Congressional candidate Joe Garcia had early interest in politics

Congressional challenger Joe Garcia, who once lost an election by 267 votes, is giving incumbent Mario Diaz-Balart a run for his money. Joe Garcia's Background: • Born: Oct. 12, 1963, Miami • Education: Miami Dade College; Univ. of Miami; UM Law School. • Professional: Headed the Cuban American National Foundation's Exodus Project, 1988; executive director of CANF, 2000-2004 • Political: Ran unsuccessfully for Miami-Dade County Commission in 1993; member and first Hispanic chairman of the Florida Public Service Commission, 1994-2000; chairman of the Miami-Dade Democratic Party, 2006-2007. • Personal: Lives in Miami Beach with wife, Aileen Ugalde, and their daughter, Gabriela, 10. It has been 27 years, but Belen Jesuit Prep School teacher Pat Collins still remembers a 17-year-old Joe Garcia sitting in his 11th-grade government... [read full story]