Memorial Services for the late LD 27 State Senator/Senate Minority Leader Jorge Luis Garcia have been scheduled.

Visitation will be at Carillo’s Tucson Mortuary, 204 S. Stone Avenue, just south of Broadway, on Thursday, October 21st
from 5-10:00 pm. The rosary will begin at 7:00pm.

Mass will be held at Saints Peter and Paul Parish — 1946 E. Lee Street – located right across from University Medical Center (UMC) on the NE corner of Lee and Campbell, on Friday, October 22, at 10:00 am.

In lieu of flowers, donations are requested for organizations that help others:
the designated charities are the Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Tucson (www.svdptucson.org) and Catholic Tuition Support Organization (www.ctso-tucson.com).

I wrote a previous blog in memory of Senator Garcia (click here), who passed away suddenly due to a heart attack on October 15.

He was a Democratic candidate for the Arizona Corporation Commission (2 open seats), having served 8 years in the State Senate and 4 years in the State House of Representatives. His name will remain on the General Election ballot, since early voting began on October 7.

Rest in peace Jorge.

State Senator Jorge Luis Garcia

LD 27 State Senator/Senate Minority Leader Democrat Jorge Luis Garcia passed away suddenly due to a heart attack on Friday, October 15, 2010. He was 57 years old. Senator Garcia was elected to the Arizona State Senate representing LD 27 in 2003 and has served as Senator Minority Leader for the past 2 years. He had previously served in the Arizona House of Representatives (2 terms) from 1993 to 1997.

His colleague LD 28 State Senator Paula Aboud stated this morning: “Senator Garcia was one of the most committed and dedicated senators I have ever known. In the Senate he was our beacon of goodness and kindness…and he will be missed so dearly by our Democratic community and his colleagues who loved him so.”

Because Jorge was termed out of the State Senate he chose to run for state-wide Corporation Commission this year. He was the top vote getter in the 8/24/10 Democratic primary for Corporation Commission, garnering 142,859 votes (34.08%), more than fellow candidates David Bradley and Renz Jennings. I last wrote about that race on October 4 (click here). His name will remain on the General Election ballot since early voting has begun.

In his own words from his campaign bio for Arizona Corporation Commission (www.votegarcia.org):

“I was born in Nogales, Sonora. At age 9 my mother, who was born in Miami, AZ, moved us to Nogales, AZ, and later to Phoenix. After graduating from Phoenix Union HS, I moved to Tucson with my wife. I earned my Bachelors degree (Sociology) from the U of A and a Master’s degree in Social Work from ASU. Maria and I have three adult children: Yvette (Special Education Teacher), Dominique (Marketing) and Rolando (Civil Engineer). Maria and I also have four grandchildren.
In my 7 years as STATE SENATOR for District 27, I have worked hard to bring JUSTICE to the interests of WORKERS, CONSUMERS AND THE ENVIRONMENT.”

I worked with Jorge back in 1996/97 when I served as Tribal staff attorney for the Pascua Yaqui Tribe of Arizona. He served as Director of Social Services at the Pascua Yaqui Tribe from 1988 to 1999. He was soft-spoken, but caring and compassionate for the underprivileged. When I last spoke with Jorge, I joked with him saying that he would miss the excitement of being in the State Legislature since he was termed out, and now running for Corporation Commission.

His career history from Project Vote Smart:

Social Worker/Practicing Registered Nurse, University Physicians, Incorporated, 2005-present
Contract Social Worker, Self Employed with Indian Tribes, 2002-present
Independent Contractor, Various Tribal Governments, 2000-2005
Home Health Administrator and Program Manager, Tohono O’odham Nation, 1999-2001
Social Service Director, Pascua Yaqui Tribe, 1988-1999
Emergency Room Social Worker/Practicing Registered Nurse, Maricopa Medical Center, 1990-1998
Social Worker/Practicing Registered Nurse, University Medical Center, 1991-1993
Clinical Manager, Maricopa Medical Center, 1984-1987
Deputy Director, El Rio Health Center, 1980-1984

You can see that Jorge dedicated his life to social service work and health care. He will be sorely missed by his family, friends & constituents in Legislative District 27, his fellow legislators, the Pima County Democratic Party, and the Arizona Democratic Party.

Memorial services are pending (click here.)

“Article 15 of the Arizona Constitution establishes the Arizona Corporation Commission. Only 7 states have constitutionally formed Commissions. Arizona is one of only 13 states with elected Commissioners. In the 37 other states, Commissioners are appointed by either the governor or the legislature.In most states, the Commission is known as the Public Service Commission or the Public Utility Commission. Our Commission, however, has responsibilities that go beyond traditional public utilities regulation. These additional roles include facilitating the incorporation of businesses and organizations, securities regulation and railroad/pipeline safety. By virtue of the Arizona Constitution, the Commissioners function in an Executive capacity, they adopt rules and regulations thereby functioning in a Legislative capacity, and they also act in a Judicial capacity sitting as a tribunal and making decisions in contested matters.” (from their website, www.acc.gov)

Current incumbent Commissioner Gary Pierce is running for re-election, along with candidates Democrat David Bradley (LD 28 House Rep.), Republican Brenda Burns (former State Senator and State Rep.), Democrat Jorge Luis Garcia (current LD 27 State Senator & Senate Minority Leader). Also running are Green Party candidate Theodore Gomez, and Libertarian Rick Fowlkes, a consulting engineer/businessman.

Campaign websites:

David Bradley (D), www.bradleyforarizona.com

Brenda Burns (R), www.brendaburns2010.com

Rick Fowlkes (L), www.rfowlkes.com

Jorge Luis Garcia (D), www.votegarcia.org

Theodore Gomez (G)

Gary Pierce (R), www.garypierceforarizona.com, incumbent

There are 2 openings on the Corporation Commission. View these online debates or attend the upcoming forum in Tucson, to decide whom to vote for of the 6 candidates.

Arizona Citizens Clean Elections, Monday Oct. 4, 7 p.m. on Horizon KAET Channel 8 (view online at www.azpbs.org/vote2010, or within 72 hours of the debate at http://www.azcleanelections.gov/home/video/generaldebatevids2010.aspx. Bradley, Burns & Pierce running “clean”, rest are running traditionally.

Also, in Tucson (live):

League of Women Voters of Greater Tucson, American Association of University Women (AAUW), & Sustainable Tucson forum
on October 6, 6:30p.m.
at Temple Emanu-El, 225 N. Country Club Rd. (north of Broadway Blvd.)

And if you missed it, view the KUAT Channel 6 debate between these candidates (Bradley, Burns & Pierce), which was held on September 30 at www.ondemand.azpm.org/ (click here). Senate Minority leader Garcia was absent, due to health issues per host Bill Buckmaster. No explanation was given as to why the Green & Libertarian candidates were absent (not sure if they were invited).

10/15/10 UPDATE: sad news that LD 27 State Senator Jorge Luis Garcia passed away today. If you view the CCEC video, you can see that he was visibly ill (due to a heart condition).

David Bradley

Brenda Burns

Rick Fowlkes

Jorge Luis Garcia

Photo of Green candidate Theodore Gomez not available.

Commissioner
Gary Pierce