Once on the council, García closed his CPA business and focused himself on his council work, beginning with youth and housing programs. For example, he successfully helped start an anti-graffiti program that also provides family counseling to counter poverty and patterns of alienation. His efforts yielded numerous East Austin facilities, like the Cepeda Branch Library, the Zavala recreation center, Plaza Saltillo, the Mexican American Cultural Center and Tillery Square, an affordable housing development. Austin–Bergstrom International Airport was completed during his tenure on the council. When deregulation proponents proposed the city sell its public electric utility, García was key in keeping what is now Austin Energy in the public's hands. García supported the successful acquisition of significant acreage for nature preserves and parks. After being put on the ballot by a petition, Austin voters overwhelmingly passed the SOS (Save Our Springs) ordinance on August 8, 1992. In December 1994, a jury in Hays County overturned SOS and the city council was evenly divided over whether to appeal the decision. Mayor Bruce Todd, Ronnie Reynolds and Charles Urdy, opposed the appeal. Max Nofziger, Jackie Goodman and Brigid Shea were in favor. García's vote was the deciding factor. He voted in favor and the city appealed and won. The court reinstated the SOS ordinance in 1996. García was elected mayor of Austin on November 6, 2001. Mayor Kirk Watson had stepped down to run for state office and García ran in a special election. He won 59% of the vote in a field of eight candidates. García faced many challenges, including tough budget conditions and a development agreement with Stratus Properties. He overcame opposition to institute Austin's smoking ban. García served nine years as a city council member and 19 months as mayor. He did not seek reelection in the 2003 Austin mayoral election. García married Marina González in 1957, and they remained married until his death. The couple had three sons and five grandchildren. García died in Austin, Texas on December 17, 2018, at the age of 84.