Minnesota's Greatest Generation Oral History Project: Richfield in the Postwar Era: Interview with Edwina Garcia

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Minnesota's Greatest Generation Oral History Project: Richfield in the Postwar Era: Interview with Edwina Garcia

Saylor, Thomas

Garcia, Edwina

Created: 04/20/2007

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Edwina Garcia was born in Clovis, New Mexico. She moved with her family in the early 1970s to Bloomington, and later Richfield, Minnesota. Throughout her time in Richfield, Garcia had been very active in local politics and has served on the city council and in the state House of Representatives. SUBJECTS DISCUSSED: The idea of Richfield as a small, safe town; description of Garcia's postwar-built house; personal experience of being a "novelty", a minority in a homogenous town; close-knit neighborhoods; suburban shopping and entertainment options; conflict between Garcia's politics and her Catholic church; advantages of being bilingual; gradual immersion in politics; conservative undercurrent in Richfield; increasing the tax base; political importance of knowing the community and its various perspectives on issues; challenges related to diversity which the school system and city now face; importance of writing letters in the local paper to campaigns; geographic divisions in the city; Richfield's changing relationship with the airport; reasons for running for political office; need for affordable housing; competitive attitudes between Richfield and its larger neighbors; disconnect between an increasingly diverse town and less diverse political representation and law enforcement agents.

Minnesota Digital Library

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http://collections.mnhs.org/cms/display.php?irn=10868650