Pedro Garcia: Property appraiser offers his agenda for legislative reforms

In 2008, Pedro Garcia became the first elected Miami-Dade County Property Appraiser in more than five decades. He was subsequently re-elected in 2014 and was unopposed in the 2016 election.

Mr. Garcia has worked in the Florida real estate industry since 1970. He is a state certified General Real Estate Appraiser and a real estate broker. For more than 35 years, he owned a real estate brokerage and an appraisal firm. Before being elected Property Appraiser, he served 10 years as special magistrate with the Miami-Dade County Value Adjustment Board.

Mr. Garcia says he is committed to ensuring fairness and equitable assessments for all property owners. As one of his top priorities, he said, he continues to aggressively pursue and investigate homestead exemption fraud to ensure property owners are not burdened with overpaying taxes as a result of those committing fraud.

Born in Havana, Mr. Garcia and his family have resided in Miami since 1962. He is a veteran of the US Army and a member of American Legion Post 0346. In his spare time, Mr. Garcia enjoys golf and fishing. He and his wife, Amalia, have been married since 1959. They have four daughters, 13 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Mr. Garcia spoke with Miami Today reporter Genevieve Bowen.  

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