Mariluz Garcia
Mariluz Garcia | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Washoe County Board of Commissioners from the 3rd district | |
| Assumed office January 9, 2023 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | |
| Party | Democratic |
| Education | University of Nevada, Reno |
| Occupation | Educator, politician |
Mariluz Garcia is an American politician and educator serving as a member of the Washoe County Board of Commissioners in Nevada, representing the 3rd district. A member of the Democratic Party, she was elected in 2022 and has served as vice chair of the board since January 2026. Before taking office, she was the executive director of the Dean's Future Scholars program at the University of Nevada, Reno.
Early life and career
Garcia was born and raised in Elko, Nevada, and moved to Washoe County in 1998.[1] She holds bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees from the College of Education and Human Development at the University of Nevada, Reno.[1]
Before her election, Garcia was executive director of the university's Dean's Future Scholars program, which supports low-income and first-generation students in completing high school and entering college.[2][3]
Political career
2022 election
Garcia led a three-candidate Democratic primary for the 3rd district of the Washoe County Board of Commissioners in June 2022, ahead of Kyle Isacksen and Hawah Ahmad.[3] In the November 8, 2022 general election she defeated Republican Denise Myer, 62.4% to 37.6%.[4] She was sworn in on January 9, 2023.[2]
Surveillance and harassment
In March 2023, a joint investigation by KUNR, The Nevada Independent and APM Reports reported that Garcia had been the subject of surveillance by two private investigators during her 2022 campaign, one of whom later admitted to placing a GPS tracking device on the car of Reno mayor Hillary Schieve.[2] The private investigators canvassed her neighborhood asking whether she lived within the district she was seeking to represent, where she did in fact live.[2][5] Campaign finance records subsequently showed that one of the investigators had been paid by the mother of Hawah Ahmad, Garcia's primary opponent.[5]
In May 2024, The Nevada Independent reported that Garcia had been followed home and surveilled at public meetings, and that strangers had approached her family.[6] She moved that year.[6] The Washoe County District Attorney's office reviewed and rejected the claims about her residency made by the private investigators.[6] Garcia said of her campaigns after the harassment, "My primary and general elections were both like combat sports."[6]
2024 election certification dispute
On July 9, 2024, the Board of Commissioners voted 3–2 against certifying recounts of two June 2024 primary contests, with the board's three Republicans in the majority.[7] Garcia was one of two commissioners who voted to certify the results.[7][8] After the Nevada Attorney General petitioned the Nevada Supreme Court on behalf of the Secretary of State, the board reversed itself on July 16 and certified the recounts 4–1.[9]
2026 election
Garcia announced a bid for re-election in August 2025.[10] Garcia and Republican Troy Regas advanced directly to the November 3, 2026 general election.[11]
Tenure
Garcia represents the county on regional bodies including the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada and the Regional Fire Services Study Board.[1]
Garcia voted with the majority in March 2025 to adopt Washoe County's first climate action plan, which sets a target of net-zero emissions by 2050.[12] She voted in November 2024 for changes to the county development code permitting a wider range of "missing middle" housing types to help encourage development of more affordable housing opportunities.[13]
In March 2026, Garcia moved to overturn the county planning commission's denial of the Sierra Reflections project, a 940-home subdivision on 760 acres in the Pleasant Valley area because of a proposed $1 million payment from the developers for a consolidated fire station in the neighborhood.[14]
References
- 1 2 3 "Vice Chair Mariluz Garcia". Washoe County, Nevada. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 Johnson, Bert; Mueller, Tabitha; Lu, Jennifer; Scheck, Tom (March 24, 2023). "Three Northern Nevada politicians investigated by private detectives". KUNR. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
- 1 2 Starbuck, Lucia (June 21, 2022). "Preliminary results: Reno mayor, city council, Washoe County Commission, school board". KUNR. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
- ↑ "Election Summary Report: Official Results, November 8, 2022 General Election" (PDF). Washoe County Registrar of Voters. p. 7. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
- 1 2 Johnson, Bert (April 24, 2023). "Court hearing scheduled in GPS tracker lawsuit". The Nevada Independent. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 Sauvageau, Carly (May 26, 2024). "Politicians are reporting more harassment. Just ask candidates in Washoe County races". The Nevada Independent. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
- 1 2 Mueller, Tabitha (July 9, 2024). "Washoe County commissioners vote not to certify primary election recounts". The Nevada Independent. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
- ↑ Girnus, April Corbin (July 10, 2024). "Refusal to certify Washoe County election results meant to sow distrust, advocates warn". This Is Reno. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
- ↑ Mueller, Tabitha (July 16, 2024). "Washoe County certifies recount after refusing to do so last week". The Nevada Independent. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
- ↑ Margiott, Kenzie (August 26, 2025). "Commissioner Mariluz Garcia launches re-election bid for Washoe County Commission". KRNV News 4. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
- ↑ "2026 Election Guide". This Is Reno. May 6, 2026. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
- ↑ Doyle, Nick (March 12, 2025). "Washoe County commissioners adopt Climate Action Plan". KOLO 8. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
- ↑ Hackbarth, Kristen (November 26, 2024). "'Missing middle' housing types move forward in county development code". This Is Reno. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
- ↑ "Washoe County Commission votes to approve controversial Sierra Reflections housing project". KRNV News 4. March 10, 2026. Retrieved July 28, 2026.