♪♪
-Hello. My name is Sergio Garcia.
I'm a police officer in Seattle,
and I live in Phinney Ridge
in a rental home with my wife, Maria,
and Boston Terrier, Batman.
I'm a first-generation American,
son of a carpenter and a housemaid
who both migrated to this country
seeking a better life
for their family.
After watching my parents
struggle holding on to multiple jobs
and knowing there were
millions of others like them,
I knew I wanted to help
and give back to my community.
At the age of 21, I became
a police officer in South Florida,
and after over a decade
of dedicated public service
and endless miles
of traveling the world,
I had stumbled upon a huge problem.
I visited and fell in love
with a city by the name of Seattle.
I knew right away that I'd move here
and would raise a family
in this enchanting utopia
who welcome all,
regardless of their gender,
race, religious beliefs,
physical limitations,
nationality, sexual orientation,
or identification.
So I did.
I moved here and began working
in the neighborhoods
of Ballard and Fremont.
I immediately made it my mission
to get out
and walk the foot beat
in order to get to know
everyone in the neighborhood.
I was able to build relationships
and gain the trust
from all those living, working,
and enjoying life in our district
to those less fortunate
sleeping on our streets
dealing with issues
such as mental illness,
displacement, and drug addiction.
It didn't take long
for me to become frustrated
with the lack of affordability,
traffic congestion,
our fragile state of public safety,
the homelessness crisis,
and seeing all the suffering
due to the various injustices
this growing city is experiencing.
I knew I wanted to do more.
I knew that with my boots-on-the-ground
experience and perspective,
I'd be able to provide
a more practical, accountable,
and humane approach
to addressing said issues.
You all trust me
during your most vulnerable moments
in the intimacy of your homes
with my ability
to find reasonable and practical
solutions to your problems.
I'm optimistic that come election day,
you will also trust in me
to do the same for Seattle,
and doing so while giving a voice back
to the people in our district.
Remember, everyday problems
get solved by everyday people.