Joshua A. Garcia

Josh Garcia
Garcia in 2023
45th Mayor of Holyoke
Incumbent
Assumed office
November 15, 2021
Preceded byTerence Murphy (acting)
Alex Morse
Town Administrator of Blandford
In office
October 1, 2018 – November 4, 2021
Preceded byAngeline Lopes Ellison
Succeeded byChristopher Dunne
Personal details
Born (1986-02-28) February 28, 1986 (age 38)[1]
Holyoke, Massachusetts, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
Stefany Escobar
​
(m. 2014)​
[1]
EducationWestfield State University (BA, MPA)
WebsiteGovernment website
Campaign website

Joshua A. Garcia (born February 28, 1986) is an American politician from Holyoke, Massachusetts. He was elected Mayor of Holyoke in 2021, and is the first Latino to serve as mayor of Holyoke.[2][3]

Early life and education

Born and raised in Holyoke, Massachusetts, Garcia received a Master's in Public Administration from Westfield State University and worked for the Holyoke Housing Authority and Pioneer Valley Planning Commission.[4][5] His mother and grandmother came to the United States from Puerto Rico.[6]

Career

Before being elected as mayor, Garcia served as town administrator in Blandford, Massachusetts and as a fire commissioner, and school committee member in Holyoke.[7][8] He became the first Latino to be elected mayor of Holyoke.[4]

Mayoral tenure

Garcia with U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren in March 2022

Although Garcia's term as mayor officially started in January 2022, starting on November 15, 2021, Garcia served the remainder of acting mayor Terence Murphy's term.[9]

Among early key priorities, Garcia has pushed for improved management practices, citing during his campaign his prior experience as a town administrator. Testifying before the Commonwealth's municipal finance oversight board, Garcia stated he intended to draft a longterm capital plan for the city, seeking to strengthen internal controls, and work toward eliminating structural deficits to make it less reliant on bonding.[10] In 2024, Garcia announced he was working to expand the city's payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) program with Holyoke's nonprofit property owners, to address shortfalls in taxes to provide city services.[11]

Personal life

Garcia has served as a member of the board of directors on the Holyoke Community College Foundation, as well as the Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts, since 2018.[12][13] In 2015 Garcia was named in BusinessWest's "40 Under 40" for his work with the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission.[14] Garcia is also a Freemason and an active member of the Mount Tom Lodge A.F. & A.M..[15]

References

  1. ^ a b Suzanne, McLaughlin (March 1, 2014). "Holyoke bride emerges from intensive care to say, 'I do' at Baystate Medical Center chapel in Springfield". The Republican. Springfield, Mass.
  2. ^ "Holyoke elects Joshua Garcia as city's first Latino mayor". www.msn.com. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  3. ^ Tuthill, Paul (3 November 2021). "Joshua Garcia elected Holyoke's 1st Latino mayor". WAMC. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  4. ^ a b Christensen, Dusty (2 November 2021). "Joshua Garcia prevails in Holyoke mayor's race". Daily Hampshire Gazette. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  5. ^ "Meet Joshua". Joshua A. Garcia for Mayor of Holyoke, MA. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  6. ^ Masciadrelli, Mike (4 November 2021). "Joshua Garcia to be sworn in as mayor of Holyoke". WWLP. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  7. ^ Plaisance, Mike (March 19, 2018). "Firefighter staffing levels questioned by former Holyoke Councilor". The Republican.
  8. ^ Hohenberger, Dennis; DeForge, Jeanette (3 November 2021). "Holyoke voters elect Joshua Garcia as 1st Latino mayor". masslive. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  9. ^ Alamo, Hector Luis. "Holyoke Elects First Latino Mayor, Puerto Rican Joshua Garcia". Nov 3, 2021. latinorebels.com. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  10. ^ Municipal Finance Oversight Board- Meeting December 8, 2021 (conducted by conference call) - Minutes (Report). Massachusetts Municipal Finance Oversight Board. December 8, 2021.
  11. ^ Smith, Kiara (August 12, 2024). "Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia working with city council to expand its PILOT Policy". WWLP-TV.
  12. ^ Holyoke Community College Foundation Annual Report 2018 (PDF) (Report). Holyoke Community College Foundation. 2018. p. 8.
  13. ^ "Board". Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
  14. ^ "Joshua Garcia". BusinessWest. Springfield, Mass. April 20, 2015. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
  15. ^ "Mount Tom Lodge AF&AM". Facebook. April 6, 2024. Photo courtesy of Brother Joshua Garcia, mayor of the city of Holyoke and member of Mount Tom Lodge.
    • "Mount Tom Lodge AF&AM". Facebook. March 18, 2023. 3 Masons on Road Race Day. Bro Mayor Joshua Garcia , Emergency Manager Bro. Jeffery Trask, and. Bro Scott Meyer Emergency Managment [sic].
Political offices
Preceded by Mayor of Holyoke
2021–present 		Incumbent