Felipe Garcia

Felipe Garcia earned a high school diploma from Cardinal Hayes High School, a bachelor's degree from The City College of New York in 2011, and a graduate degree from Baruch College in 2020. Garcia's career experience includes working as a healthcare executive.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I’m a lifelong resident of Hunts Point in The Bronx, raised in a Puerto Rican and Dominican household where faith, discipline, and hard work shaped who I am. I attended Mount Saint Michael Academy and Cardinal Hayes High School, then went on to earn a degree in Psychology and Sociology from the City College of New York and an Executive MBA in Healthcare Administration from Baruch College.

I started my career in Healthcare as a security officer at NewYork-Presbyterian. Over more than 15 years, I worked my way up to Director of Energy Management and Engineering for the Mount Sinai Health System. In that role, I managed large-scale operations, infrastructure, and compliance across millions of square feet, including navigating the challenges of NYC’s Local Law 97. My focus has always been execution, efficiency, and delivering real, measurable results.

I’ve also served as an NYPD Auxiliary officer, been active in my local Precinct Council, Community Boards, and led as President of the Association of Energy Engineers New York Chapter, where I worked to grow engagement and mentor young professionals.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

RESULTS-DRIVEN LEADERSHIP AND ACCOUNTABILITY:

I'm running to bring a results-driven approach to government. With over 15 years of experience managing complex healthcare operations and infrastructure, he understands how to execute, not just talk. We need accountability, transparency, and practical leadership in government. My focus is simple: safer neighborhoods, stronger schools, and better-paying jobs, so families in the Bronx and Queens have real opportunities to live, work, and thrive.EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE PATHWAYS:

I’m focused on raising high school graduation rates by more than 10% by directly connecting education to real opportunity. I will create clear pathways from high school into union apprenticeships, vocational training programs, and job placement in high-demand industries.

I support fully funding public schools, reducing class sizes, and making sure teachers and students have the resources they need to succeed. My approach is simple, when students see a clear path to a stable, well-paying career, they stay in school and graduate.GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY AND ETHICS:

I support stronger ethics laws to restore public trust in government, including advancing the Stop Insider Trading Act. Members of Congress should not be trading individual stocks or benefiting from non-public information gained through their positions. The current system leaves too much room for conflicts of interest, with weak enforcement and minimal consequences.

Restoring trust requires action. Public office should be about serving the community, not personal financial gain. Strengthening ethics laws is necessary to ensure integrity, rebuild confidence in government, and create a system that works for the people.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am focused on education and workforce development, public safety, economic opportunity, government accountability, healthcare access, and energy policy.

I will raise graduation rates by connecting students directly to apprenticeships, union careers, and real job opportunities. I will push for safer neighborhoods through practical, community-based strategies and ensure working families have access to stable, well-paying jobs.

I support stronger ethics laws, including the Stop Insider Trading Act, because elected officials should not profit from public office. With my background in healthcare and energy, I will improve access to affordable care and advance efficient, reliable infrastructure that delivers real results for our communities.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I look up to my parents, my Hispanic roots, and above all, God.

My parents taught me discipline, faith, and how to work for everything you earn. Growing up Puerto Rican and Dominican shaped how I see community and responsibility.

I also look up to President John F. Kennedy. As a Catholic Democrat, he stood for service and leadership that actually meant something. That mindset stuck with me, especially when he said, “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.”

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

An elected official should be judged by what gets done. It’s not about saying the right things, it’s about following through and being accountable when things don’t go as planned. People should be able to reach you, get a straight answer, and know where you stand without guessing.

I value discipline, consistency, and the ability to make decisions even when they’re not popular, as long as they’re right for the community. Listening matters, but so does acting on what you hear.

At the end of the day, this role isn’t about personal gain or status. It’s about showing up, doing the work, and delivering results people can feel in their everyday lives.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

The job is to turn the district’s needs into real action at the federal level. That means fighting for funding, shaping policy that actually reflects the community, and making sure the district isn’t overlooked when decisions are made.

It also means staying connected on the ground, understanding what people are dealing with, and bringing those concerns directly into the room where decisions happen.

At the end of the day, the responsibility is to make sure the district is better off, stronger services, more opportunity, and real progress that people can see.

What legacy would you like to leave?

Communities where families choose to stay for generations because it’s the best place to raise a family, not because they have no other option.

A district that is safe, affordable, and actually works for the people who live there. Where opportunity is real, people take pride in where they’re from, and home means something again.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My first job was at Burger King and McDonald’s on Southern Boulevard. I worked there for about three years, from ages 15 to 17. It taught me discipline, responsibility, and what it means to earn your way.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Dealing with unnecessary roadblocks and external pressures while building my career. I had to push through it, stay disciplined, and keep moving forward without shortcuts.

What qualities does the U.S. House of Representatives possess that makes it unique as an institution?

It’s the closest level of government to the people. It reflects real communities and is grounded in the Constitution, which keeps the country accountable and moving forward.

What do you perceive to be the United States' greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

Restoring accountability and trust in government. Without that, nothing else gets solved the right way.

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Yes, when it leads to real results. But it should never come at the cost of core principles.

What was the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember?

September 11, 2001. It had a lasting impact on New York City and shaped my understanding of resilience, public service, and unity.