Maria de la Luz Garcia, a senior project coordinator in the Elections Division of the Los Angeles City Clerk’s office, will serve as the next city clerk in Long Beach, it was announced Monday.
The City Council selected de la Luz Garcia among more than 30 candidates, and pending a formal vote, de la Luz Garcia will take the city clerk post Aug. 31.
De la Luz Garcia, a resident of Long Beach, replaces Larry Herrera-Cabrera, who retired April 30 after 12 years in the office.
“Maria Garcia is an outstanding choice for City Clerk, and the council and I have full confidence that she will provide strong and inclusive leadership at the Clerk’s office,” said Mayor Robert Garcia, in a statement. “Her extensive experience in election oversight, voter outreach, and the use of technology is a perfect fit for Long Beach.”
Along with the city manager, the city clerk is one of two employees hired by the City Council. The city clerk keeps records, including minutes and actions of the council and all boards, commissions and committees. The clerk also oversees elections and posting ordinances, and can also perform civil marriages and register voters.
In a statement, de la Luz Garcia, who is not related to the mayor, said, “It will be my honor to serve the people of Long Beach, a city I call home and a city that I love. I’m grateful to the City Council and mayor for trusting me with this tremendous responsibility, and I am looking forward to working with all of them.”
De la Luz Garcia will supervise a staff of 15. She previously was director of voter engagement for the NALEO Educational Fund. She is a Dean’s Merit Scholar and Master in Public Administration candidate at the Price School of Public Policy at USC. In 2008, de la Luz Garcia won an Emmy as an associate producer for an elections public service announcement.
Originally posted in Press-Telegram on July 27, 2015
