Public Service Profile
MEET LUIS GARCIA
A LIFE OF HARD WORK, SERVICE, AND COMMUNITY
ROOTS IN HARD WORK AND COMMUNITY
I learned early that who we become is shaped by the people who raise us, the examples they set, and the communities that surround us.
My parents taught me the value of hard work, responsibility, and treating people with respect.
My grandparents taught me the importance of service.
Those lessons stayed with me throughout my life.
One lesson, in particular, has continued to guide me:
YOU SEE A NEED. YOU SHOW UP. YOU HELP.
That simple idea has shaped how I approach work, family, community, and service.
GROWING UP AND FINDING MY PATH
Growing up, I learned that preparation matters, effort matters, and people matter.
One of the people who had a lasting influence on me was Coach Roja.
He taught lessons that went well beyond the playing field: prepare yourself, work with others, stay disciplined, and never assume that success happens by accident.
I carried those lessons into school, work, and eventually into leadership.
I also learned the value of working for what you want.
I worked while going to school, building the foundation for a career that would take me into technology and eventually into leadership roles across several industries.
A CAREER BUILT ON CURIOSITY AND PROBLEM-SOLVING
With three decades in technology, I learned to ask questions, understand how systems work, identify problems, and find better ways to solve them. Along the way, I built deep experience in data systems, infrastructure support, IT operations, network design, project and product management, and process reengineering — from IT strategy to finance to governance.
My career took me through many different roles and industries, including banking, high tech, and health care.
But the titles matter less to me than what those experiences taught me.
JUST BECAUSE WE’VE ALWAYS DONE SOMETHING A CERTAIN WAY DOESN’T MEAN IT’S THE BEST WAY TO DO IT.
Good leaders stay curious.
They listen.
They learn.
They ask better questions.
And they are willing to improve when something isn’t working.
Those lessons continue to shape how I think about leadership today.
A LIFE OF SERVICE
From responding to community needs after Hurricane Katrina with the Red Cross, to supporting Habitat for Humanity and food banks like Your Food Oasis, to serving on the Hillsboro Police Chief’s Advisory Committee, to helping build young people through youth sports and mentoring, I’ve seen what can happen when people simply decide to show up and help.
FINDING HOME IN HILLSBORO
When I moved to Hillsboro, I wasn’t simply selecting a place to live – I was choosing a community to call home.
We were choosing a community to call home.
Hillsboro’s neighborhoods, people, history, agricultural roots, innovation, and sense of community drew us in.
And over time, Hillsboro became more than where we lived.
HILLSBORO BECAME HOME.
I’ve had the opportunity to meet neighbors, support community efforts, volunteer, and become part of the fabric of the city.
From community service to local organizations and everyday conversations with people across Hillsboro, I’ve come to appreciate what makes this city special.
This is a community worth caring about.
This is a community worth investing in.
This is a community worth serving.
WHY I'M RUNNING
When a community becomes your home, you naturally begin to care deeply about what happens to it.
Hillsboro is growing and changing.
The decisions we make today will shape our neighborhoods, our resources, our opportunities, and our quality of life for generations.
I’m running for City Council because I want to put my experience, my perspective, and my commitment to service to work for Hillsboro.
I believe we can grow thoughtfully, protect what matters, and build a future that works for the people who call this city home.
But I also know something important:
I CANNOT DO THIS ALONE.
No councilor can.
The future of Hillsboro belongs to all of us.
TEAM HILLSBORO
IT WILL TAKE ALL OF US.
Residents.
Families.
Neighborhoods.
Businesses.
Community organizations.
People who have lived here for generations.
And people who are just beginning to call Hillsboro home.
Everyone has a voice. Everyone has a role. Everyone has a stake in what comes next.
THAT’S TEAM HILLSBORO.
I bring my experience, my commitment to service, and my willingness to listen and lead.
But the real strength of Hillsboro is its people.
Together, we can shape the future of our city.
Together, we can protect what matters.
Together, we can make thoughtful decisions about growth and opportunity.
And, together, we can build something bigger than any single issue or policy: a healthier future for all of Hillsboro.
Together, we can make Hillsboro the healthiest city in Oregon.