Biography
Dr. Elba Garcia embodies a new breed of professional women in the 21st century. She is not only a community leader, but is also a mother and wife, a dentist with her own private practice, and a role model for Latino women from all walks of life. Dr. Garcia is a former Dallas City Council Member and the current Dallas County Commissioner for District 4.
Born and educated in Mexico City, Dr. Garcia earned her Doctorate in Odontology from the Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana in 1984. She later immigrated to the United States, where she had to recertify her degree at Baylor College of Dentistry, earning her second Doctorate in Dental Surgery (DDS) in 1990. She is a small business owner, having run her own private practice since 1998. Dr. Garcia also served as an assistant professor at the Baylor College of Dentistry. She is married and has two sons.
Dr. Garcia has always dedicated herself to community service and began her service in public office in 2001, when she was elected to the Dallas City Council to represent the residents of District 1. While serving on the Dallas City Council, Dr. Garcia was instrumental in steering a number of important public projects to completion, including securing critical funds for the Latino Cultural Center and spearheading the development of a new Animal Shelter and the Oak Cliff Cultural Center. Additionally, she worked with the Environmental Committee to institute LEED standards for City of Dallas buildings. When she was chosen unanimously by her colleagues to serve as Deputy Mayor Pro Tem and Mayor Pro Tem, she was the first Latina to serve in those positions.
Dr. Garcia was elected to serve as Dallas County Commissioner by the citizens of District 4 in November 2010, becoming the first Latina ever to serve on the Dallas County Commissioners Court. During her first term in office, Dr. Garcia focused on making Dallas County government more transparent, saving millions in tax dollars by fixing Dallas County’s bail bond system, pushed for the completion of the long-delayed Hunter-Ferrell Road project in Irving and Grand Prairie, building and extending trails in District 4, championing initiatives like the District Attorney’s Animal Cruelty Unit, and educating constituents about Dallas County services. During her second term in office, Dr. Garcia was instrumental in updating the Dallas County purchasing rules and ethics policies, the expansion of the SBE certification, Dallas County adopting “ban the box” in its hiring policies, starting the “Homes for Hounds” program in the jail, completing the $20 million improved MacArthur Blvd project, and leading the renovation of the Records Building Complex. She also created the Facilities Management Committee to address issues with Dallas County’s aging buildings and dangerously high level of deferred maintenance. Through long-range planning and prudent investment in facilities, Dallas County’s deferred maintenance has been reduced from $100 million when she took office to $20 million today.
In her third term as Dallas County Commissioner for District 4, Dr. Garcia has completed the $5.7 million Northaven Trail project, the $15.35 million Cockrell Hill Road, opened the Oak Cliff Government Center, broke ground for the Oak Cliff Gateway a mixed-use affordable housing project, completed the $200 million renovation of the Dallas County Records Building Complex and broke ground on the $56 million Wildlife Parkway project in Grand Prairie.
Now in their fourth term, Commissioner Garcia is looking forward to completing the $27.2 million Medical District Dr. project and many other projects she currently has underway.
Dr. Garcia serves as Chair of the Dallas County Criminal Justice Advisory Board (CJAB), the DWI Task Force, New Life Opportunities Board, the Dallas County Facilities Management Committee and North Texas Behavioral Health Authority (NTBHA). She is also a board member of the Public Employee Benefits Cooperative (PEBC), Benefits Review Committee, and the Continuous Improvement Steering Committee. She formally served on the Dallas County Civil Service Commission and was an alternate member for the Regional Transportation Council (RTC). In her role as Dallas County Commissioner, Dr. Garcia also appoints community members to various Dallas County Boards, including the Parkland Board of Managers, the Dallas County Trail and Preserve Program Board, the Citizen Election Advisory Committee, the Dallas County Historical Foundation, as well as several other boards and commissions.
In addition to her service to constituents, Dr. Garcia bears a myriad of other public service responsibilities. She currently sits on the Safer Dallas Better Dallas Board and is an Advisory Board member of Methodist Dallas Medical Center, HOPES Advisory Council and the College of Juvenile Justice and Psychology at Prairie View A&M University. She formerly served on the Boy Scouts of America Circle Ten Council, the Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Dallas Zoological Society and the Salvation Army board and the New Friends New Life Advisory Board.
She is also a current and/or past member of the Oak Cliff Lions Club, Grand Prairie Rotary Club, Grand Prairie Chamber of Commerce, Greater Grand Prairie Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Greater Irving/Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce, Greater Southwest Black Chamber of Commerce, League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), Henry Holmes Breakfast Group, Irving Heritage Society, Irving Women’s Network, Irving Hispanic Forum, League of Women Voters of Dallas, Stonewall Democrats of Dallas, Irving Texas Democratic Women, Irving Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Dallas Summit, Hispanic 100, Dallas Assembly, Oak Cliff Chamber of Commerce, Heritage Oak Cliff, West Dallas Chamber of Commerce, and St. Cecilia’s Catholic Women.
Awards and Accomplishments
Dr. Garcia has been the recipient of many awards for her community service. Some of these include:
- 2023 LULAC Women’s Hall of Fame
- 2023 League of Women Voters - Virginia Macdonald Leadership Award
- 2023 MADD North Texas - Community Partner Award
- 2022 Hispanic Chamber of Commerce - Tributo Latino Madrina Award
- 2022 MADD North Texas – Community Partner Award
- 2022 RHCA – President’s Award
- 2021 Haven of Love – Woman of Excellence Award
- 2021 Centro de Mi Salud – Appreciation Award
- 2021 MADD North Texas – Community Partner Award
- 2020 Chris Howell Foundation – Faithful Service Lifetime Achievement Award
- 2019 AEM Dallas Fort Worth Chapter - Lifetime Achievement Award
- 2019 Unlocking DOORS - Susan McHenry Golden Key Award
- 2019 Oak Cliff Chamber of Commerce – 2018 Public Servant of the Year
- 2018 WBE Hall of Fame – Leadership Advocacy Award
- 2018 Community Council – Community Impact Civic Leader Award
- 2018 Women of Wisdom – Elite News
- 2018 Grand Prairie United Charities – Community Impact Award
- 2018 City of Dallas Parks and Recreation – Empowerment of Women
- 2017 TAMACC Hispanic Business Convention of Texas – Government Hispanic Business Advocate of the Year
- 2017 It’s Going To Be OK – Shaniya Davis Human Rights Award
- 2016 Verna’s H.E.L.P. Foundation - Living Legend Award
- 2015 America’s Blood Centers – It’s About Life. Blood Drive Award
- 2015 IGNITE – Trailblazer
- 2014 DCET/Believe in Yourself, Inc – Silent Hero Azteca Award
- 2014 Dress for Success Dallas – Inspirational Leader Award
- 2014 Greater Southwest Black Chamber of Commerce-Woman of Distinction Leadership Award
- 2014 Keep Irving Beautiful – Green Government Award
- 2014 Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation – August Héroe en la Comunidad
- 2013 Greater Grand Prairie Hispanic Chamber of Commerce – Los Amigos Philanthropy Award
- 2013 Dallas County Democratic Party - Democratic Elected Official of the Year
- 2013 Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau - High Tea With High Heals Award
- 2012 Mi Escuelita – Hero Award
- 2012 Stonewall Democrats – Distinguished Service Award
- 2012 Telemundo – Hispanic Business Salute
- 2012 Texas Democratic Party - Rising Star Award
- 2012 Immigrant Journey Awards - Immigrant Spirit Award
- 2012 National Assoc. for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) – President Award
- 2011 Oak Cliff Chamber of Commerce - Public Servant of the Year
- 2011 League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) – District 3 - Woman of the Year
- 2011 Low Birth Weight Development Center – Awards of Hope 2011 Visionary Leader
- 2010 Stonewall Democrats - Democrat of the Year
- 2009 Women’s Council of Dallas County - Woman of the Year
- 2009 Rotary Club of Dallas & Safer Dallas/Better Dallas - Citizens Public Safety Award
- 2009 Dallas Fire and Rescue - Recognition Award
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