Arcenio A. Garcia was elected Mayor of Cotulla, Texas in 1972 as a member of the Raza Unida Party, becoming the first Mexican-American to serve as mayor of the city. He also won the 1974 election, but was removed from the position when the city council ruled that Mr. Garcia was living outside Cotulla at the time of the election. In 1976, Garcia was elected County Commissioner of Precinct #3 in La Salle County, Texas.
In addition to his positions as Mayor and County Commissioner, Garcia was a member of Barrios Unidos, a public service organization, which he served as Chairperson and Public Official on the Board. He was also editor of the bulletin El Informador (The Informer).
From the guide to the Arcenio A. Garcia Papers MS 96., 1967-1992, (University of Texas at San Antonio Libraries Special Collections)