oclc BILL MELTON HUMANiTARIAN AWARD

 Dr. Elba Garcia, Dallas County Commissioner for District 4, embodies a new breed of professional women in the 21st century. Beyond her community leadership, she is a wife, mother, and dentist with two doctorate degrees and a private practice. She is a role model for women, Latinos, immigrants and anyone who strives to succeed. Prior to becoming the first Latina elected to serve in the Dallas County Commissioners Court in November 2010, she served in the Dallas City Council from 2001 to 2009. During her tenure, council members unanimously chose her to serve as Dallas Mayor Pro Tem and Deputy Mayor Pro Tem. In addition to her love for the community and its wellbeing, she was inspired to run for commissioner to establish the District Attorney’s Animal Cruelty Unit. Commissioner Garcia is known for problem solving, always advocating for better services for Dallas County taxpayers and more transparency in government. This can be seen across her myriad public service responsibilities as chair of the Dallas County Criminal Justice Advisory Board, DWI Task Force, New Life Opportunities, Dallas County Facilities Management Committee and the North Texas Behavioral Health Authority. She is also a board member of the Public Employee Benefits Cooperative and Continuous Improvement Steering Committee. Commissioner Garcia’s devotion to the community extends to serving on the advisory board of Methodist Dallas Medical Center and the boards of Safer Dallas Better Dallas and the College of Juvenile Justice and Psychology at Prairie View A&M University.