MEET DELIA GARZA: Delia comes from a very civically engaged family. Her parents, a firefighter and a stay-at-home mom, were very involved in their community and encouraged their three daughters to give back and pursue higher education. Delia’s upbringing inspired her to dedicate her career to public service and advocating for working families. Following in her father’s footsteps, she became a firefighter. Her entire career as an Austin Firefighter was spent in fire stations that serve the South Austin community. Remaining committed to public service, Delia left the Austin Fire Department to pursue a law degree and extend the reach of her advocacy.

As an Assistant Attorney General, she advocated for Texas families in the Child Support Division. Prior to serving on Council, Delia was also involved in numerous community-based efforts surrounding affordable housing, education, and fair and equitable district representation. Delia Garza was sworn in as the first Latina to serve on the Austin City Council on January 6, 2015. She is currently Chair of the Regional Affordability Committee, which she created, and the Public Utilities Council Committee. Delia is a Board Member for the Capital Metro Transportation Authority and the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, and serves on the Mobility, Open Space, and Health and Human Services Council Committees.

Since taking office, Delia Garza has championed initiatives to improve the quality of life of working families in District 2, improve services for the most vulnerable in our community, and address our transportation crisis. During her first term, Delia worked to expand resources for residents of District including critical transportation infrastructure projects, additional staff for the Dove Springs Recreation Center to provide more programming for youth and families, and ensure continued computer lab services while the Southeast Branch Library closes for renovations by funding a portable facility out of her office budget. Delia also fought for a fair and expedient buyout policy to move families in Onion Creek out of harm’s way, and served as a resource for the families trying to rebuild their lives after the 2013 and 2015 Halloween floods.

In addition, Delia Garza led on significant initiatives to ensure access to essential services for the community and for City employees including a historic increase in funding for health and human services to provide services for the most vulnerable in our community, access to critical health services for children with autism under the City’s health insurance plan, and creation of health equity programming. She has also led on policies to significantly increase the City’s investment in solar energy, address issues around food deserts and food access, and strengthen protections for future and existing tenants of mobile home communities.

Delia has been a strong voice at City Hall, and will continue to fight to keep Austin affordable; expand the availability of affordable housing; alleviate traffic congestion and improve access to public transit; recruit and support businesses that provide jobs with living wages, safety protections, and good benefits; provide resources to encourage health and wellness; and protect our environment and secure our water supply.

She is married to Ramiro Martinez, Jr. – they welcomed their first daughter, Lourdes, in May of 2015.