10 Questions

A fresh change to Fairfield

When Matt Garcia walks into a Fairfield Starbucks, he’ll know at least five people there by name—and just about everyone knows his. It’s not just because the 21-year-old Garcia is the youngest person in Fairfield history to be elected to city council (he was sworn in on Dec. 4, 2007); it’s because Garcia is using his “smarts, energy and a whole lot of enthusiasm” to formulate big plans for his home town: namely, bringing business into the city, and helping youth find better ways to spend their after-school hours.

1. When did you get involved in community service?
In middle school. But in elementary school, I told people that I wanted to be mayor of Fairfield.

2. What is your primary goal in terms of your councilmanship?
I want to bring big business to Fairfield, bring jobs to this wonderful city, so people don’t have to commute. We have the potential to be the best in Solano County but we’re not there yet.

3. What is your current job?
I started off the new year with a new career to go hand-in-hand with my election to the Fairfield City Council. I now work as a sales and marketing manager for HRA Engineering and Energy Services, a San Francisco-based engineering firm that recently opened a local office in Fairfield. This is personally gratifying because one of the roles as a member of the city council is to bring new businesses here.

4. How do you like to relax? 
I like to be with family. I like hearing about old family history.

5. If you could give one piece of advice to youth in school, what would it be? 
That every day is a test: You can make the A decision or the F decision. And for them to see a young leader, to think, “If Matt Garcia did it, and he didn’t have any silver spoon, then I can do it!” 

6. Have you had to overcome any obstacles because of your age?
People would say that I’m not the most experienced, but I live in the real Fairfield: I know youth, I know the crime issues, I see what’s really going on out there. People can say, “Matt is experienced on THIS.” That’s why I stepped up to the plate. A lot of older citizens who voted said we need young blood and change.

7. How have you handled the media coverage?
I have been on the local news station, Univision, KRON 4 and several radio stations. I’ve been in a couple issues of La Voz magazine and also been contacted by MTV. I have been more relaxed lately when I do interviews. You always have to watch what you say and think, “If people are listening or reading this, will they get the whole picture?” I know the only reason why I am getting media attention is my age, and I want the media attention when this council is changing this city [and] doing positive and productive things.

8. Do you still play baseball or any other activities? 
Yes, I still have a softball team, but I can’t always make it out to play.

9. Any other political aspirations?
City government is the best place for me right now. One thing the media wants to know all the time is my future in politics, and I continue to tell them I am focused on the job that the people of Fairfield elected me to do. I’m blessed to be where I’m at.

10. Tell us one fun fact about you that most people might not know.
That even being 21, I still love going to Disneyland and my guy friends get on me about that.

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