Candidate: Rafael "Ralph" Lopez

Rafael, “Ralph,” was born in Havana, Cuba and came to the United States in 1962, at age five.  Rafael grew up in Miami, Florida and has been married to his wife Susan, for 38 years. They have a daughter, son-in-law, and two amazing granddaughters who reside in the Village of Estero. Rafael and Susan resided in Miami-Dade and Broward County, Florida and have been in Estero, part-time, then full-time since 2008.

Rafael is a veteran of the United States Armed Forces and was honorably discharged from the United States Marine Corps.

He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Florida International University. He is a graduate of the Southern Police Institute’s 22nd Command Officer’s Development Program and Nova Southeastern University’s Institute for Criminal Justice Studies 14th Executive Leadership Program.

Rafael served for 33 years as a law enforcement officer in Dade and Broward County.  He retired in 2016 with the rank of Lieutenant.   

He also worked for MasterCard International as an International Security Officer.  His region included the Southeast United States, South and Central America, and the Caribbean.

He served on the Stoneybrook of Estero’s Homeowner’s Association Board of Directors from 2018 to 2020. 

Rafael has been involved with many professional and community organizations throughout his career: The International Association of Credit Card Investigators, ASPIRA of Florida, Broward County Diversity Advisory Council, Healthy Mothers/Healthy Babies Coalition of Broward County, Broward County School District ESOL Leadership Council, Cuban Americans for a Better Florida, Lee County School District Minority Recruitment and Retention Committee, The Hispanic Vote of Broward County, and The Hispanic Vote of Southwest Florida.

He currently serves as an Ambassador with Collier-Lee Honor Flight and was appointed to the Service Academy Selection Advisory Panel, for the 19th Congressional District.