Joe Garcia, the Cuban American former Democratic congressman who lost in November to newcomer Carlos Curbelo, is not running for office again. Instead he's joining a bank.
Today QueensFort Capital, a Miami-based bank that specializes in large capital foreign investment, announced Garcia was coming on board as senior vice president.
"I have been in the private sector on many different occasions, just like I have been in the public sector," Garcia tells New Times. "This is an opportunity that I was very excited about."
See also: Congressman Joe Garcia Fights for His Political Life
QueensFort Capital specializes in EB-5 visas, a program that grants two-year U.S. green cards for foreigners who invest large sums of cash.
In his long career in both the public and private spheres, Garcia has established himself as a prominent voice on immigration policy, particularly regarding Cuba; he also previously served as director of the Cuban American National Foundation.
But his time in Congress was far more turbulent. After defeating scandal-plagued incumbent David Rivera in 2012, his 2014 electoral chances were badly damaged when Jeff (no relation) Garcia, his former chief of staff, pleaded guilty to absentee-ballot fraud.
Garcia says his return to the private sector shouldn't be a shock to former supporters.
"Politics, if you do it honestly, is not a place where you make money," he says.
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