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9A Page 7 11— 11:45 a.m. 1 —1:45 p.m. 2—2:45 p.m. 3—3:45 p.m. *lf you get voicemafl when making a reservation please: . Leave a message with your two preferred time siots. • Tell in some detail about an important issue facing your city so that we can prepare interview questions that are tailored to yaur community. • Leave your camplete cantact info including cell phone. In Memoriam: Fairfield City Cauncit Member Matt Garcia By Eva Spiegel Faifield City Council Member Matt Garcia was shot on Sept. 1,2�J08, and declared brain-daad at Jahn Muir Medicai Center in Walnut Creek �,+,X.� after the shooting. He died Sept. 3, after being ,:�,x;�„;<;:`� ��<:x::;�.;.. taken off life support. Elected in November 2007 _ a#just 2� years of age, Garcia was among the state's youngest cauncil members.The Fairfield 'K"`; - leader set his course years ago when he decided in the sixth grade that he wanted ta be mayor someday. �<��' 1 had the opportunity to interview Garcia in June for an article titled"Challenges for the Next Generation of Leaders,"which appeared in the September 2Q08 issue af Western City.During our conversation, Garcia spoke passionately about public service anc{how he was inspired by his grandfather,who ran for ci#y council in Richmond but did not win. In addition ta serving the public as a council member, Garcia attended Solano Community Callege,where he studied political science, and worked for HF2A Engineeeing and Energy Services. Garcia was bom and raised in Fairfieid, and his bio{ogicaf fafher was a gang member. Garcia said he could have easily gone that direction but instead chose to focus his energies on improving his community. He managed Little League teams, served as senior class president in high school and ran for city council in 2007 with a vision to combat Fairfield's high level of youth-relafed crime. Committed to making Fairfield a better place to live for everyone, especially younger residents, Garcia campaigned on a platform#hat inciuded creating more resources for youth. He believed that by bringing more economic development and better paying jabs to his city, young people would have positive opportunities and be less likely to#urn to crime. When interviewed far Western City's A}�ril 2008"On the Record"coiumn about community seroices that have a major impact on improving the quality of life for res3dents, he responded, "Youth programs are our main focus.We work with youth organizations to provide mentors, and our after-school programs give young people something fun and constructive to do." Garcia believed it was time for his generation ta acknowlsdge its responsibilities."In#he next five to 10 years we have to step up to the pfate. We are the future leaders. ff you have a passion to da what is right for your community, really use your voice and energy to do wonderful things,"he said. On Sept. 2, Fairfield Mayor Harry Price posthumausly named Garcia the city's honorary mayor in recognition of his accomplisi�ments, 7