McKinney City Councilwoman Gilda Garza hopes to represent all residents as she files for at-large council seat in May election

Created at 10 p.m. on March 16, 2009

McKinney City Councilwoman for District 1 Gilda Garza is hoping she she expand her service that she has provided for McKinney residents for the last six years on council to a broader base to represent all McKinney residents as she has filed to run in the at-large council seat in the May 9 election.

“I have been a strong voice on the McKinney City Council as a representative for District 1, and I’m excited about the opportunity to represent the entire city. As a member of the city council. I’ve been involved in making many important decisions for all of McKinney and I’m looking forward to seeing through many of the projects I helped initiate," Garza said. "We’re currently at a critical point in our development and I want to make sure that we’re able to maintain our momentum despite the global financial crisis, and still provide the quality of life that brings people to McKinney.”

First elected to the McKinney City Council in 2001, Garza brings eight years of experience to the race. As a council member, Garza has championed under served areas of the community and encouraged the city to strive for a balance of services to all residents, Garza said. She believes she has accomplished the following achievements while on council:
• Working to ensure significant street and sidewalk improvements in her district and other areas of the city were made.
• Voting on upgrades to McKinney’s parks, as well as improvements to lakes and waterways.
• Supporting major infrastructure projects including the Senior Citizens Center, the Old Settler’s Park Aquatic Center, and the McKinney Performing Arts Center (MPAC) in the downtown Historic District.
• Supporting economic development efforts that resulted in new businesses, such as two cancer research centers, and The
Cooper Center, Dr. Pepper StarCenter and expansion of the Medical Center of McKinney, and the addition of two proposed hospitals and a hotel/convention center at US 75 and Spur 399.

Garza has served as a liaison to the Planning and Zoning Commission, Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) Board, Library Board, and the Veteran’s Memorial Board. As the only ethnic minority and the sole woman on council since 2003 to May, 2008 she has also provided needed diversity to the council, Garza said.

“I’ve always been committed to providing balanced services throughout the city, open and honest government and making sure that every resident feels valued and respected and I will continue to be guided by those principals," Garza said.

A lifelong resident of McKinney, Garza is a member of St. Michaels Catholic Church, LULAC Council #608 and the Women’s Alliance of McKinney, which is a division of the McKinney Chamber of Commerce. She is a graduate of Citizenship McKinney (class of 2000 – 2001), was the first female president of the McKinney LULAC chapter and has been recognized as one of Collin County’s top Hispanic community leaders. Garza is employed at the North Texas Job Corp. She is also a proud mother and grandmother, with a strong network of family and friends in McKinney and surrounding communities.

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