René García: Commissioner cites path to better procedures, procurements

René García joined the Miami-Dade County Commission last year after two decades of service in both chambers of the Florida Legislature. Over that span, he believes he saw through the passage of many good pieces of legislation.

In his mind, he only deserves partial credit for those successes.

“You don’t do anything alone in this process,” he said.

Asked what he considers his greatest achievement, Mr. García didn’t point to big bills he championed and got passed, like one in 2016 that helped Florida residents with acute mental health and substance abuse issues to receive state services.

Instead, he said, it’s the subtler day-to-day things he and his staff do to help constituents get by, from getting them housing and food assistance to translating a letter for someone who comes into his office.

“When people come to this office, they come looking for help – they wouldn’t be here if they didn’t need it,” he said. “When you’re able to help that one person and make a positive impact on their life, that to me is the greatest thing I could ever accomplish.”

Mr. García spoke by phone with Miami Today reporter Jesse Scheckner.

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