Another Cobb County resident has announced she will challenge an incumbent on the school board.
Julia Hurtado is running as a Democrat for the Post 5 seat held by incumbent Republican David Banks, who has served on the board since 2009.
Banks will face a challenge from at least three Republicans in the May 19 primary: Shelley O’Malley, Rob Madayag and Matt Harper.
The Republican who wins the primary will face the Democratic candidate in the Nov. 3 race.
The Post 5 seat is in east Cobb, and includes some of the schools that feed into the Pope and Lassiter high school boundaries.
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Hurtado said she’s running to provide “equal access, opportunity and success for all students.”
“I’ve seen when teachers, parents, and administrators work together, and how much it sets students up for success,” she said. “Our kids show us every day their capacity to care for one another. In Cobb County, we help out our neighbors. When we foster that in our schools, we prepare our kids to be good students and good citizens in Cobb. When we learn about one another, we learn that we have more similarities than differences, and we prepare our students to succeed in the world-class universities and careers right here in Georgia.”
Hurtado, a physical therapist with the Shepherd Center, graduated with a bachelor’s degree in health science from the University of Florida. She earned a doctorate in physical therapy from Emory University.
Hurtado and her husband, David, moved to Cobb County eight years ago. They have a six-year-old daughter named Ellie.
Hurtado is participating in the Anti-defamation League's Glass Leadership Institute, which "empowers young adults to fight hatred and bigotry in their own communities," according to its website.
She’s also been involved with Moms Demand Action, a grassroots organization working to end gun violence. Hurtado is a Girl Scout troop leader, volunteers at her daughter’s elementary school, and is active with the American Physical Therapy Association and the Physical Therapy Association of Georgia.
READ: Cobb resident announces run for school board
Other Cobb school board members who are up for re-election include David Morgan, Randy Scamihorn and Brad Wheeler. The last day to register to vote in the primary is April 20.
The primary election will be May 19, and the deadline to register to vote in the primary is April 20. The general election is set for Nov. 3, and the last day to register to vote in those races is Oct. 5.
Voters can learn more about Julia Hurtado by visiting her campaign website. You can visit the Secretary of State My Voter Page to check your registration status.
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