Matt Garcia, Rest in Peace


Garcia was lightning in a bottle

By Kelvin Wade | | September 04, 2008 16:59

The death of Councilman Matt Garcia is a nightmare for his family, his friends and the community. How could we be saying goodbye to one of our most enthusiastic, warm, dynamic young leaders?

I've always tried to give readers more light than heat in this column but I can't make any promises in light of the killing of Matt Garcia. I'm angry.

I'm desk-trashing, wall-punching, profanity-spewing angry that an inspirational young leader was cut down by some cowardly punk. A worthless human being has taken the life of a priceless one. I've found myself hoping that police find the perpetrator armed and have to take him out. If the attack was gang-related, I've caught myself deriving satisfaction out of street justice being done to the assailant. What Fairfield jury would convict someone who punished Matt's killer?

But taking a step back, I know that an eye for an eye leaves everyone blind. I know that to hope for street justice just increases the violence on our streets and raises the possibility of more innocents being caught in the crossfire. I know that it only perpetuates an endless cycle of violence. I know that hate in my heart only harms me, not the person who did this.

And I also know what Matt Garcia stood for.

When I first met Matt last year, expecting to find some narcissistic kid playing City Council candidate, boy, was I mistaken. Over sandwiches at Joe's Buffet, I was convinced that not only was I sitting with the next Fairfield City Council member, but I was sitting with a future Mayor, Congressman, the sky was the limit.

A month or so ago, after having lunch with Councilmen John Mraz and Matt Garcia, my brother Tony and I hung around outside the Blue Frog talking about Garcia. We were both so impressed with his energy, his focus and his skill set. Garcia was lightning in a bottle. You could tell he was going places.

Matt's smile was infectious. He had a way of making you feel like you were his closest friend. And he used that charm to bring people together.

It's a tragedy when any innocent person is the victim of a violent crime. However, in Matt's case the pain is made that much more acute because he had dedicated his life to fighting the very thing that took his. He wanted to build a safe Fairfield for everyone and wanted to raise his own children here.

While this horror has galvanized us, we must act. Fairfield has to crackdown on violence. If that means opening our wallets for more cops, organizing citizen patrols, and participating in Neighborhood Watch, residents must partner with the police to fight crime.

The community has lost so much potential this week. Just last week, Matt wrote the following on his Myspace page: 'I have been thinking about my life and it is not complete, but it is getting there. I thought about the things I have accomplished over the years; it has truly been a blessing. It just shows people when you put your mind to something you can make it happen. I still haven't accomplished everything, but I am working toward it and I believe if it is God's will, it will happen.'

It hurts so deeply and feels like hope itself has died. But as my brother Tony told me on Tuesday, 'Matt has inspired too many people to let hope die. But hope took a beating today.'

It's up to us to continue Matt's work. Peace.

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For more of my thoughts on Matt, see the DR Other Side Blog.

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