ Fedschun, Travis (2019-03-30). "Hoboken Housing Authority head Garcia to study at Harvard". NJ.com. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
  9. ↑ Brenzel, Kathryn (2019-03-29). "Hoboken school board seeks to replace trustee Carmelo Garcia". NJ.com. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
  10. ↑ "Reprimand for Board of Ed member Ethics commission cites Garcia for voting on brother's promotion, contract for FitzMedia". Hudson Reporter Archive. 2006-12-19. Retrieved 2021-09-01.
  11. ↑ Skontra, Alan (2013-09-03). "(Garcia) Hoboken Stories: Remembering Storm Sandy. Oral History Interview: Carmelo Garcia, Sept. 3, 2013". Hoboken Historical Museum. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
  12. ↑ "Mayor selects new human services director One of top positions at City Hall will be run by former school board member". Hudson Reporter. 2007-10-02. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
  13. ↑ Hortillosa, Summer Dawn (2019-03-30). "Hoboken Housing Authority Executive Director recognized for impact on Latino community". NJ.com. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
  14. 1 2 Heinis, John (2017-12-19). "Sources: Hoboken Housing Authority OK's $700k settlement with ex-director". Hudson County View. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
  15. ↑ Bonamo, Mark (2014-08-05). "Garcia's problems provide view into changing Hoboken". Observer. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
  16. ↑ Baer, Marilyn (2018-01-07). "Ex-housing chair: Public would be 'shocked'". Hudson Reporter. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
  17. ↑ Heinis, John (2016-05-13). "2 years after termination, Carmelo Garcia, HHA file dueling lawsuits". Hudson County View. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
  18. 1 2 3 Heinis, John (2020-10-24). "Ex-Hoboken Assemblyman Garcia identified as co-conspirator in Newark corruption case". Hudson County View. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
  19. ↑ Pizarro, Max (2013-03-26). "Sources: Garcia and Mukherji to run in LD33". Hudson County View. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
  20. ↑ "Five Hoboken Residents Challenge Housing Authority Exec's Assembly Run". Hoboken, NJ Patch. 2013-04-11. Retrieved 2023-09-11.
  21. ↑ Pizarro, Max (2013-04-19). "BREAKING: Judge rules Garcia ineligible to run for LD33 seat". Observer. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
  22. ↑ Moses, Claire (2013-04-30). "Carmelo Garcia Back on the Ballot as Assembly Candidate". Patch. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
  23. ↑ Pizarro, Max (2013-04-30). "BREAKING: Garcia wins appeal in LD33". Observer. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
  24. ↑ Koeske, Zak (2013-11-05). "Hudson County Dems Sweep District 33 Races". Patch. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
  25. ↑ Pizarro, Max (2013-06-10). "Christie collects endorsements by Stack, his assembly ticket-mates and UC commissioner". Observer. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
  26. ↑ "GARCIA TO TAKE A SEAT ON ASSEMBLY TRANSPORTATION, FINANCE, AND HUMAN RESOURCE PANELS". New Jersey Assembly Democrats. n.d. Archived from the original on 2021-07-03. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
  27. 1 2 3 4 Strunsky, Steve (2019-01-17). "Ousted from public office, Carmelo Garcia may be down, but he's not bowing out". NJ.com. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
  28. ↑ "In New Jersey, Undercounted Alzheimer's Cases Spur Legislative Action". Easy Reader. 2015-07-15. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
  29. ↑ Heinis, John (2015-03-07). "HCDO unites to announce county executive, Assembly picks for June primary". Hudson County View. Retrieved 2023-09-11.
  30. ↑ Heinis, John (2015-03-31). "Assemblyman Carmelo Garcia won't seek re-election in LD-33". Hudson County View. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
  31. ↑ Torres, Agustin C. (2015-08-08). "Hoboken's outgoing assemblyman wants to be wanted -- in the 6th Ward - Political Insider". NJ.com. Retrieved 2015-09-23.
  32. ↑ Zeitlinger, Ron (2015-11-03). "Zimmer-backed candidates win 4 seats in Hoboken City Council race". NJ.com. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
  33. 1 2 3 Kiefer, Eric (2020-11-19). "Ex-Assemblyman From Hoboken Accused Of Bribery Scheme In Newark". Patch. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
  34. 1 2 3 4 https://www.justice.gov/usao-nj/press-release/file/1338646/download
  35. ↑ Bonamo, Mark J. (2018-08-21). "Garcia Replaced as Head of Newark's Economic and Housing Development Department". Tap Into Newark. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
  36. ↑ Skyes, Chris (2017-04-27). "IHA commissioners appoint new executive director". Essex News Daily. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
  37. ↑ "Executive Director". ihanj. Retrieved 2021-09-01.
  38. ↑ "Former City of Newark Official Charged with Scheming with Two Newark Businessmen to Obtain Bribes". Department of Justice. 2020-11-19. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
  39. ↑ Panico, Rebecca (2018-11-19). "Ex-Newark deputy mayor took $25K, fancy jewelry as bribes, feds allege". NJ.com. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
  40. ↑ Katzban, Nicholas. "Ex-Newark official accused of taking bribes, using developers as 'money wells'". North Jersey Media Group. Retrieved 2023-09-11.
  41. ↑ Baldwin, Carly (2019-04-02). "Save the Youth Academy at HHA". NJ.com. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
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