On November 6th, 2001, Austin made history when Gustavo ‘Gus’ Garcia was elected mayor. Twenty-five years later, we celebrate this milestone and the legacy of Austin’s first and only Latino mayor. After 161 years of city elections, Gus’ election marked a historic moment for Latino representation in Austin.
Gus, who was born on January 3rd, 1934, moved to Austin as a young man, and faced discrimination. Despite these challenges, he went on to get his BBA from UT Austin in 1959, then in 1972 Gus ran and won an open seat in the Austin School board, becoming the first elected Mexican American member on the Austin ISD School Board.
During his time on the board, Gus advocated against the discrimination faced by Latino and Black students. He played an important role in efforts to advance desegregation and improve educational opportunities for minority students.
Gus then went on to run for City Council in 1991, and ended up serving as a City Council member for 9 years. Around this time, Paul Saldaña began to work for Gus as his Administrative Assistant in 1992, then his Council Aid in 1995.
Afterwards, Saldaña became Gus’ Chief of Staff and worked on his re-election campaign in 1997. As a City Council member, Gus focused on youth and housing programs, working to improve the lives of underserved communities.
In 2001, Gus announced his campaign for mayor, with Saldaña serving as his campaign director. Gus went on to win the election, becoming Austin’s 55th mayor, and making history as the first and only Latino Mayor of Austin.
Even after leaving public office, Gus continued his work with students through local community centers alongside his wife, Marina Garcia. He was awarded various awards, recognizing his leadership, advocacy, and achievements. He later swore in Paul Saldaña to the Austin ISD School board in 2014.
Although Gus passed away in 2018, his legacy remains strong. Through his work on the Austin ISD School Board, the City Council, and later his term as the first Latino Mayor of Austin, Gus helped create greater opportunities for Latino representation and amplified the voices of communities that had long been underrepresented.
Twenty-five years after his historic election, Garcia’s impact can still be seen in the Latino leaders, young people, and community advocates continuing to shape Austin’s future. His story serves as a reminder of the importance of representation, public service, and building a city where every community has a voice.
