She’s worked for different electeds at all levels — federal, state, county and city. So now, veteran GOP operative Alina Garcia — most recently the “senior political advisor” for Miami Commissioner Joe Carollo — wants to be elected herself. To the Florida Senate.
Garcia is waiting for the redistricting to shake out and will run in either District 37 or District 40 — which is vacated by Sen. Annette Taddeo‘s run for governor — wherever incumbent Sen. Ileana Garcia doesn’t run. She is going to wait for the other Garcia’s cue, but she already opened a political action committee called Florida Always First. In November.
“I’ve been serving the community for over 30 years,” Garcia told Ladra Thursday. “I think I bring a lot to the table and I don’t have any hidden agenda.”
Nope, her agenda is out front for everyone to see: A longtime staple in the Miami-Dade Republican Party, she is pro-life, pro-gun, pro-charter schools and fiercely anti-communist.
“I know what bad government can do because I’ve seen it first hand,” Garcia said, and she didn’t mean Miami. Born in Cuba, the 65-year-old has also been front and center at pro-freedom marches and anti-regime events.
She is among the GOP hardliners who believe that communism is creeping into America.
“You start off with mandates,” she said, echoing Gov. Ron DeSantis mantra about COVID-19 mask and vaccine mandates. “Countries don’t become communist from one day to the next. It’s with little steps.
“You take away people’s guns, you create mandates, families don’t make decisions for their children,” Garcia told Ladra. “People think that cannot happen in this country but we have to be vigilant. Communism is alive.”
Read related: Alina Garcia goes from Steve Bovo to Joe Carollo as ‘senior political advisor‘
And now we have a preview of what the campaign will likely look like.
Garcia, who worked as Chief of Staff and senior aide for Hialeah Mayor Esteban Bovo when he was a county commissioner, took the job with Carollo last year after Bovo lost the Miami-Dade mayoral race. She retired from the city Jan. 6 to run for office “because I saw an opportunity.”
But even as far back as Dec. 1 (the PAC was opened on Nov. 29), she was campaigning on Twitter with a video from Tallahassee. “Alina Garcia here from out state capitol, fighting for the issues and for our community,” she says. “Let me know what concerns you, I want to hear from you.”
She has also sent an email blast to a number of Greater Miami’s movers and shakers:
“Dear friend,
I hope you’re having an absolutely fantastic start to the new year!
As you know, this 2022 midterm election is critical for our state and our country’s future.
There will be an OPEN Florida State Senate seat available in Miami-Dade County and many of you have encouraged me to seek office. I wanted to share EXCLUSIVELY with you that I am actively exploring this opportunity.
With over 30 years of experience in public service, I understand the cross-section of local, state, and federal government firsthand. I am a commonsense conservative and a team player who looks forward to delivering results for our state.
I hope that I can count on your support, your contributions, and most importantly your prayers and advice as we approach this year’s election.
A Political Action Committee, Florida Always First, has been opened in support of my prospective candidacy and is actively receiving contributions.”
After all, this is not her first rodeo. Garcia is as experienced in campaigning as she is in government work.
She began her illustrious career as a Republican bad boy sidekick with former State Rep. and Congressman David “Nine Lives” Rivera. She has also worked for Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis and disgraced former state Sen. Frank Artiles, who is facing charges after funding a plantidate in the Senate District 37, handing it to Ileana Garcia.
Ladra can’t help but wonder if Artiles is going to help Alina Garcia with her campaign.
Always a bridesmaid, GOP staple Alina Garcia opens PAC for 2022 Senate bid added by Ladra on
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