Candidate: Kevin Lopez

Kevin Lopez was born in Louisiana and moved to Florida when he was 3 years old. After graduating high school where he was very involved with marching band, he attended the University of South Florida earning a Bachelor of Science in Management Information Systems from the College of Business. During his undergraduate studies he was an officer for Theta Chi Fraternity for multiple terms, an active member of the University's marching band Herd of Thunder, worked for USF as an Orientation Team Leader, and also worked part-time as a Help Desk Intern at a local technology company. While attending college Kevin met his wife Veronica and they then began their careers in Tampa, her as an Elementary School teacher and him as Software Developer.  Kevin later returned to USF to earn his Master of Science in Health Informatics from the College of Medicine while also working full time and becoming a new parent. 

In 2019 when discussing growing their family and finding their permanent home, Kevin and his wife made the decision to move to Ocala. With both their families already living in and near the city along with the appeal of new growth and development, Ocala seemed like the perfect fit for them. After moving to Ocala Kevin felt the need to become more involved with the community in order to give back and help focus future growth on priorities that matter. As a father, looking at the future of the city for its children is a priority for Kevin. Ocala's schools, parks, recreation, and protection through the Fire and Police Department are a main focus for him. Also helping to expand the Ocala Fiber Network for residents so more homes and businesses have access to affordable and reliable internet. Sustainable and managed growth are areas that Kevin has years of experience overseeing through both his professional and volunteer responsibilities.