Dr. Robert Garcia, 37, the 28th Mayor of Long Beach, has taken a leadership role in economic development and investing in technology, and is committed to moving Long Beach forward by attracting tech and green jobs, creating new educational partnerships, and making government more efficient.

An accomplished educator, Mayor Garcia has been a member of the public policy and communications faculty at USC, and taught at Cal State Long Beach and Long Beach City College.

As First District Councilmember from 2009-2014, and as Vice Mayor from 2012-2014, Garcia served as Chair of the Public Safety Committee and the Housing Authority, and on both the Federal and State Legislative Committees. He also served on the California Coastal Commission from January, 2013 until taking office as Mayor.

Garcia has been named one of Long Beach's "Most Innovative Minds" by Long Beach Magazine, and was the recipient of the 2014 Vanguard Leadership award from Equality California. Mayor Garcia lives in downtown Long Beach.