Evelyn Garcia Elected to the DNC

Evelyn Garcia Elected To The DNC

Palm Beach County's own Evelyn Garcia has been elected one of 10 Floridians to the Democratic National Committee.

"It is quite an honor. It is unbelieveable," said Garcia about her selection on December 20 to the national policy board of the Democratic Party. She was voted in by Democratic state committee members and caucus leaders.

Garcia has served the past two years as the Recording Secretary of the Palm Beach County Democratic Executive Committee (DEC). She also is president of the Palm Beach County chapter of the Democratic Caribbean Caucus of Florida and an activist in the United Haitian American Democratic Club of Palm Beach County. In July 2008, Evelyn was elected by the state party as a delegate to the National Democratic Party Convention in the Party Leader & Elected Officials category. She was pledged to then presumptive nominee Sen. Barack Obama.

DEC Chair Mark Siegel praised Garcia's selection: "Evelyn is a fantastic force for the Democratic Party and the community at large as the country steers in a new direction with President Elect Obama."

Garcia was born in New York City but raised in her early years in Haiti. She said she sees her role as convincing others from or with Caribbean heritage to join and get active in the Democratic Party. "The Caribbean community is playing an increasing role in the Democratic Party. In Florida, it is playing a more significant role. It isn't just Miami and Broward but Palm Beach County, St. Lucie, Orlando, the I-4 corridor and even the Panhandle. We are becoming a permanent part of the Democratic base. A lot of Caribbeans were in the Republican party but they are starting to see the light. We want to grab them for the Democratic Party. We think that is where they belong," she said.

Evelyn credits the support and encouragement of her husband Guy and the inspiration of political mentor Jacques Lafontant, president of United Haitian American Democratic Club, for her involvement in and commitment to the Democratic Party since moving to Florida in 2004.

A first-generation American, Garcia is the oldest of the eight children of Carl & Rachel Thiesfield from Haiti. Born in New York City, she moved to Haiti with her family at age 2 and resided and attended school there until her return to the U.S. when she was 9 years old. She resided in New York City and Suffolk and Nassau Counties on Long Island before moving to Connecticut, where she met and married Guy.

Garcia has worked as a licensed Realtor in New York, Connecticut and Florida. She was also the Real Estate Officer for the Hartford Redevelopment Agency and an Assistant Investment Analyst for Funds & REITS overseas. She holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Hartford, an Associate' Degree in Legal Studies from the Hartford College for Women, and a Paralegal Certificate approved by the American Bar Association. Garcia relocated from Simsbury, Conn., after her husband retired as a Senior Investment Officer at the Connecticut State Pension Funds. The Garcias reside in Lake Worth.

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