Omar Lazo, a community leader and business owner with longstanding involvement in local education and civic initiatives, has announced his candidacy for the Montgomery County Board of Education, At-Large.
Per the press release announcing his candidacy, Lazo is the parent of three children currently enrolled in Montgomery County Public Schools, one in elementary school, one in high school, and one participating in the Early College program at Montgomery College. He said his decision to run is informed by his family’s experiences within the school system.
According to Lazo, the school district faces a range of challenges, including student safety concerns, mental health needs, infrastructure issues, overcrowded classrooms, and budget pressures.
For more than two decades, Lazo has participated in community-based efforts focused on equity, outreach, and support for immigrant and underserved residents. His work has included involvement in food security initiatives, youth programs, and culturally focused engagement efforts.
Lazo currently serves on the Montgomery College Board of Trustees, where he participated in the selection process for the institution’s new president. During his tenure, Montgomery College was designated as Maryland’s first Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) and became a federally recognized Minority-Serving Institution (MSI), designations that expand eligibility for additional federal resources.
He has also taken part in fentanyl education and prevention efforts in coordination with county agencies, state partners, schools, and community organizations.
In announcing his campaign, Lazo said that projected fiscal constraints will require Board Members with experience in budgeting and organizational management. His professional background includes work in business operations and strategic planning.
Lazo outlined several priorities he intends to focus on if elected, including:
- Expanding support for multilingual learners, immigrant families, and underserved communities
- Increasing transparency and communication among the Board, parents, educators, and students
- Protecting classroom funding while ensuring fiscal oversight
- Supporting teacher recruitment and retention, including multilingual and culturally competent educators
- Strengthening pathways that connect students to college and career opportunities
- Continuing efforts related to student safety and fentanyl prevention
Lazo said he hopes to bring perspectives from his experiences as a parent, community volunteer, and trustee to the Board of Education race.
