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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mary Louise Garcia at 817.805-1928 or ml@mlgarcia.net or www.mlgarcia.net

January 15, 2010

Mary Louise Garcia Top $59,000
In Campaign for County Clerk

Fort Worth, Texas -- Contributions to the Mary Louise Garcia Campaign for County Clerk tops $59,000, including $36,136 reported in a year-end 2009 financial statement filed today with the Tarrant County Elections Department.

“In addition to contributions in my campaign finance report to the county, supporters have contributed $23,625 just since the first of the year,” said Garcia, an administrator on Sheriff Dee Anderson’s command staff.  “I’m humbled and thankful for all the grassroots support so early in my campaign.”

In her bid for County Clerk in the March 2 primary, Garcia, 43, has been endorsed by retiring County Clerk Suzanne Henderson, Tax-Assessor Collector Betsy Price, Arlington Mayor Robert Cluck as well as county business leaders and many others in Republican community, including Brenda Silcox, wife of late City Councilman Chuck Silcox, and Sharon Dale, immediate past president of Fort Worth Republican Women.

Before joining the Sheriff’s Department seven years ago, Garcia owned a public relations company that catered to businesses, political clients, including Congresswoman Kay Granger, nonprofits groups such as the YMCA, and the Fort Worth school district.

A fiscal conservative, Garcia has been active in the Republican Party since she registered to
vote at age 18.

She and her husband, Chris, an independent businessman, have two daughters, Juliana, 18,
and Gabi, 17.

January 6, 2010

Betsy Prices Endorses Garcia for County Clerk
Garcia continues to win endorsements from elected officials

Fort Worth, Texas – Tarrant County Tax Assessor-Collector Betsy Price has endorsed Mary Louise Garcia in the March 2 Republican Primary for Tarrant County Clerk.

“As an experienced administrator on the Sheriff Department’s command staff, a businesswoman and a lifelong Republican, Mary Louise has my vote for Tarrant County Clerk,” Price said.

Price, a former business owner herself, was elected Tax Assessor-Collector in 2000.  Under her leadership, the tax office—which assesses and collects $3 billion a year--has won four awards for Best Practices.     

“I am proud and extremely pleased to have the Betsy Price’s endorsement,” Garcia said.  “As one of the county’s leading elected officials, she has introduced high-tech innovations to save taxpayer dollars and to improve customer service for citizens. I am honored to have her trust in my campaign for County Clerk.”

Garcia has also been endorsed by longtime County Clerk Suzanne Henderson, who is not running for re-election, Arlington Mayor Robert Cluck as well as business leaders and others in the Republican community.

Garcia has been an administrator on Tarrant County Sheriff Dee Anderson’s command staff for seven years, conducting internal audits, implementing countywide initiatives and coordinating with other departments.  She also hires, trains and assigns administrative staff.

Before joining the department, Garcia owned a public relations company that catered to businesses, political clients, including Congresswoman Kay Granger, nonprofit groups such the YMCA, and the Fort Worth school district.

She and her husband, Chris, an independent businessman, have two daughters, Juliana, 18,
and Gabi, 17. 

January 4, 2010

Garcia for Clerk Endorsed by Cluck

Arlington, Texas – City of Arlington Mayor Robert Cluck today endorsed Mary Louise Garcia in the March 2 Republican primary for Tarrant County Clerk.

“I am endorsing Mary Louise because she is a woman of integrity and a natural leader,” Cluck said. “Her fiscal conservative philosophy, her experience in county government and her years as a small business owner make her the most qualified candidate for County Clerk.”

Cluck, a physician, was elected mayor of the City of Arlington in 2003 after serving two terms on the city council.

“I am honored to have earned the endorsement of one of the nation’s most successful mayors,” Garcia said. “Dr. Cluck’s can-do leadership strengthened our county’s economy and put Arlington on global maps in a partnership enterprise that developed the world’s most famous sports stadium.  I look forward to working with him in serving Tarrant County’s citizens.”

Cluck has been the vice president for Medical Affairs at Arlington Memorial Hospital since 2002.  He was previously the medical director at Arlington Memorial Hospital and Harris Methodist Health Plan. 

From 1971 to 1994, Cluck was in private practice as an obstetrician-gynecologist in Arlington. After graduating from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, Cluck was in the U.S. Air Force for two years, serving during the Vietnam War as a general medical officer at Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines.

Garcia has been an administrator on Tarrant County Sheriff Dee Anderson’s command staff for seven years, conducting internal audits, implementing countywide initiatives and coordinating with other departments.  She also hires, trains and assigns administrative staff.

Before joining the department, Garcia owned a public relations company that catered to businesses, political clients, including Congresswoman Kay Granger, nonprofit groups such as the YMCA, and the Fort Worth school district.

In addition to Mayor Cluck, Garcia has won widespread support in the Republican community, including the endorsement of current County Clerk Suzanne Henderson, who has held the post since 1987 and is not running for re-election.

With 142 employees, the office of County Clerk keeps records, oversees the collection of more than $24 million in fines and fees and manages over $17 million in funds for minors, guardianships and cash bonds. The department’s budget is about $10 million a year.

December 3, 2009

Mary Louise Garcia Files for County Clerk in Republican Primary

Fort Worth, Texas – Mary Louise Garcia became an official candidate today in the race for Tarrant County Clerk in the Republican Party’s 2010 primary.  Long-time incumbent Suzanne Henderson, who has elected not to run again, endorsed her for the post.

“Mary Louise Garcia is a fiscal conservative,” Henderson said. “She will work for more responsible government, getting more out of your tax dollars and delivering quality service for less.” Henderson, 66, has been county clerk since 1987.

The forty-three-year-old Garcia, an administrator in the Sheriff’s Department, filed to run in the Tarrant County Republican Primary for county clerk on the first day of the filing period. 

“I’m excited to offer Tarrant County voters a conservative option for county clerk.  Folks from across the county are supporting me and we’re building momentum everyday as more and more supporters join the team.  I’m honored by the high level of backing and look forward to a good campaign,” said Garcia.

Tarrant County Tax Assessor Betsy Price and other leading Republicans have also endorsed Garcia for county clerk.   They know her experience and conservative political philosophy make her the most qualified candidate to serve Tarrant County citizens as county clerk.

“As an experienced county official, businesswoman and lifelong Republican, Mary Louise has my vote,” Price said.

Tarrant County Sheriff Dee Anderson is expected to kick off Garcia’s campaign next week at a rally honoring Henderson for her 22 years of service as county clerk.

Before joining county government, Garcia owned a public relations company that catered to businesses, political clients, including Congresswoman Kay Granger, nonprofit groups and the Fort Worth school district.

“With my experience in business and government, I will harness new technology and introduce other innovations to lower costs and better serve county residents,” Garcia said. “I am the only candidate with a step-by-step plan to improve efficiency and customer service in the county clerk’s office.” 

Garcia and her husband, Chris, an independent businessman, have two daughters, Juliana, 18, and Gabi, 17.   

November 18, 2009

Suzanne Henderson Endorses
Garcia in County Clerk Race

Tarrant County Clerk Suzanne Henderson has endorsed Mary Louise Garcia in the Republican primary for county clerk. Henderson is not running for re-election in 2010.

Henderson, 66, said Garcia is the best candidate because of Garcia’s experience as a county administrator, businesswoman and “staunch Republican.” 
           
Garcia, 43, has been an administrator on Tarrant County Sheriff Dee Anderson’s command staff for seven years, conducting internal audits, implementing countywide initiatives and coordinating with other departments. She also hires, trains and assigns administrative staff.
           
“As a fiscal conservative, Mary Louise will work for more responsible government, giving taxpayers more value for our tax dollars while improving service,” Henderson said.
           
“I am excited to receive County Clerk Henderson’s endorsement,” Garcia said. “She knows firsthand the skills and experience needed to run the office. And I’m the only candidate with a step-by-step plan to improve efficiency and customer service in the county clerk’s department.”    

Henderson, county clerk since 1987, is expected to announce her endorsement at Garcia’s official campaign kickoff at 5:30 p.m. on December 8 at the offices of Thos. S Byrne, Inc, Suite 200, 3100 West 7th Street. Hosts of the event include Tom Moncrief, Cynthia and Scott Prince, Jane and John Avila, Jr., and Marion and Conway Snipes (Col., Ret.). 

Before joining the department, Garcia owned a public relations company that catered to businesses, political clients, including Congresswoman Kay Granger, nonprofit groups such as the YMCA, and the Fort Worth school district.

“With my experience in business and government, I will harness new technology and introduce other innovations to lower costs and better serve county residents,” Garcia said. 

  “I have always worked to make our county a better place to live by supporting civic organizations and volunteer groups as well as taking an active role in the Republican Party,” she said.

Tarrant County business leader Mac Churchill praised Garcia because “her experience in business and government will bring a unique blend of talent and insight to an office that records and protects millions of vital commercial and personal documents for citizens throughout the county.”

Born in Tarrant County, her upbringing in a strong, tightly-knit family instilled in her the value of conservative principles, hard work and the importance giving back to her community.

Garcia has been active in community groups as chairperson of the Fort Worth Independent School District’s human relations committee, ad hoc member of the Crime Prevention Resource Center, a member of the Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children’s ad hoc committee, board member of All Church Home for Children and other volunteer organizations.

She is a member of Metroplex Republican Women, Fort Worth Republican Women and Republican Women of Arlington and has won widespread support in the Republican community in her bid for county clerk. 

Garcia and her husband, Chris, an independent businessman, have two daughters, Juliana, 18, and Gabi, 17.

The office of county clerk’s 142 employees records and protects life’s major events and business transactions, from birth certificates and marriage licenses to deeds to homes as well as oil and gas leases.

In addition to keeping records, the county clerk oversees the collection of more than $24 million in fines and fees and manages over $17 million in funds for minors, guardianships and cash bonds. The department’s budget is about $10 million a year.