Raquel Lozano
Prior offices
Orange County Soil and Water Conservation District District 3
Personal
Contact
Raquel Lozano was a member of the Orange County Soil and Water Conservation District in Florida, representing District 3. She assumed office on January 5, 2021. She left office on January 3, 2023.
Lozano ran for election to the Orange County Soil and Water Conservation District to represent District 3 in Florida. She won in the general election on November 3, 2020.
Lozano completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Lozano was born on October 23, 1996, in Orlando, Florida. She graduated from Valencia with an associate degree in 2016. She has attended classes at the University of Central Florida. Lozano's professional experience includes working as a commissioner aide to an Orange County Board Commissioner. She has also worked as an administrative assistant and public information officer.[1]
Elections
2020
See also: Municipal elections in Orange County, Florida (2020)
General election
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
2020
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Raquel Lozano completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Lozano's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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Born and raised in Orlando, I am the daughter of a Puerto Rican Army Veteran and a Mexican immigrant. They taught me the importance of civic duty and public service, which has impacted my dedication toward caring for my community. I am an everyday citizen looking to represent underserved communities and connect Orange County individuals and organizations to eco-friendly resources in the area. I am a UCF student majoring in Political Science and Public Administration with a minor in Regional Planning and certification in Human Resources. I also have experience working in Orange County government as a Commissioner Aide for one of the Orange County Board of County Commissioners serving District 5.
While working for Orange County, I organized, hosted, and managed community events to engage the public on local matters. For example, I worked with Bat Expert Shari Blissett-Clark to hold educational events and community-building projects to teach bats' importance in our ecosystems. I also partnered with UCF Professor Thomas Bryer and his students to interview constituents. We talked about their concerns, conducted community planning forums, and spoke with local leaders about the current and future planning of Orange County.
My background education and real-world experiences creates a deep understanding of government, community wellness, land-use development practices, and sustainability initiatives to move this board forward. - I will connect to people through community engagement
- I will promote democracy through education
- I will unite local resources for collaborative projects to facilitate sustainable initiatives
I am passionate about affordable housing, education, land-use planning, public health, social equity, and wellness. I have dealt with each of these subjects personally as I care for an aging relative, manage her property, and learn about the challenges of being a homeowner. To be an active member of the community, I have participated in community and governmental events that address affordable housing, land-use planning developments and ordinances, and wellness resources dedicated to senior citizens.
Meanwhile, I am pursuing different degrees at the University of Central Florida to be a well-informed and well-rounded citizen and stakeholder of the community. In between my studies and caring for an ailing relative, I had mentored at my old elementary school (Pine Castle-Pershing) and at the University of Central Florida to aid students in academia. It is through my experiences and knowledge that I dedicate myself to addressing these issues.
As an altruistic, empathetic, and hard-working individual, it is my mission in life to serve others. I cannot ask for a better reward than doing right by my loved ones and neighbors. I was blessed with my upbringing, education, and impactful life experiences to know that I must share my skills and knowledge with others who may benefit from it. Orange County Soil and Water Conservation District is an academic and oversight board. This board can study, research, and evaluate local soil and water quality and land management practices. With this power, the board can determine if the soil and water treatments are healthy. The board can then demonstrate conservation, protection, and restoration projects on soil and water resources to the public. Through this constant community engagement, supervisors can document and examine public opinion on local environmental issues. This board's mission and powers can empower farmers, citizens, and businesses to properly care for the soil and water quality of Orange County.
I look up to my grandmother. She has dedicated her life to caring for children and others. She lived in a small town near Durango, Mexico, with eight brothers and sisters on a farm. She dropped out of school early in life to go to work and help her family make ends meet. Later on, she attained a US work visa and met her future husband in Texas. Together, they lived in Puerto Rico and raised three children before relocating to Orlando, Florida, on their own.
She knows of hardship, privilege, and perseverance. All of which earns my admiration and respect along with her Mexican and Puerto Rican cooking.
I would recommend people to read Native to Nowhere by Thomas Beatley. The book discusses a wide range of new ideas and insights about sustainability and community. The author depicts innovative projects and initiatives orchestrated across North America to connect people to their environment and neighbors.
Elected officials must listen to their constituents, cooperate with others, possess a strong sense of self, seek knowledge and personal growth, exercise tolerance, and respect all persons.
I am a resourceful, honest, intelligent, and compassionate individual eager to assist those in need. Government can empower its people, and that is what I intend to do in this position.
The people deserve an accessible, honest, hard-working leader that has the public's best interest.
I want the board to have a positive relationship with Orange County members and improve upon its reputation and community service work.
I remember the first time I visited Florida National Cemetery for my grandfather's funeral. I was eight years old when he passed away at the age of 82. The ceremony was beautiful; armed men yelled their commands, shot rounds into the sky with their rifles, and saluted his gravesite. They then rewarded my grandmother an American flag, cased in wood and glass, displaying his name and service in the Army during the Korean and Vietnam wars. While I mourn his death, I am grateful knowing he fought for our country and brought lasting benefits to our family. We keep his flag displayed in our living room, along with his photo, to honor his memory.
My first job was at Crayola Experience inside the Florida Mall. Within that year, I had taken on multiple job titles. I worked at the Admissions entrance, then managed birthday parties, and lastly, I became a Receptionist. It was a great experience working with visitors and upper-management staff. There, I refined my skills in interpersonal communication, event management, and customer service.
My favorite book is "75 Readings Plus," 8th edition. The collection of short stories and essays have made me laugh, cry, and reflect on life.
Ms. Frizzle from The Magic School Bus
Don't Stop Me Now by Queen
I have been caring for my grandmother for the past six years since I turned 18 years old. She has various ailments that require medication, daily routines, precautionary measures, and specialty care. It is never easy caring for someone, especially if they need constant assistance and overwatch. More than anything, it is heartbreaking to see a loved one suffer or become incapacitated. However, I am fortunate to have a reliable support system, the means to care for my grandmother, and a good head on my shoulders to guide me through the motions.
The conservation board can also cooperate and arrange agreements with other governments and related agencies. These powers signify this is a cooperative and collaborative government board. Such abilities can pool regional resources together for a significant soil and water project or initiative.
Yes. Anyone can engage in politics; that is attending political events, learning about government, and taking action to bring members of the community together. Politics requires networking with local community leaders, educating oneself on local issues and policies, and motivating others to achieve a collective mission.
Supervisors should demonstrate teamwork, project management, knowledge of the board, experience in politics, and a consistent willingness to serve others for this office.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
See also
External links
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on October 8, 2020
