A local pastor billing herself as the first hispanic woman to run for a Lake County School Board seat has officially entered the race.
Ludy Lopez is running for the District 2 seat held by Kristi Burns who has resigned effective May 1 due to the divisive political attacks she experienced when she backed mask mandates to deal with the pandemic.
Lopez, who was born in Puerto Rico, has been a Lake County resident since 2014. She has worked as an early childhood teacher in Mount Dora and Eustis. She founded Senda Church in 2016 which was the first multicultural and bilingual nondenominational church in Lake County.
“Our Lake County communities are growing into a beautiful garden of cultures. We must bring a multicultural approach into our education. In the end, it’s only one garden with a variety of beautiful colors. Unity empowers education. With my experience as a senior pastor of a multicultural and bilingual church, over 30 years in international ministry, and my background as an early childhood teacher in low-income communities in Lake, I believe I can bring balance to the board,” Lopez said.
The non-partisan election will be held Nov. 8. Lopez will be facing a crowded field including rival candidates Tyler David Brandeburg, Melody Antoinette Duckins, Christopher Fitts, and James Miller.
