Newly elected California congressman Rep. Mike Garcia told Newsmax TV on Thursday that his district is eager to return to work as the country emerges from the restrictions imposed to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus.
“We’re anxious to get back to work. Our district was especially hard hit. I think we were in the top 15 nationwide in our area for unemployment as a result of COVID-19 reaction,” Garcia said on “Greg Kelly Reports." “We’ve got a lot of Hollywood production, a large amusement park. Princess Cruise Lines is one of the largest employers in our district, so we have to get back to work.
“Every job needs deemed essential at this point. We’ve got to figure out how to get the lights back on.”
Garcia, 44, a former Navy fighter pilot and Republican, is a native of the 25th Congressional District, graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and returned to the area after his military service to work for defense contractor Raytheon.
He was sworn into his position as the representative of the district – which covers most of northern Los Angeles County and part of eastern Ventura County on May 19 amid the coronavirus lockdown.
He won a special election over Democrat state Assemblywoman Christy Smith, retaking the seat won by Democrat Katie Hill in 2018. Hill resigned the post in 2019 after admitting to an “inappropriate” relationship with a campaign staff member. Garcia was the first Republican to win a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives previously held by a Democrat in California in 22 years.
Garcia will face off against Smith again in November.
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