Miami-Dade County Commissioner Sen. René García was a candidate for mayor of Hialeah, a city where he began his political career in elective office as a councilman in 1997.
He withdrew from that race on June 26 and said he will instead focus on his county job. His second term ends in November 2028.
“As Miami-Dade County faces a difficult budget year, now is not the time to step away,” García, 50, a Republican, said in a press release. “Public service is not about chasing titles, it’s about answering the call to serve where you are most needed.
“I believe I can best serve the people of Hialeah and District 13 by continuing to fight for them on the county commission,” he said.
The Hialeah mayoral race is crowded, with five candidates remaining as of June 27.
García was born in Hialeah and grew up there.
After his time on the Hialeah council, he was elected to the state legislature in 2000, first as a representative and then as a senator, and served until 2018.
In 2020, he was elected to the county commission and represents District 13, which includes Miami Lakes, Hialeah and unincorporated areas in the northwest.
He chairs the Public Health Trust/Medical Schools Annual Operating Agreement Committee; he chairs the Recreation and Tourism Committee; is vice chair of the Safety and Health Committee and is a member of the Transportation Committee.
García founded the non-profit HOPE Mission Center, which provides information to residents about community resources.
He is also an investor in Sierra Medical Center, at the Windmill Gate Shopping Center in Miami Lakes.